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Dorothy L. Sayers

    June 13, 1893 – December 17, 1957

    Dorothy L. Sayers was a British author, best known for her mystery novels and short stories set between the World Wars, featuring the aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. However, Sayers herself considered her translation of Dante's Divine Comedy to be her finest achievement. She was also recognized for her plays and essays, reflecting her profound Christian humanist perspective and deep engagement with languages.

    Dorothy L. Sayers
    Gaudy Night
    Busman's Honeymoon
    Further Papers on Dante.
    Introductory Papers on Dante
    Clouds of Witness (Deluxe Library Edition)
    The Man Born to Be King
    • The Man Born to Be King

      Wade Annotated Edition

      • 466 pages
      • 17 hours of reading
      4.6(30)Add rating

      Set during World War II, this collection features radio dramas by Dorothy L. Sayers that explore twelve pivotal episodes in the life of Jesus, from the visit of the magi to his resurrection. Each episode highlights themes of faith and the kingship of Christ, providing a unique blend of historical context and spiritual reflection that resonates with the struggles of the time. The broadcasts served as a powerful reminder of hope and redemption amidst the chaos of war.

      The Man Born to Be King
    • Set in the interwar period, this mystery novel features a compelling plot that revolves around a murder investigation involving the aristocracy. The protagonist, Lord Peter Wimsey, navigates a web of family secrets and societal expectations to uncover the truth. Sayers' sharp wit and keen observations of class dynamics enrich the narrative, making it not only a thrilling whodunit but also a commentary on the era's social structures. The book showcases Sayers' mastery in blending suspense with insightful character development.

      Clouds of Witness (Deluxe Library Edition)
    • Introductory Papers on Dante

      • 225 pages
      • 8 hours of reading
      4.4(28)Add rating

      Introducing the Dante Papers Introductory Papers on Dante Further Papers on Dante The Poetry of Search and the Poetry of Statement This introductory volume of essays on Dante by Dr. Dorothy L. Sayers will be eagerly sought by the many thousands of readers who already know her vigorous and vivid translation of the Inferno. As those who have heard Miss Sayer's lectures on Dante can testify, she brings to the interpretation of the Divine Comedy a vitalizing power of analysis and re-creation. Readers of Dante often become discouraged by the mass of factual detail which the older school of historical criticism has made available; mere aestheticism, however, unrelated to the time and space, is nor likely to satisfy them either. They will find in Miss Sayers' essays enough scholarly assistance to put themselves in the position of a contemporary reader; but their attention will chiefly be drawn to the relevance of the Divine Comedy to our present day world and way of life. Miss Sayers' emphasis on the ethical, rather than on the aesthetic, or historical, significance of Dante's work, comes as a welcome and bracing challenge to the confusion regarding values, whether of literature or of life, which characterizes the present age.

      Introductory Papers on Dante
    • The Dante Papers Trilogy delves into a gripping narrative that intertwines mystery, historical intrigue, and complex characters. Set against a backdrop of rich literary references, the story follows a protagonist navigating a world filled with secrets and revelations. As the trilogy unfolds, themes of redemption, love, and the quest for truth emerge, challenging the characters' beliefs and relationships. Each installment builds upon the last, offering readers an immersive experience that explores the depths of human emotion and intellect.

      Further Papers on Dante.
    • Busman's Honeymoon

      • 464 pages
      • 17 hours of reading
      4.3(17965)Add rating

      They plan to have a quiet country honeymoon. Then Lord Peter Wimsey and his bride Harriet Vane find the previous owner's body in the cellar. Set in a country village seething with secrets and snobbery, this is Dorothy L. Sayers' last full-length detective novel. Variously described as a love story with detective interruptions and a detective story with romantic interruptions, it lives up to both descriptions with style. 'I admire her novels ... she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' P. D. James

      Busman's Honeymoon
    • Harriet Vane has never dared to return to her old Oxford college. Now, despite her scandalous life, she has been summoned back . . . At first she thinks her worst fears have been fulfilled, as she encounters obscene graffiti, poison pen letters and a disgusting effigy when she arrives at sedate Shrewsbury College for the 'Gaudy' celebrations. But soon, Harriet realises that she is not the only target of this murderous malice - and asks Lord Peter Wimsey to help. 'I admire her novels ... she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' P. D. James

      Gaudy Night
    • Can Lord Peter Wimsey prove that Harriet Vane is not guilty of murder - or find the real poisoner in time to save her from the gallows? Impossible, it seems. The Crown's case is watertight. The police are adamant that the right person is on trial. The judge's summing-up is also clear. Harriet Vane is guilty of the killing her lover. And Harriet Vane shall hang. But the jury disagrees. 'She combined literary prose with powerful suspense, and it takes a rare talent to achieve that. A truly great storyteller.' Minette Walters

      Strong Poison
    • Whose body?

      • 203 pages
      • 8 hours of reading
      4.2(87)Add rating

      It was the body of a tall stout man. On his dead face, a handsome pair of gold pince-nez mocked death with grotesque elegance. The body wore nothing else. Lord Peter Wimsey knew immediately what the corpse was supposed to be. His problem was to find out whose body had found its way into Mr Alfred Thipps' Battersea bathroom.

      Whose body?
    • When ad man Victor Dean falls down the stairs in the offices of Pym's Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, it looks like an accident. Then Lord Peter Wimsey is called in, and he soon discovers there's more to copywriting than meets the eye. A bit of cocaine, a hint of blackmail, and some wanton women can be read between the lines. And then there is the brutal succession of murders -- 5 of them -- each one a fixed fee for advertising a deadly secret.

      Murder Must Advertise
    • Lord Peter

      • 488 pages
      • 18 hours of reading
      4.1(188)Add rating

      One of the founding mothers of mystery, Dorothy L. Sayers first introduced the popular character Lord Peter Wimsey in 1923 with the publication of Whose Body? Over the next twenty years, more novels and short stories about the aristocratic amateur sleuth appeared, each one as cunningly written as the next. Now in a single volume, here are all of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories: a treasure for any mystery lover. From "The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag" to "The Image in the Mirror" and "Talboys," this collection is Lord Peter at his best—and a true testament to the art of detective fiction.

      Lord Peter