Rose Macaulay

Born in Rugby, England, on August 1, 1881, Rose Macaulay grew into one of the most distinctive British writers of the 20th century. She wrote novels, essays, biographies, and travel books, and was widely admired for her wit, learning, and alert, skeptical voice.

Her work ranges from social comedy to serious reflection, but it is often united by lively intelligence and a gift for seeing the absurd without losing sympathy for people. She is especially remembered for The Towers of Trebizond (1956), the novel most often linked with her lasting reputation.

Macaulay was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1958, the year she died. Readers still return to her for prose that feels brisk, funny, and deeply thoughtful at the same time.