Dorothy Canfield was an American novelist and educational writer best known for Understood Betsy. Also known as Dorothy Canfield Fisher, she wrote about family relationships, personal growth, and the ways people learn from everyday experience. Her fiction often gives practical work and independent judgment an important place in the development of character.

Canfield combined a substantial literary career with an active interest in education and social questions. Her writing helped introduce American readers to Montessori ideas, and she supported opportunities for lifelong learning. She also served for many years on the Book-of-the-Month Club's selection committee, helping connect a broad reading public with contemporary books.

Understood Betsy follows an orphaned girl's growing confidence after she moves to relatives in Vermont. In novels for adults, including The Home-Maker and The Brimming Cup, Canfield examined domestic expectations and the pressures within marriage and family life. Her essays, translations, and educational books extended these interests beyond fiction. Together, her writings reveal a sustained concern with how individuals can develop their abilities within homes, schools, and communities.