Ethel Lina White, a renowned crime writer of her time, was born in the charming town of Abergavenny, situated in the picturesque county of Monmouthshire, Wales, in the year 1876. Her remarkable literary career spanned several decades, earning her widespread recognition and acclaim in both Britain and the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.
One of her most notable works is the novel "The Wheel Spins", which was published in 1936. This captivating story served as the inspiration for the iconic 1938 film, The Lady Vanishes, directed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. The film adaptation of White's novel cemented her status as a master of the crime writing genre.
Ethel Lina White's life came to a tragic end in 1944, when she succumbed to ovarian cancer in London, England. Despite her untimely passing, her legacy lives on, and in 2021, a blue plaque was announced to be erected on a building on Frogmore Street in Abergavenny, commemorating her birthplace. This tribute serves as a testament to her enduring impact on the world of literature and crime writing.