She was a highly erudite lady and her plots and characterisations reflect that, as does her way with words. Did you know about her translation of Dante's Inferno? She died while working on the Purgatorio and the difference between her work and her successors' is like quicksilver compared to lead.

I find I can't read Christie - too contrived and trivial - but I can happily re-read Sayers time and again.