Playwright and beloved storyteller Dorothy Gladys “Dodie” Smith (1896–1990) was born on this day in Whitefield, England. A dreamer from the start, she initially chased her passion for acting but later admitted she was “too short and not attractive enough.” That tender self-awareness led her to embrace writing instead—a shift that revealed her true genius.

“I have noticed that when things happen in one's imaginings, they never happen in one's life.”

Smith’s voice, full of wonder and sharp insight, earned her critical acclaim through a series of successful plays, including Autumn Crocus (1931). She later moved to the United States with her manager-turned-husband, where she continued writing with depth and clarity. “Contemplation,” she mused, “seems to be about the only luxury that costs nothing.”

In 1949, her coming-of-age novel I Capture the Castle captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Told through the luminous journals of 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, the story was, at its core, a celebration of feelings and quiet revelations. “Flat country seems to give the sky such a chance.”

Of all her works, Smith is perhaps most adored for creating The Hundred and One Dalmatians (1958). The book’s hero, Pongo, was inspired by her own beloved Dalmatian. This charming tale of clever dogs outwitting the villainous Cruella De Vil became a timeless film and a cherished part of childhood for generations.

“I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring.”

Between 1974 and 1985, Dodie Smith looked inward with the same delicate attention she once gave to dogs, teacups, and English gardens. In four volumes—Look Back with Love, Look Back with Mixed Feelings, Look Back with Astonishment, and Look Back with Gratitude—she gently sorted the drawers of her past. Her voice, thoughtful and unhurried, revealed not just the events of a life, but the emotions that colored them. Memory, for her, was never tidy—but always worth keeping.