English author, better known under her pseudonym Michael Fairless. She was born at her father's house, Castle Hill, Rastrick, Yorkshire, the youngest of three daughters. At first she was tutored at home by her mother and elder sisters, but after the death of her father in 1881, she was sent her to relatives in Torquay where she attended a local school. It was here that she became aware of a spinal condition that would affect the rest of her life. In 1884, she went to London to train as a nurse at a children's hospital. She also traveled to Torquay to care for a relative and did charitable work in the East End of London. However, her health continued to deteriorate, including her sight and she was in continual need of care herself. The cultured Dowson family took care of her in their family home. Unable to continue her charitable work, Barber took up writing under the pseudonym Michael Fairless, the "Michael" inspired by her childhood friend Michael McDonnell. Her first book was the religious romance "The Gathering of Brother Hilarius" (1901) but it was "The Roadmender" (1902) that achieved a wild success, being reprinted 31 times in ten years. She died at Mock Bridge near Henfield, West Sussex, while on vacation with the Dowsons.
English author, better known under her pseudonym Michael Fairless. She was born at her father's house, Castle Hill, Rastrick, Yorkshire, the youngest of three daughters. At first she was tutored at home by her mother and elder sisters, but after the death of her father in 1881, she was sent her to relatives in Torquay where she attended a local school. It was here that she became aware of a spinal condition that would affect the rest of her life. In 1884, she went to London to train as a nurse at a children's hospital. She also traveled to Torquay to care for a relative and did charitable work in the East End of London. However, her health continued to deteriorate, including her sight and she was in continual need of care herself. The cultured Dowson family took care of her in their family home. Unable to continue her charitable work, Barber took up writing under the pseudonym Michael Fairless, the "Michael" inspired by her childhood friend Michael McDonnell. Her first book was the religious romance "The Gathering of Brother Hilarius" (1901) but it was "The Roadmender" (1902) that achieved a wild success, being reprinted 31 times in ten years. She died at Mock Bridge near Henfield, West Sussex, while on vacation with the Dowsons.
Bio by: julia&keld
Advertisement
See more Dowson or Barber memorials in:
Advertisement
