Clemence Dane

Clemence Dane's real name was Winifred Ashton. She was born in London in 1888. At the age of 16 she went to Geneva to teach French. Later she studied art at the Slade School and in Dresden, taught again in Ireland, and then went on the stage, where for five years she acted under the name "Diana Curtis."

She borrowed her nom de plume from the church of St. Clement Danes. Her first book, published in 1917, was the famous Regiment of Women. She followed it with Legend, which became a very successful play. Her later novels include Wandering Star, He Brings Great News and The Flower Girls.

She collaborated with Helen de Guerry Simpson on three books, all detective stories (a genre which neither had explored before) and all extremely successful: Enter Sir John, Printer's Devil and Re-Enter Sir John.

She was made a C.B.E. in 1953, and died in 1965.