Phyllis Matthewman (née Barton) (19 January 1896 – 1979), British writer of

children's books A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younge ...

, mostly boarding school stories, and adult fiction.

Personal life

Matthewman was born in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...

, the elder daughter of Thomas Barton, an insurance manager, and Ada Mary (née Pollard). She had a sister, Joyce. In 1930, she married Sydney Matthewman, a literary agent, whose father ran the Swan Press in Leeds. They had no children. In 1964, her long-time friend

Elinor Brent-Dyer Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (6 April 1894 – 20 September 1969) was an English writer of children's literature who wrote more than one hundred books during her lifetime, the most famous being the '' Chalet School'' series. Early life and education B ...

was persuaded to leave the unmanageably large Victorian villa at which she had previously run a school in order to live with the Matthewmans, which she did until her death in 1969. After first living together as tenants in half of a house called Albury Edge, at Redhill, Surrey, they bought a house together, Gryphons, also at Redhill, in 1965. Phyllis's aunt, who knew the Dyer family, had introduced them in childhood. Sydney Matthewman served as Brent-Dyer's agent.

Selected books

Daneswood series

* ''Chloe Takes Control'', 1940 * ''The Queerness of Rusty'', 1941 * ''Josie Moves Up'', 1943 * ''A New Role for Natasha'', 1945 * ''Justice for Jacqueline'', 1946 * ''Pat at the Helm'', 1947 * ''The Intrusion of Nicola'', 1948

Kirkdale Priory series

* ''Because of Vivian'', 1947 * ''The Turbulence of Tony'', 1951 * ''The Coming of Lys'', 1951 * ''The Amateur Prefects'', 1951

The 'Mr. Jones' books

* ''Thanks to Mr. Jones'', 1948 * ''Peter-New Girl'', 1948 * ''Mr. Jones Tips the Scales'', 1950 * ''Peter Plays the Sleuth'', 1950

Other children's books

* ''Jill on the Land'' (1942) * ''John Williams'', biography of

John Williams (missionary) John Williams (29 June 1796 – 20 November 1839) was an English missionary, active in the Oceania, South Pacific. Early life He was born in Tottenham, near London, to Welsh parents. In 1810 the family moved to north London and there he serve ...

, (1954, Oliphants) * ''The Mystery of Snake Island'' (1962, University of London Press) * ''No Magic Carpet'' (1966, EJ Arnold)

Adult romance fiction

* ''Set to Partners'' (1944, Mills & Boon) * ''Utility Wedding'' (1946, Mills & Boon) * ''Stable Companions'' (1947, Mills & Boon) * ''How Could You, Jennifer!'' (1948, Mills & Boon) * ''River of Enchantment'' (1948, Mills & Boon) * ''Colour of Romance'' (1949, Mills & Boon) * ''The Veil Between'' (1950, Mills & Boon) * ''The Imprudence of Prue'' (1951, Mills & Boon) * ''Winged Cupid'', (1951, Mills & Boon) * ''Clutch of Circumstance'' (1952, Mills & Boon) * ''Imitation Marriage'' (1952, Mills & Boon) * ''Castle to Let'' (1953, Mills & Boon) * ''Welcome Enemy'' (1953, Mills & Boon) * ''Luck for Lindy'' (1954, Mills & Boon) * ''Sir, she Said'' (1954, Mills & Boon) * ''The Beckoning House'' (1955, Mills & Boon) * ''Beginners, Please'' (1955, Mills & Boon) * ''Fetters of a Dream'' (1956, Mills & Boon) * ''Romance Goes Tenting'' (1956, Mills & Boon) * ''Safari with Wings'' (1957, Mills & Boon) * ''Cupid in Mayfair'' (1958, Mills & Boon) * ''Wife on Approval'' (1958, Mills & Boon) * ''Food of Love'' (1959, Mills & Boon) * ''Ace of Hearts'' (1960, Mills & Boon) * ''Call Me Cousin'' (1960, Mills & Boon) * ''Cupid Under Capricorn'' (1961, Mills & Boon) * ''Maiden's Castle'' (1962, Mills & Boon) * ''Voyage into Happiness'' (1962, Mills & Boon) * ''Ward of Court'' (1963, Mills & Boon) * ''A Brother for Jane'' (1964, Mills & Boon) * ''Make Up Your Mind, Nurse'' (1964, Mills & Boon) * ''The Wonderful Year'' (1964, Mills & Boon) * ''Bolt of Cupid'', (1965, Mills & Boon) * ''The Heart is Highland'' (1965, Mills & Boon) * ''Tread Warily'' (1966, Mills & Boon) * ''The Magic of the Moon'' (1967, Mills & Boon)

Adult thrillers

* ''Brides of the Devil'' (1946), published under the name Jacqueline Yorke

References

External links

* http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/phyllis-matthewman/ * http://www.gatewaymonthly.com/girlauthorb.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Matthewman, Phyllis British children's writers Women romantic fiction writers 20th-century British women writers 1979 deaths 1896 births People from Leeds