Edith Sitwell
Edith Sitwell
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell was the pen name of Edith Sitwell, a renowned British poet, critic, novelist, and broadcaster.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: July 7, 1887
Died: December 9, 1964
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Sitwell was a British national, associated with the Bloomsbury Group of avant-garde artists. She worked as a poet, critic, novelist, and broadcaster throughout her career.
Early Life and Background
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Edith Sitwell was born into an aristocratic family in 1887. Her parents were Sir George Sitwell and Lady Ida Florence (née Denison). Edith's father was a politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Scarborough from 1895 to 1903. The Sitwells resided at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire, England.
Edith had two brothers: Osbert and Sacheverell. Both were notable writers themselves. This talented family dynamic would influence Edith's literary pursuits. However, her early life was also marked by struggles with health issues, including chronic migraines and depression.
Major Accomplishments
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Sitwell gained recognition for her poetry collections, which showcased her experimental style and use of modernist techniques. Some notable works include:
Façade (1922) - a collection that explores themes of beauty, decay, and the human condition.
The English Eccentrics (1933) - a book-length poem that examines the eccentric nature of British society.
Sitwell's poetry was not limited to traditional forms. She experimented with free verse and fragmented narratives, which added to her unique voice in literature.
Notable Works or Actions
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In addition to her poetry collections, Sitwell wrote several novels and essays. Some notable works include:
I Live, But How I Live (1938) - a collection of essays that explore her experiences with illness.
The English Rose Tree (1941) - a novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and identity.
Sitwell's work was not limited to literary pursuits. She also worked as a broadcaster and critic, contributing to various publications, including The Criterion and The Daily Telegraph.
Impact and Legacy
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Edith Sitwell's influence on modernist poetry is undeniable. Her experimental style and use of free verse paved the way for future generations of poets. Sitwell was also an influential figure in British literary circles, known for her sharp wit and incisive criticism.
Sitwell's work continues to be celebrated for its innovative style and exploration of complex themes. Her legacy extends beyond literature, as she remains a fascinating figure in British cultural history.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Edith Sitwell is widely quoted and remembered for her bold experimentation with poetry forms and her unapologetic approach to exploring the human condition. Her unique voice and style continue to captivate readers, making her a beloved figure in British literary history.
Sitwell's work serves as a testament to the power of creative expression. Her dedication to pushing boundaries and challenging conventions has left an indelible mark on modernist poetry.
Quotes by Edith Sitwell
I am not eccentric. It's just that I am more alive than most people. I am an unpopular electric eel set in a pond of goldfish.
I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty. But I am too busy thinking about myself.
In private life she was not in the least what her calumniators would have wished her to be. She was very quiet, had a great natural dignity, and was extremely intelligent. She was also exceedingly sensitive.
I’m not the man to balk at a low smell, I not the man to insist on asphodel. This sounds like a He-fellow, don’t you think? It sounds like that. I belch, I bawl, I drink.
White as a winding sheet, Masks blowing down the street: Moscow, Paris London, Vienna all are undone. The drums of death are mumbling, rumbling, and tumbling, Mumbling, rumbling, and tumbling, The world’s floors are quaking, crumbling and breaking.
Virginia Woolf’s writing is no more than glamorous knitting. I believe she must have a pattern somewhere.
Said the Sun to the Moon-’When you are but a lonely white crone, And I, a dead King in my golden armour somewhere in a dark wood, Remember only this of our hopeless love That never till Time is done Will the fire of the heart and the fire of the mind be one.
By ‘happiness’ I do not mean worldly success or outside approval, though it would be priggish to deny that both these things are most agreeable. I mean the inner consciousness, the inner conviction that one is doing well the thing that one is best fitted to do by nature.