i must confess that for me the true invention of edith sitwell lies not in her poetry or literary acumen but rather in her provocative nature and battle against impertinence. hers was a style of singular confidence and as much as she detested snobbery, she often acted the part. i’ve always believed that the appearance of arrogance and shyness go hand in hand while keeping in mind that shyness and humility aren’t necessarily part of the same sentence and in the case of dame edith, definitely not:

i have often wished i had time to cultivate modesty… but I am too busy thinking about myself.’

a great many people now reading and writing would be better employed keeping rabbits.’

i am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it.’

and when asked about her particular way of dress in a ‘face to face’ interview in 1959:

i can’t wear fashionable clothes…and i really would look so extraordinary if i wore coats and skirts, i would be followed for miles and people would doubt the existence of the almighty if they saw me looking like that.’