Betty Miller

08 October 1910 - 24 November 1965

During the earlier half of the twentieth century, BM published seven novels (with a hiatus after her fourth and most controversial was initially rejected), essays, short stories, and book reviews, and wrote plays for both stage and radio. The recent republication of two of her novels suggests that her work may be due for reappraisal.

Milestones

8 October 1910

Betty Bergson Spiro (later BM ) was born in Cork, Ireland, the second daughter in her family; she later had two younger brothers.

Miller, Sarah, and Betty Miller. “Introduction”. On the Side of the Angels, Virago, p. vii - xviii.

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1941

BM published Farewell Leicester Square with Robert Hall six years after Victor Gollancz (until then her chosen publisher) had turned it down on account of its sensitive subject-matter.

Miller, Sarah, and Betty Miller. “Introduction”. On the Side of the Angels, Virago, p. vii - xviii.

February 1945

BM published a war novel entitled On the Side of the Angels, dedicated to the memory of Henry William Spiro , Dear brother: incomparable friend, Missing, presumed killed, in H.M.S. Firedrake.

On 16 December 1942, 168 of the crew died when HMS Firedrake, a destroyer escorting a convoy to Canada, was hit by torpedo and broke in two. Twenty-seven were pulled from the water, of whom one died later.

H. M. S. Firedrake Association. http://www.hmsfiredrake.co.uk/.

Miller, Betty, and Sarah Miller. On the Side of the Angels. Virago.

prelims

24 November 1965

BM died a month after her fifty-fifth birthday, after a very rapid decline. She had Alzheimer's Disease.

Miller, Sarah, and Betty Miller. “Introduction”. On the Side of the Angels, Virago, p. vii - xviii.

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Biography

Birth and Family

8 October 1910

Betty Bergson Spiro (later BM ) was born in Cork, Ireland, the second daughter in her family; she later had two younger brothers.

Miller, Sarah, and Betty Miller. “Introduction”. On the Side of the Angels, Virago, p. vii - xviii.

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