Molly Keane was born Mary Nesta Skrine in County Kildare, Ireland on July 20, 1904. From 1928 to 1956, she wrote under the pseudonym M. J. Farrell. As Farrell, she wrote 11 novels and several plays including Young Entry, Devoted Ladies, Loving without Tears, Spring Meeting, Ducks and Drakes, Guardian Angel, Treasure Hunt, and Dazzling Prospect. She stopped writing for over 20 years until Good Behaviour was published in 1981 under her married name and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her other later works include Time After Time and Loving and Giving. She died on April 22, 1996.