Lawrence George Durrell ( 27 February 1912 -- 7 November 1990 ) was an expatriate British novelist , poet , dramatist , and travel writer , though he resisted affiliation with Britain and preferred to be considered cosmopolitan . Lawrence George Durrell ( 27 February 1912 â `` 7 November 1990 ) was an expatriate British novelist , poet , dramatist , and travel writer , though he resisted affiliation with Britain and preferred to be considered cosmopolitan .