Dorothy Carrington
Encyclopedia
Frederica Dorothy Violet Carrington (6 June 1910 – 26 January 2002) was an expatriate British writer domiciled for over half her life in Corsica
. She was one of the twentieth century's leading scholars on the island's culture and history about which she wrote numerous books and articles.
, a hero for his crushing of the Matabele Rebellion and a friend of Cecil Rhodes. Her mother was Susan Elwes. Bother of her parents had died by the time she was eight. Subsequently, she read English at St Margaret's Hall, Oxford from which she fled. Eventually, she married a penniless Austrian, Franz von Waldschutz, whose family estates in Poland had been destroyed during the First World War. After a spell of farming in Rhodesia
, they divorced. A second marriage, to Darcy Sproul-Bolton, ended with his death in the late 1930s.
She then immersed herself in the London art world, and in 1942 organised an exhibition at the Leicester Galleries, "Imaginative Art since the War". One of the exhibitors was the surrealist painter Sir Francis Rose
, whom she shortly after married. He was a friend of Gertrude Stein
and the inspiration for her saying: "Rose is a rose is a rose."
, without Rose. They divorced in 1966.
In 1971 she wrote her masterpiece, 'Granite Island'. Later offerings included 'The Dream Hunters of Corsica' which examined the dark, threatening side of the Corsican psyche. Partly as a result of her work, French archaeologists were persuaded to travel to Corsica and study the now famous megalithic site of Filitosa
.
Dorothy Carrington was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Royal Society of Literature. In 1986 she was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The University of Corsica gave her an honorary doctorate in 1991 and the Queen awarded her an MBE. 'Granite Island' won the Heinemann Prize.
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. She was one of the twentieth century's leading scholars on the island's culture and history about which she wrote numerous books and articles.
Early life
Dorothy Carrington was the daughter of Major General Sir Frederick CarringtonFrederick Carrington
Major General Sir Frederick Carrington KCB, KCMG , was a British soldier and friend of Cecil John Rhodes...
, a hero for his crushing of the Matabele Rebellion and a friend of Cecil Rhodes. Her mother was Susan Elwes. Bother of her parents had died by the time she was eight. Subsequently, she read English at St Margaret's Hall, Oxford from which she fled. Eventually, she married a penniless Austrian, Franz von Waldschutz, whose family estates in Poland had been destroyed during the First World War. After a spell of farming in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, they divorced. A second marriage, to Darcy Sproul-Bolton, ended with his death in the late 1930s.
She then immersed herself in the London art world, and in 1942 organised an exhibition at the Leicester Galleries, "Imaginative Art since the War". One of the exhibitors was the surrealist painter Sir Francis Rose
Francis Cyril Rose
Francis Cyril Rose , also Sir Francis, 4th Baronet of the Montreal Roses, was an English painter vigorously championed by Gertrude Stein. His wife Frederica, Lady Rose became a well known travel writer, notably on Corsica, under the name of Dorothy Carrington.Rose was born at Moor Park , England...
, whom she shortly after married. He was a friend of Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France.-Early life:...
and the inspiration for her saying: "Rose is a rose is a rose."
Corsica
In July 1948, Carrington and Rose made the first of four trips to Corsica. She had intended to write a book and move on. But in 1954 she settled on the island in AjaccioAjaccio
Ajaccio , is a commune on the island of Corsica in France. It is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud....
, without Rose. They divorced in 1966.
In 1971 she wrote her masterpiece, 'Granite Island'. Later offerings included 'The Dream Hunters of Corsica' which examined the dark, threatening side of the Corsican psyche. Partly as a result of her work, French archaeologists were persuaded to travel to Corsica and study the now famous megalithic site of Filitosa
Filitosa
Filitosa is a megalithic site in southern Corsica, France. The period of occupation spans from the end of the Neolithic era and the beginning of the Bronze Age, until around the Roman times in Corsica.-Location:...
.
Dorothy Carrington was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Royal Society of Literature. In 1986 she was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The University of Corsica gave her an honorary doctorate in 1991 and the Queen awarded her an MBE. 'Granite Island' won the Heinemann Prize.
Major works
- The Traveller's Eye (1947)
- The Mouse And The Mermaid (1948)
- This Corsica - The Complete Guide (1962)
- Granite Island: Portrait Of Corsica (1971)
- Napoleon And His Parents On The Threshold Of History (1988)
- The Dream Hunters Of Corsica (1995)