May Byron

Mary Clarissa "May" Byron (née Gillington) was a British writer born in 1861 who published under several names, including May Byron, M. C. Gillington, and Maurice Clare. Her work ranged widely across poetry, literary and musical biography, children’s books, and cookery writing, showing a talent for making big subjects approachable to general readers.

She became especially known for her popular series on writers and composers, and later for adapting J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan stories for children. That mix of literary enthusiasm and clear, accessible storytelling helped her reach a broad audience in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Byron died on November 5, 1936. Although she is not as widely known now as some of the figures she wrote about, her career stands out for its range, energy, and instinct for bringing literature to younger and everyday readers.