Miss Read

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Dora Jessie Saint MBE nee Shafe (b. 17 April 1913), best known by the pen name Miss Read, is an English novelist, by profession a schoolmistress. She wrote a series of novels from 1956 to 1996. Her work centred on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons. In 1940 she married her now late husband, Douglas a former Headmaster. The couple have a daughter, Jill.

Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, the most popular of whom may be the American writer Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.

[edit] Bibliography

This is a bibliography of all Miss Read's works, with publication dates.

The Fairacre novels:

  • Village School* - 1955
  • Village Diary* - 1957
  • Storm in the Village* - 1958
  • Miss Clare Remembers - 1962
  • Over the Gate - 1964
  • Village Christmas** - 1966
  • Fairacre Festival - 1968
  • Emily Davis - 1971
  • Tyler's Row - 1972
  • Christmas Mouse** - 1973
  • Farther Afield - 1974
  • No Holly for Miss Quinn** - 1976
  • Village Affairs - 1977
  • The White Robin - 1979
  • Village Centenary - 1980
  • Summer at Fairacre - 1984
  • Mrs. Pringle - 1989
  • Changes at Fairacre - 1991
  • Farewell to Fairacre - 1993
  • A Peaceful Retirement - 1996

The first three books (marked with *) have been published in a single volume, Chronicles of Fairacre.The three Christmas books marked with ** have been published together.

  • The Market Square (1966) and The Howards of Caxley (1967) are set in the historical past of Caxley, the nearby market town to Fairacre where Fairacre people go from time to time. Fairacre and Beech Green, a nearby village, are mentioned. The events in these books end before the events of the first Fairacre book start.

Thrush Green books:

  • Thrush Green - 1959
  • Winter in Thrush Green - 1961
  • News from Thrush Green - 1970
  • Battles at Thrush Green - 1975
  • Return to Thrush Green - 1978
  • Gossip from Thrush Green - 1981
  • Affairs at Thrush Green - 1983
  • At Home in Thrush Green - 1985
  • School at Thrush Green - 1987
  • Friends at Thrush Green - 1990
  • Celebrations at Thrush Green - 1992
  • Year at Thrush Green - 1995
  • The World Of Thrush Green - 1988. This book discusses the real place that inspired Thrush Green and has excerpts from all Thrush Green books published as of 1988.

Children's books:

  • Hobby Horse Cottage - 1958
  • The Little Red Bus - 1964
  • The New Bed - 1964
  • No Hat! - 1964
  • Plum Pie - 1964
  • Hob and the Horse Bat - 1965
  • Cluck, the Little Black Hen - 1965
  • The Little Peg Doll - 1965
  • Tiggy - 1971. A non-fiction biography of one of the author's beloved cats.
  • Animal Boy - 1975

Autobiography:

  • A Fortunate Grandchild - 1982
  • Time Remembered - 1986

These two were also published in an omnibus edition titled Early Days.

Others she has written:

  • Fresh from the Country - 1960. The story of a young country girl/woman who has taken a first teaching job in the big city.
  • Tales from a Village School - 1994. Short stories.
  • Miss Read's Country Cooking - 1969. ISBN 0-7181-0327-0

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