Look Back With Astonishment

by Dodie Smith

Look Back with Astonishment

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Born Dorothy Gladys Smith in Lancashire, England, Dodie Smith was raised in Manchester (her memoir is titled A Childhood in Manchester). She was just an infant when her father died, and she grew up fatherless until age 14, when her mother remarried and the family moved to London. There she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and tried for a career as an actress, but with little success. She finally wound up taking a job as a toy buyer for a furniture store to make ends meet. Giving up dreams of an acting career, she turned to writing plays, and in 1931 her first play, Autumn Crocus, was published (under the pseudonym “C.L. Anthony”). It was a success, and her story — from failed actress to furniture store employee to successful writer — captured the imagination of the public and she was featured in papers all over the country. Although she could now afford to move to a London townhouse, she didn't get caught up in the “literary” scene — she married a man who was a fellow employee at the furniture store.

During World War II she and her husband moved to the United States, mostly because of his stand as a conscientious objector and the social and legal difficulties that entailed. She was still homesick for England, though, as reflected in her first novel, I Capture the Castle (1948). During her stay she formed close friendships with such authors as Christopher Isherwood and John Van Druten, and was aided in her literary endeavors by writer A.J. Cronin.

She is perhaps best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, a hugely popular childrens book that has been made into a string of very successful animated films by Walt Disney. She died in 1990.

Reviews

[Rosema1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly disappointing third installment to her autobiographies. This book focuses on her work in a shop and ensuing scriptwriting success. However I felt there was too much 'name dropping' of various actors who were famous in the 30s but none of which had I heard of. There were a few chapters containing the Dodie charm such as the descriptions of her cottage, dog and her tricky decision of leaving England at the start of WW2. However, ultimately there was too much 'we worked on the lighting of this play then we talked to the famous so and so about this play' etc. And not enough insights into her whimsical thoughts about life present in the previous two.
I look forward though to the final installment that includes her life in California and the all important writing of 'I Capture the Castle'.

[Suzanne Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think you need to be a big Dodie Fan to get this far into her works but nonetheless it is a charming, interesting read about a portion of her life. This section 3 of 4 looks at the years that she gave up acting and found steady work at Heal's (home furnishings store). She retains her originality and strong personality throughout her life and her vision for her clothing and the decoration of her flat, astonishes me. After several years at Heal's she continues writing plays, and sets to work on one that will make her name as a playwright. I look forward to the next and final instalment of this series and her life.