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
Winifred Darch
Author and teacher. Born in Brighton. A prolific writer of novels, mainly for girls. From 1906 to 1935, she worked as a teacher and housemistress at the High School for Girls, Loughton. We cannot f...
William Roper
Biographer. Date of birth approximate. He married Sir Thomas More’s daughter Margaret in 1521 and wrote More’s biography. He was a member of several parliaments between 1529 and 1558.
Olaudah Equiano
Born in an African village, he was sold into slavery, first locally, then in England, then in America where he managed to buy his freedom. He returned to England and wrote the first autobiography o...
The (Literary) Club
The (Literary) Club was founded in the Turk's Head Tavern, Gerrard Street, by Dr Samuel Johnson & Joshua Reynolds 1764. The members included: Goldsmith, Boswell, Burke, Reynolds, Garrick.
Rose Macaulay
Born Rugby. Died at home, 20 Hinde House, Hinde Street. Her novels include The Towers of Trebizond (1956).
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