Writer of Novels, Short Stories, Children's fiction, Plays, Screenplays, History, Children's non-fiction, Poetry. Born 1897, Scotland. An author whose works span seven decades, Naomi Mitchison originally wanted to be a scientist. An incomplete education made her turn to writing. Served as a volunteer nurse during WW I. She helped establish the first birth control clinics in London, and became involved in political action with the counter-revolution in Austria in 1934 and with sharecroppers in Arkansas in 1935. She travelled to the Soviet Union in 1932 and 1952. Active in Scottish politics.