Second Fiddle

Mary Wesley was born near Windsor in 1912. Her education took her to the London School of Economics and during the War she worked in the War Office. Although she initially fulfilled her parent's expectations in marrying an aristocrat she then scandalised them when she divorced him in 1945 and moved in with the great love of her life, Eric Siepmann. The couple married in 1952, once his wife had finally been persuaded to divorce him. She used to comment that her 'chief claim to fame is arrested development, getting my first novel [Jumping the Queue] published at the age of seventy'. She went on to write a further nine novels, three of which were adapted for television, including the best-selling The Camomile Lawn. Mary Wesley was awarded the CBE in the 1995 New Year's honour list and died in 2002.

"A witty, chatty book" The Times "Second Fiddle will delight the healthily growing number of Mary Wesley enthusiasts and offer a delicious treat to those who have yet to discover this unique author" Punch "She writes like an avenging angel, with a freshness, vigour and zest for sex (but never for sleaze) that belie her years. The lovely Miss Wesley has a steel-tipped talent" Sunday Telegraph