Renishaw Hall
The Story of the Sitwells
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Elliott & Thompson Limited
Published:2nd Jul '15
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* The British public has a perennial fascination with the intriguing Sitwell family.; * A treasure trove of stories that will delight country house lovers.; * Four hundred years of English history told through the story of one extraordinary family.; * Filled with literary gossip and outrageous stories from the age of the Flappers, the British equivalent of the Gatsby crowd.
The story of one of England's most beautiful houses and the literary family who made it famous'I tend to regard Renishaw as the mistress of my old age, beautiful, charming, moody and unpredictable.' -- Sir Reresby Sitwell. Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire has been the seat of the Sitwell family since 1625. Its remarkable story is only matched by that of the family who have dwelled there, and with whose fortunes it has risen and fallen, only to rise again. Modern Renishaw's real creator was the under-estimated Sir George Sitwell, a pioneer of the Baroque revival and a gardener of genius, but caricatured as a buffoon by his son Osbert. Better known are his children, the Trio - Osbert, Edith and Sacheverell - who were the Bloomsbury Group's rivals in the 1920s and leading literary figures in the 1950s and 60s. In telling the tale of the Sitwells through the centuries, Desmond Seward also takes us on a tour through English history, to the house's restoration at the end of the twentieth century, and the return to its former glory as a jewel of British heritage, winning the coveted Historic Houses' Association Award for Garden of the Year in 2015.
"He resurrects generations of forgotten Sitwells ... rescuing them from the mists of time and telling us just enough about them to make us long to know more"-John Carey, Sunday Times; "A balanced and beautifully written book ... an unexpected thing: original and full of new information, as well as a delightful read."-John Martin Robinson, Country Life; "Seward has told the roller-coaster, sometimes funny and sometimes poignant family history tale very well. ... The most famous Sitwells may be no more, and the present family may have much to live up to (or alternatively, perhaps, live down) - but, after reading this entertaining account, we can hope that long may they continue to do so"-John Van der Kiste, thebookbag.co.uk; "This entertaining and elegant book is partly a lively celebration of Reresby and Penelope's restoration of Renishaw and their joint creation of one of the handsomest houses in England." - Matthew Dennison, The Daily Mail; "Seward has told the roller-coaster, sometimes funny and sometimes poignant family history tale very well. ... The most famous Sitwells may be no more, and the present family may have much to live up to (or alternatively, perhaps, live down) - but, after reading this entertaining account, we can hope that long may they continue to do so" - John Van der Kiste, thebookbag.co.uk; "I had never heard of Renishaw Hall or the Sitwell family before reading this book, but now it is on my list of places to visit ... Desmond Seward successfully brought Renishaw Hall to life in this fascinating book" - The Book Magnet; "Rich in detail, ... gorgeous colour picture sections ... to read about the forgotten Sitwell family members is fascinating and is an excellent history lesson" - Madame J-Mo; Reresby Sitwell once said in an interview, 'I tend to regard Renishaw as the mistress of my old age, beautiful, charming, moody and unpredictable.' This book certainly captures this spirit and has made me put Renishaw Hall on the list of houses I must visit. I suggest that you read the book first to be entranced by the house and its colourful custodians. - Country Wives; Seward does an excellent job of bringing to life the times in which they lived, and exploring their impact upon the house and grounds of Renishaw Hall. These stories are really delightful, taking the reader on a glorious journey across the history of England. - Heaven Ali; "Rambunctious...reveals a splendidly eccentric clan" --Roger Lewis, The Times; "Elegantly written ... an enjoyable celebration of an unforgettable English gentry family and their country house, and all the layers of memory and echoes of the past which can be encountered there"--Jeremy Musson, Historic House; "Seward does an excellent job of bringing to life the times in which they lived, and exploring their impact upon the house and grounds of Renishaw Hall. These stories are really delightful, taking the reader on a glorious journey across the history of England." - ShinyNewBooks.co.uk; 'Brisk and diverting' - Matthew Sturgis, Times Literary Supplement
ISBN: 9781783961832
Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 30mm
Weight: 680g
288 pages