Florence Ayscough MacNair (21 January 1875 – 26 April 1942) was a sinologist, writer and translator of Chinese literature.

[1][2] Ayscough moved to the United States aged nine, and attended Shaw School in Brookline, Massachusetts, near Boston.

[1] She was Honorary Librarian of the North China Branch Royal Asiatic Society in Shanghai for fifteen years.

[6] Her writings included translations of classical poetry and essays on Chinese art, history, and philosophy.

For example, her review of the 1931 novel The Good Earth by American writer Pearl Buck, Ayscough praised the choice of contemporary Chinese peasantry as the subject, but criticized the accuracy.

[9] On a visit to America, she brought with her Chinese word pictures that she translated into English, which Lowell turned into rhymed poetry.

[1][10] Ayscough enjoyed sailing, swimming, theatre and music, and was a member of the English Speaking Union.

[11] In 1941, Ayscough was admitted to the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital, where she died on 26 April 1942 after a long illness.

[4] After her death, Ayscough's correspondence with her friend, the poet Amy Lowell, was compiled and published by her husband Professor Harley Farnsworth MacNair.