SITWELL (Sir Osbert Sacheverell, 1892-1969, Poet & Writer)

Autograph Letter Signed to "Dearest Violet", the early keyboard player Violet Gordon Woodhouse (1871-1948, née Glynne), saying "You don't mind the suggested alteration for lunch (Saturday) I hope? ... I found I'd promised to lunch at Kensington Palace with Princess Alice and didn't dare to put her off. And, anyhow, it means seeing you a day earlier!", ending with "Love to Gordon", (Woodhouse, 1870-1951, her husband), "and Bill", (the Hon. William Barrington, 1873-1960, from 1933 10th Viscount), the survivors of her famous ménage à cinq, 2 sides 8vo., Trent, New Barnet, (the home of Sir Philip Sassoon), 'Saturday' no date, circa

Violet Gordon Woodhouse, a player of wonderful clarity on all the early keyboard instruments, not least the expressive clavichord, exercised an astonishing fascination over both men and women, in the musical, literary and artistic circles of the time. She 'rediscovered' Domenico Scarlatti for the public and was the first to record for the harpsichord. By the time of this letter she had virtually given up public performance, preferring to play for her friends at her home, Nether Lypiatt Manor in Gloucestershire.
In 1895 Violet had entered into a mariage blanc with Gordon Woodhouse. His reasons for entering into the marriage are not clear, but he gave Violet the freedom to perform in public, and also to take lovers. In 1899 William "Bill" Barrington (heir to a viscountcy) moved into the marital house. He was joined in 1903 by Max Labouchere, and then, a little time later, by Dennis Tollemache. This open marriage arrangement was referred to in society circles as the 'Woodhouse circus'. By the 1920s the menage was reduced to three. Violet and Gordon acquired Lypiatt Manor, where they moved with Bill. The household finances improved after Gordon's sisters were murdered by their butler, resulting in an inheritance for Gordon in 1926.

Item Date:  1935

Stock No:  55499      £125

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