THE SCARLET TREE

Osbert Sitwell

Published by Macmillan & Co Ltd, London, 1946

About this Item

THE SCARLET TREE. Osbert Sitwell. Macmillan & Co, London. 1946 First Edition 320pp Illustrated Hardback. This copy is in fine unmarked condition bound in original red cloth covered boards with bright gilt titling to the spine. The unclipped dust wrapper is typically sunned to the spine otherwise fine and complete. Sir Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell, 5th Baronet (6 December 1892 - 4 May 1969) was an English writer. His elder sister was Edith Sitwell and his younger brother was Sacheverell Sitwell; like them he devoted his life to art and literature. Sitwell was born on 6 December 1892 at 3 Arlington Street, London. His parents were Sir George Reresby Sitwell, fourth baronet, genealogist and antiquarian, and Lady Ida Emily Augusta (née Denison). He grew up in the family seat at Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire, and at Scarborough, and went to Ludgrove School, then Eton College from 1906 to 1909. For many years his entry in Who's Who contained the phrase "Educ: during the holidays from Eton." In 1911 he joined the Sherwood Rangers but, not cut out to be a cavalry officer, transferred to the Grenadier Guards at the Tower of London from where, in his off-duty time, he could frequent theatres, art galleries, and the like. Sitwell devoted himself to poetry, art criticism and controversial journalism. Together with his brother, he sponsored a controversial exhibition of works by Matisse, Utrillo, Picasso and Modigliani. The composer William Walton also greatly benefited from his largesse (though the two men afterwards fell out) and Walton's cantata Belshazzar's Feast was written to Sitwell's libretto. He published two books of poems: Argonaut and Juggernaut (1919) and At the House of Mrs Kinfoot (1921). In the mid-1920s he met David Horner who was his lover and companion for most of his life. When Sitwell's father died in 1943, and he succeeded to the baronetcy, he started an autobiography that ran to five volumes. The first volume, Left Hand, Right Hand proved to be his best work to date. The subsequent volumes were The Scarlet Tree (1946), Great Morning (1948), Laughter in the Next Room (1949) and Noble Essences: a Book of Characters (1950) all of which I am selling on this site. Ref Y4.

Seller Inventory # 009490

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE SCARLET TREE
• Publisher: Macmillan & Co Ltd, London
• Publication Date: 1946
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardback
• Illustrator: John Piper
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good