Christopher William Bradshaw-Isherwood was an influential writer whose works chronicled the societal shifts in early 20th-century Europe and later on in California. His experience of Weimar Republic-era Berlin formed the backdrop for several of his most famous works. Isherwood's collaborations with his close friend W. H. Auden were also notable. Open about his homosexuality, Isherwood's writings also contributed to the dialogue regarding queer identity. Later in life, he became a devotee of Vedanta, with spiritual motifs infusing his later writings.