A Gracious Life, being the Life of Barbara Acarie (originally published in 1879 by Emily Bowles) is a biographical account of Barbe Avrillot, better known as Blessed Mary of the Incarnation (1566–1618). The book details her life as a 16th-century French noblewoman, mystic, mother, and eventual nun who played a pivotal role in bringing the Carmelite reform to France. Emily Bowles’ biography highlights Barbe Acarie as a model of Christian virtue who managed to blend a high-ranking social life with profound spiritual devotion. The work is considered a significant record of the 17th-century French School of Spirituality.