author
Osbert Sitwell
1892–1969
A sharp-eyed English writer from the remarkable Sitwell family, he moved easily between poetry, novels, criticism, and memoir. He is especially remembered for vivid autobiographical writing that captures the literary and social world of his time.
2 Audiobooks
Out of the Flame
by Osbert Sitwell
Argonaut and Juggernaut
by Osbert Sitwell
About the author
Born in London on December 6, 1892, Sir Osbert Sitwell was an English writer whose career ranged across poetry, fiction, essays, criticism, journalism, and memoir. He was one of the three famous Sitwell siblings, alongside Edith Sitwell and Sacheverell Sitwell, and their family became closely associated with British literary and artistic modernism.
Sitwell served in the First World War, an experience that shaped his outlook and later writing. Over the years he became known not just for his poetry and prose, but for his strong opinions on art and culture and for the breadth of his interests. Reference works also note that he spent much of his later life in Italy, where he died near Florence on May 4, 1969.
Many readers now know him best for his multi-volume autobiography, often associated with the title Left Hand, Right Hand!, which helped preserve his reputation as a witty, observant recorder of his age. His work offers a lively window into 20th-century literary life, mixing social history, personal memory, and a clear pleasure in the arts.