Poet and biographer. Born at Scarborough into the aristocracy. 6-foot tall, with elongated features she added to the effect with her exuberant flowing and ornate clothing. Her poetry was avant garde and concerned with musicality. Her performance of Façade in 1923 has been described as early white rap or like a "happening" from the 60s, and attracted the same response - bemusement. Noel Coward's review caused her to refuse to speak to him for 40 years. But she gradually gained respect and, when she and her brother Osbert toured America they were a great success, especially with the stars in Hollywood. She was early to promote the work of Dylan Thomas. In WW2 she contributed to the war effort by knitting clothes for friends in the forces, including Alec Guinness.
Died, unmarried at St Thomas's Hospital. Her nephew, Francis, was her literary executor.
There is a wonderful 1943 portrait of her by Wyndham Lewis.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dame Edith Sitwell
Commemorated ati
Edith Sitwell
English Heritage Dame Edith Sitwell, 1887 - 1964, poet lived here in Flat 42.
Virtues - Sixth Sense
Edith Sitwell reads a book while blithely crossing a chasm on a bridge made o...
Other Subjects
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Died Weimar.
2 memorials
1 memorial
1 memorial
Coventry Patmore
Poet and critic. Born at Woodford, Essex. Died Lymington. Web sites giving his poetry are numerous.
2 memorials
Siegfried Sassoon
Poet and writer. Born Siegfried Loraine (also spelt Lorraine or Louvain depending on source) Sassoon at Weirleigh, Brenchley, near Paddock Wood, Kent. Grandson of Thomas Thornycroft and cousin of S...
Person, Armed Forces, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous, France
2 memorials
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