Elizabeth Bowen

Elizabeth Bowen is best known for her expansive, lyrical novels and short stories filled with themes of loss, love and power. Born in Dublin to Irish parents in 1899, she was an observant, highly imaginative young girl who found solace in the art of writing. After her father’s death in 1918, Bowen began to write independently and continued to do so until her death in 1973.

At the age of 21, Bowen published her first novel, The Hotel (1921), which was a romantic comedy set in a shabby hotel in London. The novel was well-received by critics, who praised its wit, though it was not commercially successful.

Bowen's second novel, The Last September (1929), firmly established her reputation as a major writer of her era. Written with profound psychological insight, the sprawling novel follows the privileged life of a family living in an Irish countryside estate. The novel's complex characters, intricate setting, and profound sense of drama earned it a long-standing reputation as a modern classic. It was later adapted into a critically acclaimed motion picture starring Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon.

During her literary career, Bowen continued to write a variety of works, including short stories, novels, critical essays, reviews and autobiographical pieces. In her autobiographical works (notably Seven Winters, 1942 and Bowen’s Court, 1962) she explored her own life and family, providing readers with a unique and intimate window into her life.

Some of Bowen’s finest works include The House in Paris (1935), set in Paris’s international bohemian circle; The Death of the Heart(1938) an exploration of the lives of social outcasts; The Heat of the Day (1947), a drama of espionage and betrayal in World War II London; and Eva Trout (1969), a heartbreaking tale of a young woman’s search for love.

Bowen's writing remains ever-relevant today, and her characters are complex and compelling, with stories that explore the full range of human experience. In her own words: “I put down what I know, without filters. It is all there.” Her work is an enduring testament to her talent, tenacity, and strength of character.