The E. M. Delafield Collection (ePub)

E. M. Delafield, born Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood (née de la Pasture) in 1890, is a distinguished English author best remembered for her largely autobiographical 'Diary of a Provincial Lady' series which charmingly satirizes the life of an upper-middle-class Englishwoman in the interwar period. Elevated by her acute sense of humor and social observation, Delafield's work frequently addresses the domestic and social challenges of her times. A prolific writer, Delafield penned numerous works beyond the 'Provincial Lady' series, often exploring themes of class, women's independence, and social mores with a wit that remains poignant to this day. Her contributions to literature are encapsulated in collections such as 'The E. M. Delafield Collection', gathering several of her acclaimed novels, thus offering readers a comprehensive view of her literary style and thematic preoccupations. Delafield's prose, characterized by its conversational fluency and an often understated irony, secures her place in the canon of twentieth-century British literature. Not only did she write novels but also her talents extended to theater and journalism, where she applied the same sharp observational skills that define her books. Delafield's legacy is that of an author who deftly chronicled the milieu of her class with both humor and a critical eye, her work serving as a socio-cultural tableau of her era.