Dame Cicily Isabel Fairfield, also known as Rebecca West, was a novelist, journalist, literary critic, travel writer, and suffragette. She took the pseudonym "Rebecca West" from the rebellious young heroine in Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen. [1]
Cicily was christened 25 February 1893 in London, England, United Kingdom.
In 1901, the family was living in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom. Cicily attended George Watson's Ladies College.
Her major works include:
In September 1912, West criticized writer H. G. Wells in a provocative review of his novel Marriage. The review attracted Wells's interest and an invitation to lunch. The two writers became lovers in late 1913, and their 10-year relationship produced a son, English author and literary critic Anthony West, born on 4 August 1914. Her friendship with Wells lasted until his death in 1946.
Cicily arrived 26 October 1923 in New York, New York, USA. She departed 26 October 1926 upon the "Pennland" to Southampton, Hampshire, England. On 19 January 1927 she left upon the "Majestio" from Cherbourg, France. 22 September 1928 she was upon the "Aquitania" departing Southampton, Hampshire, England.
In 1930, at the age of 37, she married a banker, Henry Maxwell Andrews, and they remained nominally together, despite one public affair just before his death in 1968.
West is also said to have had relationships with Charlie Chaplin, newspaper magnate Lord Beaverbrook (Max Aitken), and journalist John Gunther.
In 1949, Cicily was made Order of the British Empire, Commander (CBE) England, United Kingdom. In 1959, she was made Order of the British Empire, Dame Commander (DBE) England, United Kingdom. Time magazine called her "indisputably the world's number one woman writer" in 1947. She was a recipient of the Benson Medal.
Cicily died 15 March 1983 in London, England, United Kingdom. She was buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.
On hearing of her death, William Shawn, then editor in chief of The New Yorker, said:
See Also:
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Cicely is 21 degrees from Herbert Adair, 19 degrees from Richard Adams, 24 degrees from Mel Blanc, 22 degrees from Dick Bruna, 25 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 28 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 23 degrees from Sam Edwards, 22 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 24 degrees from Marty Krofft, 18 degrees from Junius Matthews, 19 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 25 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
F > Fairfield | A > Andrews > Cicely Isabel (Fairfield) Andrews DBE CBE
Categories: English Authors | Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire | British Authors | Featured Connections | Authors | Notables
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