A Solitary Woman: A Life of Violet Trefusis

by Henrietta Sharpe

205 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Melanie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third biography of Violet Trefusis that I have read and, of the three, it is my favourite. Although not a very long biography, it makes up in quality for the lack of quantity. Some great photographs are included. Henrietta Sharpe gives us some background to the many friends that were part of the vibrant social life of Violet Trefusis and her later years are filled out with some details, which were sparse in the other two biographies. We are also given more information about her writing (though beware a few plot spoilers). The love affair between Violet Trefusis and Vita Sackville-West is illuminated by sections from Violet's letters - their intensity is moving. That intensity was defended in her later years by a defensive shield - 'she would not risk such enormous investment of emotional capital again' (page 188).