Gaudy Nights - Dorothy Sayers

I finished up Gaudy Nights - by Dorthy Sayers. Its a mystery book written right before World War II. Its about a detective novelist who goes back to her Oxford College for a reunion. Its a little difficult to read, because its full of 1930's English terms, and references, that an American from the 21st century isn't that familiar with. It took me half the book to realize that a "scout" is actually a servant. Anyway, someone is sending nasty notes to the students and staff of the college, usually with references to women doing the job of a man, and being above their social station. Its up to Miss Vane (the heroine of the book )to figure it out. The notes escalate to destruction of a library, a suicide attempt, and actual attacks. Throughout the book, there's a very interesting conflict between what a woman is supposed to (eg. marry, have kids, and keep house) compared to what a woman can accomplish (write novels, be a professors, and use the intellect that was given to them). Unless you are looking for it, it seems very natural, and this conflict doesn't stand out. It is not a feminist book, and brings out interesting questions that would be pertinent to 1930. The same questions that this book asks, are still being asked today. Now, for those of you who want to know how it ends, read the book!