| In 1915, twenty three year old Dorothy Leigh | | | | son's identity was made public, as he was her |
| Sayers graduated with a degree in modern | | | | beneficiary. The two had been in contact |
| languages. (She learned classical languages in later | | | | throughout Dorothy's life via the mail. |
| years.) She spent the next sixteen years honing | | | | Sayers married Mac Fleming, a journalist and |
| her writing skills while working at a publishing firm, | | | | author. At the beginning of their marriage, both |
| as well as working as a copywriter for an | | | | were gainfully employed. Unfortunately, Mac slowly |
| advertising company. | | | | had to rely on Dorothy's income. He had health |
| While continuing to work her "day jobs," Sayers | | | | problems stemming from his WW I service. |
| found time to start publishing her Lord Peter | | | | Although Dorothy had married, her son was |
| Wimsey mystery novels. She was soon able to | | | | brought up solely by her cousin. |
| become a full-time mystery author, but continued | | | | It is said that Sayers based Lord Peter Wimsey |
| finding the time to write plays and introductions to | | | | on a blending of (author) P. G. Wodehouse's Bertie |
| other's books, editing, and translating works, as | | | | Wooster and the dapper (dancer and actor) Fred |
| well as working on her poetry. Among her | | | | Astaire. Harriet Vane, a strong and intelligent |
| translations are: Dante's Divine Comedy from Old | | | | mystery author, is the female character in the |
| Italian and also the Song of Roland, which she | | | | series. She is a good match for Lord Peter |
| translated from Old French. | | | | Wimsey. |
| Sayers was very active in the Anglican Church. | | | | Sayers introduced themes throughout the |
| Her father (the Reverend Henry Sayers) had | | | | mysteries in her Lord Peter Wimsey mystery |
| been Christ Church Cathedrals schools' | | | | series that reflected the times in Britain. WW I |
| headmaster. The family of Dorothy's mother | | | | had produced many veterans and also many |
| (Helen Mary Leigh) came from the Isle of Wight. | | | | families where women had to became the sole |
| Sayers wrote her mysteries during the 1920s and | | | | wage-earners due to deaths and disabilities of |
| 1930s, thus she garnered a position as one of the | | | | their husbands, fathers, and sons. Women who |
| four Queens of Crime of the Golden Age. The | | | | had worked in the work force during the war and |
| Golden Age of mysteries took place in Britain, | | | | were lucky enough to welcome their husbands |
| between WW I and WW II. The other three | | | | home had learned that education was the way to |
| Queens of Crime are Agatha Christie, Margery | | | | insure good jobs outside of the home. Sayers |
| Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh... formidable company! | | | | interwove these themes (and more) into her |
| Sayers fell in love, but that relationship ended. | | | | mysteries. |
| While in the "rebound mode," she became | | | | In the 1970s and 1980s, two British television |
| pregnant at a time when that was simply | | | | series were made featuring Lord Peter Wimsey |
| unacceptable for a single woman in Britain. She | | | | and his "side-kick" Harriet Vane. These productions |
| secured a home for her son with a cousin who | | | | helped to introduce this cozy mystery series by |
| was sworn to secrecy. Upon Dorothy's death, her | | | | Dorothy L. Sayers to a whole new audience. |