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
James Hadley Chase
Thriller writer. Born at the site of the plaque as René Lodge Brabazon Raymond. Under various pseudonyms, he wrote ninety novels, fifty of which were made into films. Died in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, Sw...
Vivien Noakes
Biographer, editor and critic. Wife of the painter Michael Noakes. She wrote a notable biography of Edward Lear and was a leading scholar of the war poet Isaac Rosenberg.
Dame Ivy Compton-Burnett
Novelist. Born at 2 Onslow Gardens, Pinner, Middlesex. her early life was marred by the deaths of four of her siblings. Her first novel 'Dolores' was published in 1911. In 1919 she met the writer M...
George Bernard Shaw
Born Dublin. Socialist, member of the Fabian Society. Plays include: Saint Joan, Major Barbara and Pygmalion on which My Fair Lady is based. Didn't like his first name, "Don't George me!" so is oft...
Person, Literature, Politics & Administration, Seriously Famous, Theatre, Ireland
Winifred Holtby
Born Yorkshire. Graduated with and maintained a long friendship with Vera Brittain. Writer, reformer and pacifist.
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