Behind the Mask: The Life of Vita Sackville-West

Dennison (The Last Princess) seeks to tell both the outward story of his subject—heiress, scandal-mongering rebel, and shirker of establishment norms—and the inner life of a poet and novelist. That these disparate stories occur in the same person, Vita Sackville-West (1882–1962), makes for an entertaining read. However, one may need a little patience. Even with the salacious and aristocratic content, the text simply doesn't command attention until almost halfway through. Perhaps Dennison delves into his subject too quickly; he assumes a familiarity with Sackville-West on the part of his reader but fails to spell out why we should care. The result is an attitude of pretentious assumption, apparently imparting the flavor of the writer. It's clear by the end of the account that Sackville-West was a singular individual, and as she becomes more sympathetic to the reader, the narrative warms. Whether she had composed all her novels and poetry seems beside the point; readers will find her dedication to gardening and dogs just as endearing.