Jane Duncan was born in Renton, West Dunbartonshire and brought up in the Scottish Lowlands where her father was a police officer, but much of her childhood was spent in the Highlands on the Black Isle in Easter Ross, on her grandparents' croft "The Colony": the "Reachfar" of her novels. She graduated in English from the University of Glasgow and did various secretarial jobs before serving as a Flight Officer (Intelligence), WAAF during World War II alongside the choreographer Frederick Ashton. She afterwards lived in Jamaica for ten years, returning to Jemimaville, near "The Colony", in 1958 as a widow. In 1959 Duncan became something of a publishing sensation when Macmillan Publishers announced that it would be publishing seven of her manuscripts, the first to be produced being My Friends the Miss Boyds. The nineteenth and last of the series, My Friends George and Tom, was published in 1976. The biographical background to her writing is given in her Letter from Reachfar (1975) (ISBN 0-333-18755-5).

The "Reachfar" (My Friends) series is narrated by Janet Sandison and follows her life (which in outline parallels that of the author) from the World War I period through to the 1960s, depicting the people she encounters and showing how her crofting upbringing influences her in whatever society and geographical location she finds herself.

In the four-novel Jean Robertson sequence (1969-75), notionally written by Sandison (who herself becomes an author), the heroine and part-narrator moves from bleak beginnings in the town of "Lochfoot" (based on Balloch, West Dunbartonshire) to become a house-servant in the interwar period, influencing for good the lives of many around her.

The five-book "Camerons" series for children have a contemporary setting (being inspired by the author's niece and nephews, "The Hungry Generation") and are particularly notable for including the young Iain who has learning difficulties. Camerons on the Train was filmed as The Camerons (Children's Film Foundation, 1974).

To mark the centenary of Jane Duncan's birth, Millrace Books have re-published My Friends the Miss Boyds. The new edition of My Friends the Miss Boyds was launched at Waterstone’s in Inverness on Thursday 24 June, 2010.

As Jane Duncan:

My Friends the Miss BoydsMy Friend MurielMy Friend MonicaMy Friend AnnieMy Friend SandyMy Friend Martha's AuntMy Friend FloraMy Friend Madame ZoraMy Friend RoseMy Friend Cousin EmmieMy Friends the Mrs. MillersMy Friends from CairntonMy Friend my FatherMy Friends the MacLeansMy Friends the Hungry GenerationMy Friend the SwallowMy Friend SashieMy Friends the Misses KindnessMy Friends George and Tom

Autobiography:

Letter from Reachfar

Children's books:

Camerons on the TrainCamerons on the HillsCamerons at the CastleCamerons CallingCamerons Ahoy!

Herself and Janet Reachfar (originally published as Brave Janet Reachfar)Janet Reachfar and the KelpieBrave Janet Reachfar (reissued as Herself and Janet Reachfar)Janet Reachfar and Chickabird

As Janet Sandison

Jean in the MorningJean at NoonJean in the TwilightJean Towards Another Day