Pursuing art and adventure across Europe, Katherine Mansfield lived and wrote with the Furies on her heels; but when she died aged only thirty-four she became one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. Sexually ambiguous, craving love yet quarrelsome and capricious, she glittered in the brilliant circles of D. H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, her beauty and recklessness inspiring admiration, jealousy, rage and devotion. Claire Tomalin's biography brings us nearer than we have ever been to this courageous, greatly gifted, haunted and haunting writer. 'One of the best biographies I have ever read- a perfect match of author and subject. It should become a classic.' Alison Lurie 'Generous, dispassionate, even-handed, setting out probably as plainly as anyone ever will Katherine's high hopes, the odds she faced and the impossible obstacles that ditched her in the end.' Hilary Spurling, Daily Telegraph 'Any Life should reinterpret what is already known and present fresh information. Tomalin's A Secret Life does this with insight, elegance and lucidity and a generosity of spirit in which scholarship combines with sympathy.' Shena Mackay, Sunday Times 'Tomalin handles her biographical materials with exemplary skill and practises biography as an art.' Leon Edel, Washington Post 'Provides the finest and most subtly shaded portrait so far.' John Gross, New York Times