Messalina of the Suburbs (1924) - dedicated to Delafield's best friend 'Rose', (Dr Margaret Posthuma), is based on a famous murder case, in which Edith Thompson was convicted and hanged in 1923 as an accomplice of her lover Bywaters who attacked and killed her husband. Although she was certainly shocked and astonished by the attack, her letters to Bywaters describe her repeated attempts to poison her husband.
E. M. Delafield (1890-1943) was a prolific English author who is best known for her largely autobiographical works like Zella Sees Herself, The Provincial Lady Series etc. which look at the lives of upper-middle class Englishwomen.
The Messalina of the Suburbs reimagines a notorious real-life murder case through the cool, exacting lens of interwar psychological fiction. Delafield examines adultery, fantasy, class aspiration, and public moral judgment within the cramped respectability of suburban England. Her prose is restrained yet sharply ironic, less interested in sensational crime than in the social imagination that turns an unhappy woman into a monster. In the tradition of early twentieth-century domestic realism, the novel exposes how newspapers, courts, and neighbours manufacture guilt. E. M. Delafield, born Edmée Elizabeth Monica de la Pasture, was a perceptive chronicler of women's lives under the pressures of marriage, convention, and respectability. Though best remembered for The Diary of a Provincial Lady, she repeatedly returned to the emotional cost of feminine performance. Her own experience of upper-middle-class expectations, religious education, and social observation equipped her to probe the gap between outward decorum and inward rebellion. This book is recommended to readers interested in feminist literary history, true-crime fiction, and the moral anxieties of postwar Britain. It is a subtle, unsettling novel: not merely about murder, but about interpretation, reputation, and the dangers of being read by society. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand-picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Autorentext
E. M. Delafield wurde 1890 als Edmée Elizabeth Monica de la Pasture geboren. Ihr Vater war ein französischer Graf, ihre Mutter schrieb Romane. Auch E. M. Delafield hatte bereits etliche Bücher publiziert, als sie 1919 heiratete und fortan durch eine wöchentliche Tagebuchkolumne in einer feministischen Zeitschrift zum Haushaltseinkommen beitrug. E. M. Delafield starb 1943 in ihrer Heimat Devon.
Klappentext
This carefully crafted ebook: "The Messalina of the Suburbs (Based on a True Story)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Messalina of the Suburbs (1924) - dedicated to Delafield's best friend 'Rose', (Dr Margaret Posthuma), is based on a famous murder case, in which Edith Thompson was convicted and hanged in 1923 as an accomplice of her lover Bywaters who attacked and killed her husband. Although she was certainly shocked and astonished by the attack, her letters to Bywaters describe her repeated attempts to poison her husband. E. M. Delafield (1890-1943) was a prolific English author who is best known for her largely autobiographical works like Zella Sees Herself, The Provincial Lady Series etc. which look at the lives of upper-middle class Englishwomen.