Dreaming of Rose: A Biographer's Journal

Sarah LeFanu published a biography of Rose Macaulay in 2003, offering a skilled, visual, intellectual, and emotional picture of a complex woman. She also kept a journal of her research trips and processes, leading to Rose intruding in her dreams. Dreaming of Rose is a remarkable record of the art of biography and the search for another woman's life, and a memoir of a woman juggling the demands of teaching, research, and writing while patching together a living.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 200 pages
\n Publication date: 06 July 2021
\n Publisher: Handheld Press
\n

In 2003, the renowned author and critic Sarah LeFanu released her highly acclaimed biography of Rose Macaulay through Virago Press. This remarkable work showcases LeFanu's exceptional talent as a biographer, offering a vivid, insightful, and emotionally captivating portrayal of a complex woman. The Independent praised it as a "fine biography," describing it as "rich and perceptive," while the Times Literary Supplement commended her as an "able and astute judge of Macaulay's writings."

Beyond penning the biography, LeFanu maintained a meticulous journal detailing her research trips and the challenges she faced as a biographer. She engaged in lively debates with herself, weighing the importance of various aspects of Rose's life and deciding what to include, pursue, and leave behind. Her deep immersion in her research led to Rose's presence invading her dreams, giving rise to fantastical imaginings of what she might say or do at every crucial juncture. Dreaming of Rose is a remarkable testament to the art of biography and the quest to unravel another woman's life.

LeFanu's research trips to Varazze, Italy, and Trabzon, Turkey, were intuitive ventures that yielded unexpected treasures. Her journey to Varazze sought to trace Rose's childhood, while her trip to Trabzon aimed to uncover traces of The Towers of Trebizond, a significant work by Rose. These trips demonstrated LeFanu's keen intuition and ability to find hidden gems in unexpected places.

Dreaming of Rose is not only a biography but also a memoir that delves into the life of a woman who juggled the demands of teaching, research, and writing while struggling to make a living. LeFanu's work on Rose was squeezed in between numerous other commitments and responsibilities, including writing for the BBC and teaching creative writing and English literature. The memoir is suffused with the tensions and dramas of everyday life, as well as the importance of intellectual integrity.

In conclusion, Sarah LeFanu's biography of Rose Macaulay is a masterpiece that showcases her exceptional talent as a biographer. Through vivid storytelling, insightful analysis, and emotional depth, LeFanu offers a profound and captivating portrayal of a complex woman. Her research trips, meticulous journaling, and dedication to intellectual integrity make Dreaming of Rose a valuable contribution to the world of biography and a testament to the power of storytelling.

\n Weight: 280g\n
Dimension: 136 x 214 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781912766529\n \n