Carrington: Letters and Extracts from Her Diaries

by Dora Carrington, David Garnett (Editor/Introduction), Noel Carrington (Biographical note)

Since the original publication of her correspondence Carrington has been counted among the great letter- writers. Taken together, these letters and extracts from her diaries describe the bohemian life she led on the fringes of the Bloomsbury set, in particular her love affair with the homosexual Lytton Strachey. Although Strachey's early death precipitated Carrington's suicide three months later, she was not by nature a melancholoy person. Her letters and diaries, punctuated by enchanting drawings, fizz with vitality and testify to the childlike exuberance of spirit that retains its power to captivate.

Genres: Biography, Art, Nonfiction, Memoir, British Literature

516 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Halli Villegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her and I hate that a man edited this collection of her letters and diaries. He was very judgy and seemed not to like her much. I want to read more about her - have there been any good bios? Maybe I will write one. I felt a kinship with her. Unfortunately she still dies at the end.

[Roanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my handful of "keep forever" books.

[Pamela Wetherill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in conjunction with Gretchen Gerzina's biography of Carrington. Together, they painted a deep portrait of a fascinating woman. I feel as though I know her well, and I certainly admire and sympathize with her. I would like to have had more of her art included in both books. I completely agree with others who have pointed out that David Garnett was not an objective editor; he had a particular point of view concerning Carrington, one that her words often did not support.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated. A peak via painter Carrington into life of the Lytton Strachey crowd, including pacifism, LGBQT, and polyamory

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading..an interesting woman with fascinating friends. Her life was full of ups and downs and she never got the recognition for her paintings while alive.