Sylvia Townsend Warner (1893-1978) was a poet, novelist,journalist and musicologist. She grew up in Devonshireand was home-schooled for her rebellious behaviour. AfterWorld War II disrupted her musical studies, she moved toLondon to work in a munitions factory. With her partnerValentine Ackland, whom she lived with from 1930 untilher death, Warner was active in the Communist Party in thefight against fascism and served in the Red Cross during theSpanish Civil War. She wrote her acclaimed debut, LollyWillowes, in 1926, followed by six more novels and hundredsof stories and political articles.
"""Original, elegant and hypnotically strange."" -- New York Times ""What a witty, poetic, clairvoyant writer ... Genius."" -- John Updike ""One of our finest writers."" -- Neil Gaiman ""One of our most idiosyncratic, courageous and versatile writers."" -- Hermione Lee ""One of the most acute and intelligent writers of her age."" -- Claire Harman ""Like charades played by angels."" -- Sunday Times ""Glinting perfection ... Beautiful, unplaceable weirdness."" Times"