At the Circulating Library

Author: Fanny Harrison

Author: Fanny Harrison (1837–1928)

Alternate Name(s): F. Bayford Harrison (pseudonym)

Biography: Fanny Harrison was born on 9 October 1837 in Westminster, the eldest daughter of surgeon George Harrison and his wife Caroline Pemberton. Hers was a childhood of wealth and comfort. Her brother Alfred Bayford Harrison served as the Chief Clerk to the House of Lords. In middle age, she began publishing stories, essays, and novels under the pseudonym "F. Bayford Harrison" (the "Bayford" being the maiden name of her paternal grandmother). Early on in her career Harrison added "Rev." to her pen name but quickly dropped it. As a novelist, she wrote several historical stories for S.P.C.K. as well as one tripledecker. Her masculine disguise fooled her contemporaries as well as the later editors of the Wellesley Index. She never married and lived most of her life in and around Weybridge, Surrey. Harrison died on 7 April 1928 in Epsom.

References: British Census (1851, 1861, 1891, 1901, 1911); Probate; Wellesley

Fiction Titles:

1. As Good as Gold: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1878.
2. Her Very Own: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1879.
3. Is it All Right?: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1880.
4. Golden Flowers: or, Simple Sunday Stories.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1882.
5. Under Canvas: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1883.
6. A Good Copy and Other Stories.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1884.
7. Brothers in Arms: A Story of the Crusades.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1885.
8. Missy.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1886.
9. The Tenant of the Tower: A Tale.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1889.
10. The Battlefield Treasure.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1889.
11. Littlebourne Lock.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1891.
12. The Ideal Artist: A Novel.  3 vol.  London: Hurst and Blackett, 1893.
13. The Little Bag of Gold.  1 vol.  London: Sunday School Union, 1894.
14. The Theft of the Princes: A True Tale Re-Told.  1 vol.  London: S. P. C. K., 1898.