betsy@dartvax.UUCP (Betsy Hanes Perry) (07/15/85)
The Kent State University Press has issued two of Dorothy Sayers' secular
plays in one volume. One of the plays, "Love All," has never been printed
before, although it was produced in 1941. The other play,"Busman's
Honeymoon," was later expanded into the detective novel of the
same name.
"Love All" is *not* a Peter Wimsey work; however, it's as full of wordplay
as any of the novels. It's as feminist as Sayers ever let herself get;
listen to the following, in which a famous novelist is being discussed by
his wife and his mistress.
Lydia (the mistress): ...I mean, I'm thinking *first* and *foremost*
about what's best for Godfrey's work."
Janet (the wife): "So am I. Isn't it odd that men can't seem to get on
and just *do* their work? They always have to be inspired and looked
after."
Lydia: "Every great man has had a woman behind him."
Janet: "And every great woman has had some man or other in front of her,
tripping her up."
Lydia: "It's no good discussing men. We've got to stick to Godfrey."
And they're off.
Fellow Sayers fanatics will probably enjoy "Busman's Honeymoon" for the
sake of the few new glimpses it gives of Wimsey; anybody who likes
drawing-room comedy will probably enjoy "Love All" for its own sake.
The work is edited by Alzina Stone Dale, and was printed in 1984.
--
Elizabeth Hanes Perry
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