D.E. Stevenson was a Scottish author, born in Edinburgh in 1892, who wrote light romance novels. She was home-schooled and started writing at the age of eight, but her parents disapproved of her passion for writing, so she had to write in secret. Stevenson's father, David Alan Stevenson, was a lighthouse engineer and a first cousin to the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson.
Stevenson's writing career took off after she married a captain in the 6th Ghurkha Rifles in 1916. She is known for her popular novel series, including the Mrs. Tim series, the Miss Buncle series, and several other mini-series. Her books fall under the light romance and literature & fiction genres and have been successful in both Britain and the United States, with a total of seven million copies sold. Stevenson's writing is known for being funny, intensely readable, engaging, and dependable. In 2009, there was a renewed interest in her work, leading to the reissue of two of her most popular novels, "Mrs. Tim of the Regiment" and "Miss Buncle's Book," by Bloomsbury and Persephone Books, respectively. The sequel, "Miss Buncle Married," was also reissued by Persephone in 2011.
Stevenson's family background played a significant role in her writing career. Being related to Robert Louis Stevenson, one of the greatest Scottish authors, may have influenced her to become a writer. Despite her parents' disapproval, she pursued her passion for writing and became a successful author in her own right. Her popularity in Britain and the United States is a testament to her talent and the appeal of her writing style.