Flora Annie Steel

Flora Annie Steele (April 2, 1847 - April 12, 1929) was an English writer who lived in British India for 22 years. It has been noted specifically for books established or otherwise associated with the subcontinent. She was born Flora Annie Webster in Sudbury, Middlesex, the sixth child of George Webster. In 1867, she married Henry William Steele, a member of the Indian Civil Service, and lived there until 1889, mainly in Punjab, with which most of her books are associated. She became deeply interested in the life of the Indians and began to persuade educational reforms in the government of India. Mrs. Steel became an inspector of government and auxiliary schools in Punjab and also worked with John Lockwood Kipling, the father of Rudyard Kipling, to develop Indian arts and crafts. When her husband's health was poor, Flora Annie Steele took over some of his duties. She died at her daughter's house in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, on April 12, 1929. Among her biographers are Violet Powell and Daya Patwardhan.