Caryll Houselander (1901 1954) was an English artist who became one of the most popular Catholic spiritual writers of modern times. Although in poor health for most of her short life, her literary and artistic output was remarkable. Beginning in 1927 until her death in 1954, she wrote and published constantly. With the publication of This War Is the Passion in 1941, she became one of the most popular and highly respected religious writers of the period.