Burning Glass: The Life of Naomi Mitchison

Naomi Mitchison was a 20th-century novelist and non-fiction author who embraced change and influenced the political, social, and sexual era. She was based in Carradale House in Scotland's Kintyre peninsula and had intimate friendships with Doris Lessing, Aldous Huxley, Stevie Smith, and E. M. Foster.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2019
Publisher: Sandstone Press Ltd

Naomi Mitchison was born towards the end of the nineteenth century and grew up in a time of significant change, encompassing political, social, and sexual transformations. She wholeheartedly embraced and exerted influence over these evolving aspects throughout her long and remarkable life. Mitchison emerged as a prominent novelist of the 20th century, leaving an indelible mark with her notable works such as "The Corn King," "The Spring Queen," and "The Bull Calves." However, her literary prowess extended beyond fiction, as she also became a respected non-fiction author and journalist. With a penchant for travel, she spent over half her life residing at Carradale House, located on the picturesque Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. From this base, she ventured far and wide, discovering new destinations and embracing them as her own. In her later years, she made a profound impact on Botswana (then known as Bechuanaland), which she affectionately adopted as her home. Witnessing the lowering of the Union flag for the last time in Botswana, a place she deeply cherished, filled her with a sense of longing and nostalgia.

In her lifetime, Mitchison formed intimate friendships with a diverse array of literary and political figures. Her circle included renowned authors like Doris Lessing, Aldous Huxley, Stevie Smith, E. M. Foster, and many others. These friendships, explored in depth within this captivating biography, shed light on the profound connections and collaborations that shaped Mitchison's life and work.

Weight: 330g
Dimension: 195 x 123 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912240661