In this episode of The Author Files, we delve into the remarkable life and legacy of Dorothy L. Sayers, one of the most influential and intellectually formidable writers of the twentieth century. Best known as the creator of Lord Peter Wimsey, Sayers was far more than a “Golden Age” crime novelist — she was a scholar, playwright, theologian, translator, and cultural provocateur who consistently defied expectations.

Born in 1893, Dorothy L. Sayers was one of the first women to graduate from Oxford University, and she went on to reshape detective fiction with her sharp wit, complex moral questions, and deeply human characters. In this episode, we explore how Sayers elevated the crime novel from puzzle-solving entertainment to serious literature, weaving themes of guilt, justice, love, and intellectual integrity through works such as Whose Body?, Gaudy Night, and Strong Poison.

We examine her complicated personal life, including her unconventional relationships, hidden motherhood, and fierce belief in women’s independence at a time when society offered few allowances for it. The episode also looks beyond her detective fiction to her work in religious drama and her acclaimed translation of The Divine Comedy, revealing a writer driven by faith, intellect, and a refusal to be neatly categorised.

Was Dorothy L. Sayers a feminist icon, a literary traditionalist, or a contradiction of both? How did her views on work, creativity, and morality challenge the norms of her era — and why do her ideas still feel strikingly modern today?

This episode of The Author Files uncovers the woman behind Lord Peter Wimsey and asks why Dorothy L. Sayers deserves recognition not just as a crime writer, but as one of Britain’s most original and fearless literary minds.