Collected Works of E. M. Delafield (Illustrated) (eBook)

E. M. Delafield, the nom de plume of Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture (1890–1943), is best known for her largely autobiographical 'Diary of a Provincial Lady' series. Born to a novelist mother, Marie de la Pasture, Delafield began her career with the debut novel 'Zella Sees Herself' in 1917. Over the years, she carved a niche for herself in the realm of social comedies, using her sharp wit and acute observations to portray the domestic life of the middle and upper classes of early 20th-century England. Her writing, which also extended to plays and contributions to periodicals like 'Punch', is characterized by its ironical humor and insightful representations of women's lives during the period between the World Wars. Delafield's work is often considered part of the 'middlebrow' literary tradition, accessible yet articulate in chronicling the subtle nuances of everyday existence. 'The Collected Works of E. M. Delafield (Illustrated)' includes an array of her novels, encapsulating the breadth of her literary style and the depth of her understanding of human nature. Despite the time-specific settings of her stories, the themes of societal expectations and personal aspirations remain relatable to modern audiences, affording Delafield a lasting place in the canon of English literature.