Rose Collis was originally from South Wimbledon, and escaped to Sussex in 1997, since when she has produced five books, two exhibitions — and become a City & Guilds qualified gardener. Once a musician and performer in fringe theatre (she plays a mean ukulele), she is now a critically acclaimed author, journalist, historian and lecturer. Her articles and reviews have appeared in more than 30 publications, from The Times to the Mail on Sunday.
Other work includes entries for the New Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; sleeve-notes for reissues of albums by Elton John and Dusty Springfield; and an exhibition and book about the social history of ‘Brighton’s Boozers’ — a tough job, but someone had to do it.
Her most recent book was the delicately titled biography Coral Browne: This Effing Lady – a Top Ten Book of the Year in 2007 (‘Her book is elegant and moving – a hoot…’ Daily Telegraph).
Her other books include A Trouser-Wearing Character: The Life and Times of Nancy Spain (‘delightfully readable, with an unusually vivid sense of the recent past and its personalities’ – the Spectator) and Colonel Barker’s Monstrous Regiment – the story of the dashing and decorated First World War hero, who was unmasked as Valerie Arkell Smith in a scandalous trial at the Old Bailey in 1929. (‘Fascinating…Collis’s ribald, chatty style carries this ripping yarn’ – Time Out.)
WORKS IN PROGRESS
- Wanting the Moon:
The Biography of Clemence Dane
Clemence Dane – real name Winifred Ashton (1888-1965) - was arguably Britain’s most successful all-round female writer between the wars, culminating in her Oscar win in 1947. She was also a sculptor and painter of note. Noel Coward, the brightest star in her extraordinary circle of friends, called her: ‘a wonderful mixture of artist, writer, games mistress, poet – and egomaniac’.
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