Sacheverell Sitwell

I mentioned in an earlier post that I stumbled across the work of Harriet Martineau again recently. Another book which I remember being fascinated by when I was a student was ‘For want of the golden city’ by Sacheverell Sitwell. I had developed an interest in the Bloomsbury set along with friends of mine at the time. I had been particularly taken with the work of Virginia Woolf. This was the early 80s and the New Romantics were dominant in popular music. A group of us in Liverpool were looking for influences. The Sitwells caught our attention. I read the poetry of Edith Sitwell and some of the autobiographical work of Osbert Sitwell (I picked up a volume in a bookshop in Liverpool called Atticus).

Then one day I was wandering around Central Libraries in Liverpool, which has the most beautiful reading rooms and an amphitheatre shaped international library. I came across ‘For want of the golden city’ by Sacheverell Sitwell and began reading the first few pages as I sat on the floor. I was absorbed by the writer’s ability to capture so much with a wide sweep of thinking. He demonstrated a new renaissance attitude, an interest in learning across disciplines for the sake of learning, rather than for some utilitarian purpose. I was enthralled.

I was brought back to this book a few weeks ago when I met an old school friend in the doorway of Central Libraries. A week later I searched on Amazon and discovered that the book is out of print. A further search of my local library catalogue tracked down a copy which I am now reading. 

Thirty years brings a change of perspective, but I still think the book is fascinating. Sitwell’s writings stand the test of time well. John Betjeman said the following about him:

“What a relief you are after the fearful pedantry & dull art history which kills enjoyment & just gets scholarships for people and breeds more dullards. You are a life-enhancer.”

He wrote 135 books, only one novel, but a host of books on art, architecture, music (including biographies of Mozart in 1923, and Liszt in 1934) and many travel books. He was made a Companion of Honour and also Honorary Doctor of Sheffield University in 1951. With so many books written, I guess it is not a surprise that this particular book is out of print, but I would recommend a browse through any of his books.