John Cowper Powys's (1872–1963) Autobiography, published in 1934, the year Powys returned to Britain from America, describes his first 60 years, and is considered one of his most important works. Writer J. B. Priestley comments: "Even if Powys had never written any novels – and at least one of them, A Glastonbury Romance is a masterpiece – this one book alone would have proved him to be a writer of genius." While he sets out to be totally frank about himself, and especially his sexual peculiarities and perversions, he largely excludes any substantial discussion of the women in his life. It has become clear that the reason for this is because it was written while he was still married to Margaret Lyon though he was living in a permanent relationship with the American Phyllis Playter. Morine