Alice Perrin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alice Perrin
in 1906
Born	Alice Robinson 15 July 1867 Mussoorie, North-Western Provinces, British Raj
Died	13 February 1934 Vaud, Switzerland
Nationality	United Kingdom
Occupation	Writer
Known for	Novels and ghost stories
Spouse(s)	Charles Perrin
Children	1

Alice Perrin (born Alice Robinson, 15 July 1867 – 13 February 1934) was a British writer. She wrote many novels and short stories. Her books were often about the lives of British people living in India when it was ruled by Britain. She became very well-known after her collection of short ghost stories, East of Suez, was published.

Her Life and Writing

Early Life in India

Alice Perrin was born in 1867 in Mussoorie, a hill station in India. At that time, India was part of the British Raj, meaning it was ruled by Britain. Her parents were Bertha and John Innes Robinson. Her father became a high-ranking officer in the Bengal Cavalry, which was part of the British Indian Army. Her great-grandfather, Sir George Robinson, 1st Baronet, was a director of the East India Company. This company was very important in Britain's early rule of India.

Alice was sent to school in England. After finishing her education, she returned to India. On May 26, 1886, she married Charles Perrin, an engineer, in Dehra.

Becoming a Popular Writer

After getting married and having her only child, Alice started writing. She found that writing helped make life more interesting for her as a British woman living in India. Her first short story, Caulfield's Crime, was published in 1892.

"Never Been in Love" illustration by Harold Copping for "Beynon of the Irrigation Department" (from The Windsor Magazine in 1896)

Her first full-length books were Into Temptation and Late in Life. These were both two-volume novels, published in 1894 and 1896. Over her career, Alice Perrin wrote seventeen novels in total.

Her writing became very popular, especially after her first collection of short ghost stories, East of Suez, came out. This book sold very well. People even compared her writing to that of the famous author Rudyard Kipling. Some critics, like those from Punch, even thought her writing was better in some ways!

Stories About India

Alice Perrin often wrote about missionaries in India. Missionaries are people who travel to other countries to spread their religion. Alice didn't always agree with their methods or views. Historians who study British India often mention three important books about missionaries. One of these is Alice Perrin's 1909 book, Idolatry.

Later Years

In 1925, Alice Perrin and her husband moved to Switzerland. Sadly, three years later, her only child passed away in London. Alice Perrin herself died in Vaud, Switzerland, in 1934.

Her Books

Woman in bazaar - illustrated by J Dewar Mills in 1914

Here are some of Alice Perrin's well-known books:

• Into Temptation (1894)
• Late in Life (1896)
• East of Suez (1901) - a collection of short stories
• The Spell of the Jungle (1902)
• Idolatory (1909)
• The Anglo-Indians (1912)
• The Happy Hunting Ground (1914)
• Woman in Bazaar (1914)
• Star of India (1919)
• Government House (1925)