author
Edith Sitwell
1887–1964
Known for her daring style and larger-than-life public presence, this English poet helped bring modernist experimentation into the spotlight. Her work later took on a deeper emotional power, blending musical language with sharp intelligence.
1 Audiobook
The wooden Pegasus
by Edith Sitwell
About the author
Born in Scarborough, England, on September 7, 1887, she became the eldest of the three literary Sitwells and grew up in an aristocratic family at Renishaw Hall. After moving to London in the early 20th century, she began building a reputation as a poet, critic, and unmistakable public personality.
Her early poetry was often bold and experimental, and she became especially associated with Façade, the 1922 collaboration with composer William Walton that brought her wide attention. Over time, critics noted a shift in her writing from brilliant stylistic display toward work with greater emotional depth, especially during the years of World War II.
She remained an important and highly visible figure in British literary life for decades, publishing poetry, prose, and criticism. Edith Sitwell was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1954, and she died in London on December 9, 1964.