Reading Experience Database
1450-1945

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Record 19433

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

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, workmates)
n/a
Additional comments: n/a

 

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

 

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://can-red-lec.library.dal.ca/Arts/reading/recorddetails2.php?id=19433, accessed: 16 April 2024

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.

 

 

Reading Experience Database version 2.0.  Page updated: 27th Apr 2016  3:15pm (GMT)