Pseudonym of
Ruth Rendell.
Rendell created a third strand of writing with the publication of
A Dark Adapted Eye under her pseudonym Barbara Vine in 1986. Books such as
King Solomon's Carpet,
A Fatal Inversion and
Anna's Book (original UK title
Asta's Book) inhabit the same territory as her psychological crime novels while they further develop themes of family misunderstandings and the side effects of secrets kept and crimes done. Rendell is famous for her elegant prose and sharp insights into the human mind, as well as her ability to create cogent plots and characters. Rendell has also injected the social changes of the last 40 years into her work, bringing awareness to such issues as domestic violence and the change in the status of women.
