Cicily (Cissy) Fairfield aka Dame Rebecca West

Dates: 21 December 1892 – 15 March 1983

Lived at: Fairliehope, 5 Chatham Close (1908-14)

Profession: Activist and author

Memorialised: There is a blue plaque in her honour at her former home at Hope Park Square, Edinburgh


Activism to support women's suffrage

• Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)

• None

• Cicily and her family evaded the 1911 census.

• Cicily took part in suffragette street protests
• Involved in selling suffragette newspapers from the age of 14.

 

Author

• Wrote for a range of publications, including The Freewoman, a feminist publication (which was banned by WH Smith) and The Clarion
• Became better known under her pen name of Dame Rebecca West. Became celebrated author of novels, essays, and journalism
• Awarded: CBE – 1949, DBE – 1959.

 

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