Bagnold, Enid, 1889-1981

Enid Bagnold, a twentieth-century British author, is best known for her novel National Velvet (1935) and her play "The Chalk Garden" (1955). Born in Rochester, England she spent much of her early life abroad. As a child Bagnold lived in Jamaica where her father was stationed with the Royal Engineers. She was educated in Germany and France.

During World War I, Bagnold served in an English hospital and drove an ambulance for the French army. Drawing on these experiences, she wrote her first novels, Diary without Dates (1918) and The Happy Foreigner (1920). Bagnold married Sir Roderick Jones in 1920, settled in London, traveled in high society and literary circles, and for the next three decades continued writing fiction. In 1924, she published Serena Blandish and in 1938 The Squire (published under the title The Door of Life in the United States). After losing her first chance to be on stage, Bagnold turned to playwriting. A friend suggested she use her experience as the plot of a play: "Lottie Dundass" (1941) was the result. She became devoted to the theater and wrote "Poor Judas" (1951), "Gertie" (1952), "The Last Joke" (1960), and "The Chinese Prime Minister" (1964). Her plays were produced in both England and America.

After her husband died in 1962, Bagnold remained active, built new friendships, and continued to write. In 1967 she began her autobiography, which was published in 1969. Although many of her plays were unsuccessful, her enthusiasm for the theater never waned. She flew to Philadelphia in 1977 to attend her play "A Matter of Gravity" starring Katherine Hepburn. Bagnold died in 1981.