b. in
1903
at
Ogmore Vale, Glam.
, daughter of
Edward
Edwards
,
schoolmaster
. She was educated at
Howell's School
,
Llandaff
, and the
University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire
, where she graduated in
Greek
and Philosophy. Her chief enthusiasm was, however, for
English
literature. She was the author of
Rhapsody
, a collection of short stories,
1927
, and
Winter Sonata
,
1928
.
Winter Sonata
was written in the form of a novel but it was a novel of an original kind, depending for its effect not on plot but on situations, characterization, and, above all, on ‘atmosphere.’ It was said by the best critics, including
Gerald
Gould
, who described her as a genius, that
Dorothy
Edwards
struck a new note in
English
literature, and she was hailed as one of the best three writers of the year. Her work reflected the influence of the
Russian
novelists, particularly
Dostoievsky
and
Turgenev
.
Dorothy
Edwards
spent most of her life in
Cardiff
but lived for six months in
Vienna
, nine months in
Florence
, and for some time in
London
. She was an accomplished
singer
in
Russian
,
German
,
Italian
, and
Welsh
. She was also
interested in politics
and was a rare combination of ardent
socialist
and fervent
Welsh nationalist
, though she could not speak the language. She
committed suicide
(at
Cardiff
) on
6 Jan. 1934
.
