About the Author

Matthew Dennison is the author of three critically acclaimed works of non-fiction: ‘The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria''s Youngest Daughter’, written with the full assistance of the Royal Archives and published in nine UK editions to date, ‘Empress of Rome: The Life of Livia’, and ‘The Twelve Caesars’. Described in The Independent as ''one of those rare marvels, a historical biographer whose work has reached the bestseller lists'', he is also a regular contributor toCountry Life, Telegraph Magazine, The Times and Majesty.

Reviews

BOOK OF THE YEAR as chosen by: The Times
Independent
Observer 'Dennison captures both Vita’s irresistible charm and her selfishness. Like his subject, he is a natural storyteller, and his impeccable scholarship never weighs down his lively narrative' Independent ‘Brave man to take on the biography of Vita, and he has brought it off superbly … It studies and reveals this extraordinary woman as well as could possibly be. A fine achievement’ Spectator, Susan Hill ‘Astute and engaging, Dennison looks again at Vita’s extraordinary life and makes a new sort of sense of it … fascinating … an insightful book. The connections between Vita’s childhood, her dispossessions, her sexuality and her writing are compellingly explored. Vita emerges as a complex and interesting character, and far more than a gay icon’ Literary Review ‘Dennison emphasises the desire for solitude that existed in tension with her joyous sensuality and need for love’ Guardian ‘Detailed and fascinating … Dennison shows true admiration for his latest subject … freshly chronicled here for the first time in more than 30 years’ Daily Express ‘Intimate … A splendid biography of a splendid character’ The Lady 'This astute and engaging book looks again at Vita's extraordinary life and makes a new sort of sense of it … Fascinating … Insightful … The connections between Vita's childhood, her dispossession, her sexuality and her writing are compellingly explored. Vita emerges as a complex and interesting character, and far more than a gay icon' Literary Review ‘Comprehensively documents her literary … with evocative portraits of her husband [and lovers] … Dennison’s Vita is convincingly ambivalent and inflammatory, a product of her age’ New Statesman 'This carefully researched book is intelligently and elegantly written … balanced, oratical and confident’ Spectator ‘Brilliant … thorough and engaging’ Daily Mail