The Optimist

E. M. Delafield (1890–1943), born Edmée Elizabeth Monica de la Pasture, was a British author best known for her sharp wit and keen observations of middle-class life. Her most famous work, *The Diary of a Provincial Lady*, established her as a master of comic fiction, but Delafield's writing spanned a wide range of genres, including novels, essays, and plays. Her works often focused on the lives and struggles of women in early 20th-century England, blending humor with subtle social critique.
Delafield grew up in a literary family and briefly became a postulant at a convent before pursuing a career in writing. Her experiences during World War I, serving as a volunteer nurse, deeply influenced her later work, especially in her depictions of the challenges faced by women during times of social upheaval. In *The Optimist*, one of her earlier novels, Delafield examines the tension between idealism and reality, themes that would recur throughout her writing.
A sharp observer of the domestic and societal roles imposed on women, Delafield brought a satirical yet empathetic voice to the struggles of everyday life. Her ability to combine humor with thoughtful social commentary secured her place as a significant figure in British literature.