His autobiography The Story of My Life (1896–1900) details both a devotion to his adopted mother, Maria, and an intense unhappiness with his home education at Buckwell Place.

Hare was the author of a large number of books, which fall into two classes: biographies of members and connections of his family, and descriptive and historical accounts of various countries and cities.

[5] Hare spent his money on purchasing and refurbishing a house in Baldslow, Sussex, near Hastings, which he named Holmhurst St Mary.

[8] In 1913[9] the estate was purchased by the Community of the Holy Family, an Anglican order of teaching nuns, with a focus on art and scholarship.

Their mother foundress, Agnes Mason, who had formed the community in London in 1896 and later brought it to Sussex, recognised the house and gardens as a piece of Italy – specifically Florence – in England.