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Angela du Maurier
(March 1, 1904 - February 5, 2002) U.K.

Angela du Maurier

Writer

Daphne du Maurier
(May 13, 1907 - April 19, 1989) U.K.

Daphne du Maurier

Writer

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Born in London, one of three daughters of the then well-known actor-manager Gerald du Maurier, Angela tried her hand at acting before deciding to become a writer. All three du Maurier sister, Jeanne, the younghest, Daphne, and Angela, the oldest - had lesbian relationships, but Jeanne and Angela, in contrast to Daphne, living as lesbians most of their adult lives.

Angela, like her younger sister Jeanne, a painter, who lived with the poet Noel Welch, accepted her lesbian identity. In 1930 Angela du Maurier met Angela Halliday, her "twin" and partner, with whom she shared her first name and the year and date of birth.

During the war Angela Halliday was an ambulance driver in London while Angela du Maurier and Jeanne ran a market garden in Cornwall. After the war Angela du Maurier remained in Cornwall. Angela du Maurier's work is virtually unknown today though she is an important figure for lesbian literary history of the mid-20th century.


Born in London. While her two sisters Angela and Jeanne lived openly as lesbians, Daphne found her intermittent attachment to women difficult to come to terms with and did not write about them. She, like her sisters, was educated privately at home and in Paris, but lived most of her life in Cornwall, which forms the setting oof manu of her best-known works.

Daphne private life was rather unhappy. Her parents had hoped for a boy when she was born and she was aware of their disappointment throughout her life. Her first emotional attachment was to her governess Maud Woddell, called "Tod", who came into the family when Daphne was eleven years old.

Daphne then fell in love with her teacher in Paris, Fernande Yvon. In 1932 Daphne married Tommy Browning with whom she had two daughters. In 1940 her son Christian was born. In 1947 Daphne met and fell in love with Ellen Doubleday who, however, did not return her affections. Daphne then fell in love and had a relationship with Gertrude Lawrence, an actress. In 1952 Gertrude died, which left Daphne bereft and lonely.

In 1969 she was made Dame of the British Empire for her services to literature. Her final years were beset by depression and isolation. She mantained contact with her sisters and their female partners but otherwise lived a retired existence. At the beginning od 1989 Daphne began to refuse food, seemingly waiting to die. She died while asleep in April of that year.

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Source : excerpts from: Gabriele Griffin, Who's Who in Lesbian and Gay and Writing, Routledge, London, 2002

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