Record Number: 19433

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'The more I read the book, the more wonderful it seems to me. It is really a great book. Arthur says, and I more than agree with him, that the passage about Pyramus and Thisbe will, in the future, be regarded as one of the greatest passages in English literature. As I say, I agree, but the whole book in its entirety is to me like some wonderful and unspeakably moving music. It excites one, moves one, intoxicates one to an incredible degree. The worst is, it unfits one for daily life. To have to eat one's lunch in the middle of reading it is practically impossible. And I got, literally, no sleep after it, on Friday night. I couldn't sleep after it. This isn't talent - not even great talent- not even a great gift - it is genius. You know what my pride in you is. I am most terribly proud to be your sister.'

Century:

1900-1945

Date:

26 Oct 1926

Country:

England

Time

evening

Place:

city: London
specific address: 22 Pembridge Mansions, Moscow Road, W2

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Edith Sitwell

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Female

Date of Birth:

7 Sep 1887

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

Poet

Religion:

Christian

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

England

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

n/a

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Sacheverall Sitwell

Title:

All Summer in a Day: An Autobiographical Fantasia

Genre:

Autobiog / Diary

Form of Text:

Print: Book

Publication Details

21st October 1926, Duckworth

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

19433

Source:

Print

Author:

Edith Sitwell

Editor:

Richard Greene

Title:

Selected Letters of Edith Sitwell

Place of Publication:

London

Date of Publication:

1998

Vol:

n/a

Page:

71

Additional Comments:

This is an extract from a letter to ' My darling Sach' (Sacheverall Sitwell, Edith's younger brother, 1897-1988).

Citation:

Edith Sitwell, Richard Greene (ed.), Selected Letters of Edith Sitwell, (London, 1998), p. 71, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=19433, accessed: 09 May 2025

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Additional Comments:

This letter is a typical example of the effusive praise with which Edith always responded to both her brothers' (Sacheverall and Osbert) work. The 'Arthur' to whom Edith refers in this letter is Arthur Waley ( 1889 1966) orientalist and translator. he was a friend of all three Sitwells but particularly close to Sacheverall.