A collection of Rebecca West’s critical thought, essays, and reviews that sparkles with her wit and intelligence
Throughout her life, West worked as a journalist and critic, and in this collection readers will discover her vibrant voice, which is at times frank and frequently humorous. Whether considering her escapades in Prohibition-era New York or her own path to writing fiction, West’s essays offer captivating stories and apt reflections on human foibles—as well as her own personality. That same honesty is evident in her reviews, in which West tackles subjects such as Winston Churchill’s memoir and Brave New World, but never shies away from either a critical or playful tone. A wonderful introduction to the author’s nonfiction writing, and a veritable goldmine for fans, The Essential Rebecca West brings the writer, her voice, and her times to life.
Dame Rebecca West (1892–1983) is one of the most critically acclaimed and bestselling English novelists, journalists, and literary critics of the twentieth century. In her eleven novels, beginning with The Return of the Soldier, she delved into the psychological landscape of her characters and explored topics including feminism, socialism, love, betrayal, and identity. She was lauded for her wit and intellectual acuity, evident in her prolific journalistic works such as her coverage of the Nuremberg trials for the New Yorker, published as A Train of Powder, and Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, her epic study of Yugoslavia and its people. She had a child with H.G. Wells, but married banker Henry Maxwell Andrews later in life and continued writing until she died in London at age ninety.