Eveline Michell Farwell

Eveline Louisa Mitchell Forbes, known professionally as the Hon. Mrs. Walter R. D. Forbes, was a British novelist and author of a book on palmistry. Born in 1866, she was the daughter of Frederick Cooper Farwell and Louisa Whitbread Mitchell. In 1888, she married Walter Robert Drummond Forbes, son of the 18th Lord Forbes, and they had a son, Victor Courtenay Walter Forbes.

Her literary output included nine novels, often characterized by single-word titles and settings spanning the British Empire. Notable novels include 'Blight' (1897), about a socialite, 'A Gentleman' (1900), which follows a dressmaker's son across various locations, and 'Dumb' (1901), set in Scotland, Switzerland, and India, concerning a woman's difficult marriage. She also published 'Nameless' (1909), which features a female novelist. In addition to her fiction, Forbes wrote extensively on palmistry, publishing 'Fingers and Fortune' in 1886, later reissued as 'Practical Palmistry for the Amateur.' She also contributed articles on the subject to 'The New Review,' including a notable piece where she analyzed the palm of author Thomas Hardy. Eveline Michell Farwell passed away on April 18, 1924.

Eveline Michell Farwell demonstrated a significant interest in the esoteric practice of palmistry, authoring the book 'Fingers and Fortune' in 1886. This work was later re-released under the title 'Practical Palmistry for the Amateur' in 1917, suggesting a continued engagement with the subject matter and its audience. Her expertise extended to publishing articles on palmistry for 'The New Review.' A particularly noteworthy article from 1894 involved her reading the palm of the esteemed novelist Thomas Hardy, indicating her engagement with both practitioners and prominent figures within the literary and potentially occult spheres. This focus on palmistry positions her as an author who explored divination and personal destiny through hand analysis.

Farwell's novels frequently explored themes of social dynamics and personal journeys, often set against diverse backdrops across the British Empire. Her works tended to feature concise, single-word titles. For instance, 'Blight' (1897) centers on a manipulative female character within high society. 'A Gentleman' (1900) traces the life of a dressmaker's son as he navigates social aspirations from Italy to London and Australia. 'Dumb' (1901) delves into the complexities of a troubled marriage and subsequent widowhood, with settings ranging from Scotland and Switzerland to the Indian frontier. 'Nameless' (1909) focuses on a female novelist named Cecil Grey, with its narrative unfolding across Scotland, London, and Africa, highlighting her exploration of female protagonists and their experiences in varied environments.