Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy Leigh Sayers (Oxford, 13 June 1893 – Witham, 17 December 1957) was a British author, translator, student of classical and modern languages, and Christian humanist.

Turning Heart and Hands to God's Work

Sayers herself considered her translation of Dante's Divina Commedia to be her best work. She also wrote religious essays and plays, of which The Man Born to be King may be the best known.

Related Topics:
Translation - Dante - Divina Commedia - The Man Born to be King

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Her religious works did so well at presenting an orthodox Anglican position that in 1943 the Archbishop of Canterbury offered her an honorary doctorate in divinity, which she declined. In 1950, however, she accepted an honorary doctorate in literature from the University of Durham.

Related Topics:
Anglican - 1943 - Archbishop of Canterbury - 1950 - University of Durham

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Her essay The Lost Tools of Learning has been used by several schools in the US as a basis for a revival of classical education.

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She was acquainted with C. S. Lewis and his circle, and on some occasions joined Lewis at meetings of the Socratic Club. Lewis said he read The Man Born to Be King every Easter, but he claimed to be unable to appreciate detective stories. J. R. R. Tolkien, however, read some of the Wimsey novels and scorned the later ones, such as Gaudy Night.

Related Topics:
C. S. Lewis - J. R. R. Tolkien - Gaudy Night

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