Michael FairlessMargaret Fairless Barber, known by her pen name Michael Fairless, was an English Christian writer whose short life was marked by illness, devotion, and deep spiritual reflection. Born on May 7, 1869, in Rastrick, West Riding of Yorkshire, she was theyoungest of three daughters and educated at home by her mother and sisters. A passionate reader in childhood, she was drawn to authors like Charles Dickens and Walter Scott, as well as natural history. After the death of her father, she lived in various places including Torquay and Bungay, and later moved to London where she trained as a nurse and engaged in charitable work. Her health, however, steadily declined due to a spinal condition and deteriorating eyesight. Taken in by the Dowson family, she found stability and support during her final years. Turning to writing when she could no longer serve others physically, she adopted the pseudonym Michael Fairless in honor of a childhood friend. Her reflective prose, especially in The Roadmender (1902), struck a deep chord with readers and became a lasting spiritual classic. She died on August 24, 1901, in Henfield, West Sussex. Read More Read Less