The English writer Dorothy Leigh Sayers was born on 13.06.1893 as the daughter of Reverend Henry Sayers and his wife in Oxford. Her father was a chaplain and director of the choir school of Christ Church, one of the 40 colleges in Oxford.

Sayers studied classical and modern languages at Somerville College in Oxford ??. She graduated "Summa cum laude" and was one of the first women who had been admitted to Oxford. Later, Dorothy Sayers worked as a teacher and later as a copywriter in an advertising agency in London.

Dorothy Sayers began her literary activities with religious poems and stories. At the age of 31 she was, though she was not married yet, pregnant with a child, who ended up living with a cousin and being brought up there too. She had published her first mystery novel, Whose Body?

with the title character Lord Peter Wimsey the year before. Her crime novels were based on the traditional Christian view of crime and punishment.

In 1926 she met the journalist Oswald Arthur "Mac" Flemming and married him. Later Dorothy Sayers and her husband adopted their son, who, however, never lived in their household. Until shortly before her death, her son never knew that "Aunt Dorothy" was his real birth mother.

In 1928, Dorothy L. Sayers was one of the founding members of the Detection Club, a group of mystery, science fiction and mystery authors. From 1949 to 1957 she was president of the club, whose members pledged to adhere to certain rules that should be the need of fairness to the reader. By the way, Agatha Christie was another known founding member of the club.

Together with Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell and P.D. James, Dorothy L. Sayers is one of the Big Four of the English detective writers. Dorothy L. Sayers died on 17.12.1957 in the county of Essex.

Awards

In 1950 Dorothy L. Sayers was awarded the honorary degree from University of Durham in recognition of her contributions to the literary crime novel.

In 1996, the author was awarded the Rusty Dagger for Best Novel of the 30’s by the British Crime Writers' Association (CWA) for Busman's Honeymoon.

In 2007, the American Nero Wolfe Society granted her the Archie Goodwin Award in recognition of her life work.

Some Lord Peter Wimsey mystery novels were filmed by the BBC. The main role of the Lord Peter Wimsey was played by Ian Carmichael.

Lord Peter Wimsey Novels

Whose Body?

Clouds of Witness

Unnatural Death

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

Strong Poison

Five Red Herrings

Have His Carcase

Murder Must Advertise

The Nine Tailors

Gaudy Night

Busman's Honeymoon

Thrones, Dominations

A Presumption of Death

The Attenbury Emeralds