Beatrice E. (Beatrice Elizabeth) Clay

Beatrice Elizabeth Clay was a British head teacher and children's author active from the late 19th to the early 20th century. She studied at Notting Hill High School and earned a BA in English at Bedford College, London, where she was a Reid Scholar.

Alongside her work in education, she wrote accessible retellings of older literature for young readers. She is especially known for Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the Mabinogion and for versions of Old Icelandic stories, helping introduce classic legend and myth to new audiences in a clear, inviting style.

The surviving information about her life is fairly limited, but her work has lasted because it opens the door to epic material without making it feel remote or difficult. She stands out as one of those writers who quietly helped generations of readers discover older storytelling traditions.