Biography

Ivy Compton-Burnett was born in London in 1884 to James Compton-Burnett and Katherine, the daughter of Rowland Rees, and was educated at Royal Holloway College. Her life was marked by grief, tragedy, isolation, and near madness. By the end of World War I, she had lost her home, her occupation, and everyone she had loved or needed. However, throughout her life Compton-Burnett was able to draw on her past for material and to translate her personal loss into literary achievement.

Dame Ivy Compton-Burnett was one of the most prolific British novelists of her time as she produced well over 20 novels during her career. Born in Middlesex in 1892, Compton-Burnett published her first novel, Delores, in 1911, but did not produce another until Pastors and Masters, published in 1925. Beginning with the publication of her third novel in 1930, however, Compton-Burnett produced a new book nearly every two years until her death in 1969. 

Compton-Burnett novels deal exclusively with life in the confines of family and school and are set in Victorian and Edwardian England. Her work consists largely of dialogue, which carries the burden of exposition, description, and narration. For this reason Compton-Burnett's novels have made excellent sources for radio dramas; several have been adapted for radio and one, A Heritage and Its History, for the stage. 

The central part of the Compton-Burnett Papers consists of the letters and postcards from Compton-Burnett to the English novelist and editor, Kay Dick. Also included are letters from Compton-Burnett to Cicely Grieg, her typist, regarding the production of various Compton-Burnett manuscripts. Compton-Burnett was a reticent correspondent at best, though, and these letters provide a rare glimpse into her personal and literary life. 

Back Next

First paper