Rosalind Belben

Rosalind Loveday Belben (born 1 February 1941) is an English novelist.

Early life and education

Born in Dorset in 1941 and educated in neighbouring Devon, Belben is the daughter of naval commander George Deveraux Belben and Joyce Pamela May Belben.

Career

Belben began her career intending to write for the stage. After two years in theatre, she turned her attention elsewhere. Belben’s debut book, a collection of two stories called Bogies, was published in 1972. It was followed up by Reuben, Little Hero in 1973 and The Limit in 1974, which was reissued in 2023 to critical praise.

Her next book, Dreaming of Dead People, was published in 1979 and aims to "stare at the human body, warts and all" in the same manner as visual artforms. Its narrator, Lavinia, has many similarities to Belben, and the book has been described as "autofiction". Dreaming of Dead People was republished by And Other Stories in 2025.

Ten years later Belben returned with Is Beauty Good, a set of self-contained chapters musing on the title question. Is Beauty Good is due to be republished by And Other Stories in 2026.

Later works include Choosing Spectacles (1995) and Hound Music (2001). The follow-up, Our Horses in Egypt (2007), won the James Tait Black Award. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Lynne Segal described her as a "somewhat neglected author and elegant stylist", and praised Dreaming of Dead People.

Personal life

Belben lives in Bere Regis.

Novels Bogies (1972) Reuben Little Hero (1973) The Limit (1974) Dreaming of Dead People (1979) Is Beauty Good (1989) Choosing Spectacles (1995) Hound Music (2001) Our Horses in Egypt (2007)