Miss Read (1913-2012)

Miss Read was a pseudonym of Dora Jessie Saint, but she is best known by her pen name, under which she wrote the “Fairacre” and “Thrush Green” series of novels over four decades.

Miss Read is actually the main character in the Fairacre books, an acerbic, compassionate chronicle of small village life. The books are gentle, wry comedies, with seasonal descriptions and comforting moments: “Anytime . . . is time to be drinking tea.”

Dora, herself a teacher, married Douglas Saint during World War II and began by writing articles about country matters.

Her soothing, nostalgic books have enjoyed a resurgence during the recent pandemic, and the singer Enya has even named songs after two of her books: “Miss Clare Remembers” and “No Holly For Miss Quinn”. Dora was awarded an MBE in 1998.