Dorothy L. Sayers

Date of Birth: June 13, 1893

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: December 17, 1957

Biography

Dorothy Leigh Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, and translator, who is best known for her detective fiction featuring the character Lord Peter Wimsey. Sayers was born on June 13, 1893, in Oxford, England. She was one of the first women to receive a degree from Oxford University, having graduated from Somerville College with first-class honors in modern languages. Her first novel, “Whose Body?” introduced Lord Peter Wimsey and was published in 1923. The character quickly gained popularity and appeared in a series of novels and short stories. Sayers’ work is noted for its intricate plots, well-drawn characters, and rich literary style. In addition to her detective fiction, she wrote plays, essays, and translated Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” a project that she considered her greatest achievement. Dorothy L. Sayers was also a member of the Detection Club, a group of leading British mystery writers. Her work has had a lasting influence on the crime genre, and she is often credited with elevating the detective story to a higher literary art form.

5 Interesting Facts about Dorothy L. Sayers

1. Dorothy L. Sayers was one of the first women to graduate from Oxford University, receiving her degree in 1915.

2. She worked as a copywriter for the advertising agency S.H. Benson, where she coined the famous slogan for Guinness beer: “My Goodness, My Guinness.”

3. Sayers was a founding member of the Detection Club, which included other famous writers like Agatha Christie and G.K. Chesterton.

4. Besides her detective novels, Sayers translated Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” and her translation is still considered one of the finest in English.

5. She was an active Christian apologist and wrote several essays on theology and ethics.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Dorothy L. Sayers

1. “The first thing a principle does is kill somebody.”

2. “Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.”

3. “Facts are like cows. If you look them in the face long enough, they generally run away.”

4. “I love you—I am at rest with you—I have come home.”

5. “Books… are like lobster shells, we surround ourselves with ’em, then we grow out of ’em and leave ’em behind, as evidence of our earlier stages of development.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While specific figures regarding Dorothy L. Sayers’ net worth are not readily available, her successful career as an author, translator, and playwright suggests she achieved a comfortable level of financial success during her lifetime.

Children

Dorothy L. Sayers had one child, a son named John Anthony Fleming, born on January 3, 1924. John Anthony was born out of wedlock and was raised by Sayers’ cousin, Ivy Shrimpton.