Dorothy L Sayers Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Childhood and Early Life

English crime writer, translator, poet, and playwright Dorothy L. Sayers was born on the 13 June 1893 in Witham, Essex, England to Henry Sayers, a chaplain at Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford and Helen Mary Leigh. She was raised in the village of Bluntisham-cum-Earith in Huntingdonshire where her father was the rector.

Education

Dorothy L. Sayers was homeschooled before being sent to Godolphin School, a boarding school in Salisbury. Sayers then won a scholarship to Oxford University where she was studied English literature at Somerville College (1912-1915). She obtained a masters degree in 1920, becoming one of the first women to receive a degree from Oxford University.

Rise to Fame

Dorothy L. Sayers began her writing careers as a poet and her first book of poetry, Op.1 was published in 1916, followed by her second collection, Catholic Tales and Christian Songs (1918). She also worked as a copywriter at S.H. Benson’s, an advertising agency in London (1922-1931).

Career

Dorothy L. Sayers first novel was Whose Body (1923) which introduced the amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. She wrote 11 more crime novels featuring the character of Lord Wimsey as well as five collections of short stories including Clouds of Witness (1926), Unnatural Death (1927), Strong Poison (1930), The Five Red Herrings (1931), Murder Must Advertise (1933), Gaudy Night (1935)  and Double Death: A Murder Story (1939).

Sayers also collaborated on four other novels, wrote radio serial stories and did six translations including Dane’s Divine Comedy and the Song of Roland from medieval French. As a playwright, she wrote The Zeal of Thy House for the Canterbury Festival plus six others plays.   

Personal Life

Dorothy L. Sayers married Mac Fleming in 1926, and they remained married until his death in 1950. Their son was John Anthony Fleming (b.1924-d.1984). Dorothy L. Sayers died of a stroke on the 17 December 1957.