Berta Ruck


Amy Roberta Ruck, Mrs. Oliver Onions was an Indian-born Welsh writer of over 90 romance novels from 1905 to 1972. She also wrote short stories, an autobiography and two memoir-style works.

Personal life

Born Amy Roberta Ruck on 2 August 1878 in Murree, Punjab, British India, as one of the eight children of Eleanor D'Arcy and Colonel Arthur Ashley Ruck, a British army officer. The family moved to Wales, where Ruck went to school in Bangor.
Bernard Darwin, the golf writer and grandchild of Charles Darwin, was her cousin. Many of her letters and manuscripts are archived in the National Library of Wales.
In 1909, she married a fellow novelist, Oliver Onions. They had two sons: Arthur and William. Her husband legally changed his name to George Oliver in 1918, but continued to publish under the name Oliver Onions.
Berta Ruck was widowed in 1961. She died in Aberdyfi on 11 August 1978, just nine days after her 100th birthday.

Writing career

As Berta Ruck began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines from 1905. She published her first novel, His Official Fiancée in 1914, which was the subject of two films: His Official Fiancée, silent film directed by Robert G. Vignola and Hans officiella fästmö, Swedish movie directed by Nils Jerring.

Partial bibliography

Novels

Short story