Dora Jessie Saint, best known by the pen name Miss Read, was an English novelist and, by profession, a schoolmistress. Her pseudonym was derived from her mother's maiden name. She is best known for two series of novels set in the English countryside – the Fairacre novels and the Thrush Green novels.
Dora Jessie Shafe was born on 17 April 1913 in London, the younger of the daughters of Arthur Shafe, an insurance agent, and his wife Grace. For the sake of her mother's health, the family moved to the country when Dora was seven, and she began school in Chelsfield, near Orpington, Kent, and later joined her older sister at Bromley county school. When her father became a schoolmaster, Dora followed his example and undertook teacher training at Homerton College, Cambridge.
From 1933 to 1940 she taught in Middlesex, first at Hayes and then at Ealing. In 1940 she married Douglas Saint. The couple had one daughter, Jill.
After World War II she worked occasionally as a teacher, and began writing about schools and country topics for several magazines, including Punch and the Times Educational Supplement. She also worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC schools service.
From 1955 to 1996 Saint wrote a series of novels centered on two fictional villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The first Fairacre novel appeared in 1955, the last in 1996. The first Thrush Green novel appeared in 1959. 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. Saint's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Saint was also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.
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 *) 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 Novels:
- 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
- Christmas at Thrush Green – 2009 written with Jenny Dereham
- 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.
Autobiography:
- A Fortunate Grandchild – 1982
- Time Remembered – 1986
Other Writings:
- Fresh from the Country – 1960. The story of a young country girl 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 0718103270
- Mrs Griffin Sends Her Love: and other writings - 2013. A selection of journalism, published posthumously.
England 
