Viola Meynell

Viola Meynell (1885 – 1956) was an English writer; her married name was Dallyn. She wrote around 20 books, being known for short stories and novels, and also poems and memoirs. Her parents were Wilfrid and Alice Meynell.

She was an early supporter of D. H. Lawrence, offering practical help in the way of typing and accommodation. She was also a champion of Herman Melville at a time when he was unfashionable.

She had a large circle of literary friends and correspondents, including Katherine Mansfield, Compton Mackenzie and T. H. White.

Works

• Martha Vane (1910) first novel, published anonymously
• Narcissus (1916)
• Alice Meynell (1929)
• An Anthology of Nature Poetry (1942)
• Letters of J.M. Barrie (1943) editor
• Francis Thompson and Wilfrid Meynell (1952)
• Louise and Other Stories (1954)
• The Best of Friends: Further Letters to Sydney Carlyle Cockerell (1956) editor
• Collected Stories (1957)

Reference

• A Critical Biography of English Novelist, Viola Meynell, 1885-1956 (2002) Raymond N. MacKenzie