Ruby M. Ayres
Ruby M. Ayres was an English author born in 1883 who began her writing career as a teenager and became a notable contributor to various periodicals and newspapers. Her debut novel, "Richard Chatterton, V. C." (1915), explores themes of heroism and transformation through the lens of wartime experiences, depicting both the valor and the harsh realities of war. Over time, Ayres shifted her focus toward the romance genre, producing works such as "The Big Fellah" (1931) and "And Still They Dream" (1938). These later novels typically feature heroines of good moral character who navigate obstacles to find love, often set against the backdrop of modest circumstances. Her writing style is characterized by straightforward prose and a conservative approach to romance, emphasizing emotional connection over physical intimacy. Ayres gained popularity in her day, even being recognized in 1938 as one of the Most Popular Two Penny Library Authors, and several of her works have been adapted into films. Her literary contributions reflect a blend of societal values and evolving themes in early 20th-century fiction.
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Subject Terms
Ruby M. Ayres
Writer
- Born: 1883
- Birthplace: England
- Died: November 14, 1955
Biography
Ruby Mildred Ayres was born in 1883 in England. She started writing fiction as a teenager and later became a frequent contributor of stories to periodicals and newspapers. Her first novel, Richard Chatterton, V. C. (1915), received little attention. The novel deals with the popular wartime theme of a man transformed by military duty, an experience that makes him worthy of his beloved. Although the novel has this extravagant theme of heroic fiction throughout, Ayres also connects to the reality of war. Many of her secondary characters expound on the agonies and horrors of war, and her battle scenes are captured in vivid detail.
Ayres’s later novels, such as The Big Fellah (1931) and And Still They Dream (1938), contrast strongly with this first novel. Lacking the heroism and chivalry of her war novel, her subsequent novels fall into the romance genre and follow a set formula: The heroine is often a young girl of good moral character who, after overcoming certain obstacles and misunderstandings, succeeds in marrying the man with whom she had fallen in love. The heroine comes from a virtuous family of modest means, and her lover is a strong, admirable man but very rarely an aristocrat.
Ayres wrote in a straightforward style. Her heroines are appealingly ordinary, and the sexual tone of her work is generally conservative—limited to hand-holding and chaste kisses. In 1938, Ayres was included on a list of the Most Popular Two Penny Library Authors. A number of her works have been re- released or adapted into films.