West's World: The Extraordinary Life Of Dame Rebecca West by Lorna Gibb is published in hardback by Macmillan, priced £25 (ebook £11.51). Available now.
The turbulent life of the outspoken writer, feminist and literary icon Dame Rebecca West (1892-1983) is described entertainingly in this new biography by university lecturer Lorna Gibb, although she is perhaps a little too sympathetic towards her subject.
Rebecca was born Cicely Isabel Fairfield, but adopted "Rebecca West" as a pseudonym because she considered her real name too lightweight.
A free spirit and original thinker, she was also a prima donna with a fierce temper, whose views on many things were often contradictory and inconsistent. Privately, however, she could be kind and financially generous.
Her literary output was vast and her book reviews, news reporting, essays, novels and travel writing brought fame and status.
When young, she had a secret affair with the famous science fiction writer HG Wells. They had a son, Anthony (1914-1987), with whom she had an appallingly discordant relationship in later life.
Her rambling literary style, and metaphors that often fell flat, did not prevent her from gaining a large fan base whose adulation bordered on idolatry.
8/10 (Review by Anthony Looch)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here