Dorothy L. Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, and Christian humanist, known for her amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries.

*Early Life*
Born on June 13, 1893, in Oxford, England, Sayers was raised in rural East Anglia. She studied modern languages and medieval literature at Somerville College, Oxford, graduating with first-class honors in 1915. Although women couldn't receive degrees at the time, Sayers was among the first to receive a degree when the rules changed, and she graduated with an MA in 1920.

*Personal Life*
Sayers married Oswald Arthur "Mac" Fleming (d.1950) in 1926. But prior to her marriage, she had a relationship with writer and journalist, John Cournos, which resulted in her son, John Anthony Fleming (b.1924), but Cournos left her. Sayers' personal experiences, including her time at Oxford and her Christian faith, significantly influenced her writing and perspectives on relationships and societal norms.

*Writing Career*
- *Poetry*: She published 2 volumes of poetry, "Op. I" (1916) and "Catholic Tales and Christian Songs" (1918).
- *Crime Fiction*: Her Lord Peter Wimsey series features an English aristocrat and amateur sleuth.
- *Plays*: Sayers wrote several plays, including "The Man Born to be King," a radio drama series about Jesus's life.
- *Translations*: She translated important works, such as Dante's "Divine Comedy" and "The Song of Roland".

Sayers explored the themes of justice, morality and the human condition.
- Her Lord Peter Wimsey series had complex mysteries and intellectual puzzles.
- *Christianity*: Sayers' Christian faith is evident in her work, particularly in her plays and essays on religious themes ie The Mind of the Maker.
- *Women's Roles*: Her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field influenced her writing, particularly in her portrayal of strong female characters.

*Legacy*
Sayers contributed significantly to intellectualism through her writing and translations. Her influential essay on the importance of classical education, presented at Oxford in 1947, shaped the classical education movement.Her work continues to be lauded for depth, wit, and insights.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the digital ARC of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I haven't had the pleasure of reading DLS but have heard great things about her super-sleuth, Lord Peter Whimsey. I also knew that she was in the Detection Club along with Agatha Christie. What I did not realize is how impactful her other writings were. She truly was a feminist who was ahead of her time. She was a scholar, she worked in advertising, too, and it seems everything she touched was revolutionary.

Unfortunately, despite how interesting the subject, this was a bit of a slog to get through. Very scholarly and academic and dry in the writing. If you're a fan of DLS work, I would recommend, but not for the casual reader like me.

A forensic study of Dorothy L. Sayers, this certainly delves into her life and work in great depth. What I found most interesting about it is the account of Oxford’s influence on her, and how the greater success of women in the changing tines affected her life and career. However, Wade also discusses her religion, her religious works and her poetry. He also provides a sensitive look at Whimsey’s character.

I will return to the books with greater knowledge of this amazing woman now.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This biography explores the multifaceted life and enduring legacy of Dorothy L. Sayers, renowned author of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. Beyond her crime fiction, it examines her contributions as a feminist, scholar, and advertising copywriter, revealing the depth and breadth of her influence on literature and beyond.

This is an interesting and thought-provoking book. It unfortunately contains spoilers for several of Sayers’ novels. It also takes a dismissive tone toward modern cozy mysteries. I don’t understand why the author can’t celebrate Sayers without denigrating other authors. If he doesn’t respect the cozy subgenre, he could simply have remained silent on the subject.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I confess I know very little about Dorothy Sayers. Many years ago I read a couple of her books and I knew she was an advertising copy writer who coined a couple famous phrases. The Worlds of Dorothy L Sayers is a total revelation. In addition to being an amazing biography, it’s also a deep dig into her works in the context of the time, so it’s a social history as well. She was writing during the so called Golden Age of detective fiction and some of her books may now seem dated and reflect attitudes that aren’t current. But she was way ahead of her time and I had no idea of the extent of her other writing, beliefs and overpowering intellect, She was, without doubt an indomitable force and this book as really whetted my appetite to work through some of her books. I found it really exciting to discover a whole hidden side to a name I’ve never given much thought to. Stephen Wade seems to have captured the essence of this remarkable lady and I can’t wait to get stuck in to a new reading experience.

The bibliography is extensive with primary and secondary sources listed. I loved the photos at the end; pictures of Dorothy during her life, some of her books and places of importance. They all added substance to this amazing lady.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Discover the woman behind the words in this biography of the famed crime sleuth Dorothy L. Sayers. I'd heard of Dorothy from her works, but knew little about her actual life. Reading about the force of nature that she was gave me great joy and made for a fabulous read. The Worlds of Dorothy L. Sayers will keep you enthralled in it's entirety.