
Rosamond Lehmann was an influential English novelist and translator, known for her exploration of complex emotional landscapes and relationships. Her debut novel, Dusty Answer, published in 1927, garnered significant attention and was considered a scandalous success, establishing her as a prominent voice in the literary scene. Lehmann's work often reflected her connections with the Bloomsbury Group, a collective of writers and intellectuals that included notable figures such as Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster, influencing her narrative style and thematic choices. Among her notable works, The Ballad and the Source received particular acclaim for its lyrical prose and deep psychological insight. Lehmann's writing is characterized by its focus on women's experiences and the intricacies of love and desire, making her a significant figure in 20th-century literature. Her contributions to the literary world were recognized with her appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1981. Rosamond Lehmann's legacy endures through her rich body of work, which continues to resonate with readers and writers alike, reflecting the complexities of human emotion and social dynamics.
“Advice to Young Journal Keepers . Be lenient with yourself. Conceal your worst faults, leave out your most shameful thoughts, actions, and temptations. Give yourself all the good and interesting qualities you want and haven't got. If you should die young, what comfort would it be to your relatives to read the truth and have to say: It is not a pearl we have lost, but a swine?”
“I want to do something absolutely different, or perhaps nothing at all: just stay where I am, in my home, and absorb each hour, each day, and be alone; and read and think; and walk about the garden in the night; and wait, wait...”
“It'll all come right. Because, of course, I do believe...I believe - I believe in everything...sun, moon, stars, in seasons - trees, flowers - people, music, life...yes, in life.”