Susan Hilary Spurling (née Forrest; born 25 December 1940) is a British writer, known for her work as a journalist and biographer.
Born in Stockport, Cheshire,[1] to circuit judge Gilbert Alexander Forrest (1912–1977)[2] and teacher Emily Maureen, daughter of Joseph Armstrong, of Fivemiletown, County Tyrone,[3][4] Spurling was educated at Clifton High School, an independent school in Bristol, South-West England, and then at Somerville College, Oxford.
[5][6] Spurling won the Whitbread Prize for the second volume of her biography of Henri Matisse in January 2006.
[7]Burying The Bones: Pearl Buck in China was published in March 2010.
[6] The couple have three children (Amy, Nathaniel, and Gilbert).