Hilary Bailey (19 September 1936 – 19 January 2017) was a British writer, critic and editor. Bailey attended Newnham College, University of Cambridge, where she was a founder-member of the Cambridge University Women's Union. She was born in Bromley, Kent.
Her books include Polly Put the Kettle On, Mrs Mulvaney, Hannie Richards and All the Days of My Life, with a heroine who suffers the fate of all women who step away from what's expected of them. She wrote a biography of Vera Brittain, and sequels to Jane Eyre and The Turn of the Screw, a novel called Miles and Flora, which takes place some time after the original and resurrects one of the main characters. Bailey edited volumes 7-10 of the New Worlds Quarterly series, and was uncredited coauthor of The Black Corridor with Michael Moorcock.
She was editing North Sea Island, the sequel to Bailey's book, Fifty-First State, when her heart stopped.
Hilary had three children, Sophie, Kate and Max and three grandchildren Alex, Tom and Bobby.