The Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers. Vol. 2, 1937-1943: From Novelist to Playwright

Spanning the years 1937-1943, the second volume of The Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers, edited by Barbara Reynolds, covers the seven years in which the greatest detective novelist of the golden age turns away from mystery writing to become a playwright and, in turn, a controversial figure. As such, it bears little mention of Lord Peter but further illumination into the inspirations of his creator. There is some coverage of the Wimsey family papers and the play version of Busman's Honeymoon, but the bulk of this second volume deals with the groundbreaking set of religious plays that Sayers wrote for the BBC, including a fascinating contretemps over the BBC's attempts to edit her. This volume provides considerable insight into a formidable intellect and a sparkling writer.