The Sitwells facts for kids
The Sitwells were three siblings from Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Their names were Edith Sitwell, Osbert Sitwell, and Sacheverell Sitwell. They became well-known in London for their writing and art between about 1916 and 1930. They formed a special group of friends who shared their interests.
One famous event was the first public show of Edith's poem Façade in 1923. It had music by William Walton. All three Sitwell siblings were writers. Some people thought their group was as important as the famous Bloomsbury group. Others, however, thought they were just trying to get attention, not serious artists.
The Sitwell Family's Early Works
The Sitwell siblings started their journey in the art world with a series of poetry books. These books were called Wheels anthologies. They were published every year starting in 1916.
Some people saw these books as a different kind of poetry from the popular "Georgian Poetry" books of the time. Others thought they were just light poems for high society. The Wheels anthologies did not find many poets who would become very famous later on. However, they did include works by Nancy Cunard and Aldous Huxley.
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The Sitwell Family's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family. The Sitwell family's coat of arms has eight stripes of gold and green. On these stripes, there are three black lions standing on their hind legs.
Their family motto is Ne cede malis. This is a Latin phrase that means "Yield not to misfortune." It encourages them not to give up when things are difficult.
The Sitwell Family's Legacy
The Sitwell family's old home, called Wood End, is in Scarborough. It has been turned into a "creative industries centre." This means it now provides spaces for artists to work. It also has offices and learning areas.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, there is a coffee shop named Sitwell's Coffee House. It was named to honor Edith Sitwell.
A large collection of the Sitwells' writings and papers are kept at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center. This center is part of The University of Texas in Austin.
A funny poem by Ogden Nash mentions the family. It says: "How many miles to Babylon? / Love-in-a-mist and Bovril. / Are there more Sitwells than one? / Oh yes, there are Sacheverell."
