Maria Thompson Daviess was a native Kentuckian, whose first endeavors were as an artist. Maria was born in 1872 in Kentucky to a wealthy family. Soon, her avocation for artwork and photography led her to travel in Europe; upon her return, she pursued photography and painting miniatures before turning to writing. She wrote thirteen novels, as well as her autobiography. The Golden Bird is the story of impoverished Ann Craddock. The bird itself is a rooster that Ann acquires, named Mr. G. Bird, and the touching, humorous tale itself is a gentle love story of how Ann finds her true love with the most beautiful man she has ever seen -- a simple, quiet country man named Adam. Daviess' books have been made into films, and she adapted her own work for the stage. The Golden Bird was adapted to the stage and film soon after its publication, but it is the original novel which has stood the test of time, providing an enjoyable, heartfelt read.