Sackville-West, V. (Victoria), 1892-1962

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1892-03-09
Death 1962-06-02
Britons,
Italian, Spanish; Castilian, English, French,

Biographical notes:

Victoria Sackville-West (1892-1962), English poet, novelist, and author of books on gardening, known for her association with the Bloomsbury group and the gardens she designed at Sissinghurst Castle.

From the description of Passenger to Teheran, 1926. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702191711

From the description of Victoria Sackville-West writings and commonplace book, 1910-1961. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702184003

Vita Sackville-West was an English novelist, poet, and a member of the Bloomsbury Group. Her early work was published by Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press. Lionel Edward Sackville-West was the third Baron Sackville, a British title he inherited on the death of his uncle, the diplomat Lionel Sackville-West, second Baron Sackville. He married his first cousin Victoria Sackville-West in 1890. Vita Sackville-West was their only child.

From the description of 104 autograph letters and postcards, signed to Lady Victoria Sackville-West from Vita Sackville-West and Lionel Sackville West, and one a.l.s. from Lady Victoria to Vita Sackville-West. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 437269464

English author and poet.

From the description of V. Sackville-West correspondence and poem, 1939. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981734

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, to Sir Sidney Crockerell, 1943 Oct. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270634319

From the description of Autograph letter signed [Vita Nicolson] : Sissinghurst Castle, Kent, to Sir Sydney Cockerell, 1953 Apr. 26. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270634471

Purchase; Henry Sotheran Limited; 1989.

From the guide to the Letter, 1937 January 16, Sissinghurst Castle, Kent [to] Miss Fayerman., 1937 January 16, (Washington State University Libraries)

Vita Sackville-West was an English novelist and travel writer. Utilizing a traditional literary style to relate modern themes, her work is characterized by honesty, duality, and the importance of individuality.

From the description of Vita Sackville-West letter to John Milne Janney, 1960 August 25. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 49919243

Purchase; Ulysses (bookstore); 1994.

From the guide to the Letter, 1954 November 1, Sissinghurst Castle, Kent [to] Mr. Rappaport., 1954 November 01, (Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)

British poet and author.

From the description of Correspondence, 1922-1954. (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRC); University of Texas at Austin). WorldCat record id: 145406071

Victoria Sackville-West, better known as Vita, was a British novelist, poet, and writer of gardening books.

From the description of Vita Sackville-West collection of papers, [1911]-1962 bulk (1921-1962). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122579727

From the guide to the Vita Sackville-West collection of papers, 1911]-1962, 1921-1962, (The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.)

Vita Sackville-West, English novelist and poet.

Violet Trefusis, British author.

From the description of Vita Sackville-West papers relating to Violet Trefusis, 1905-1926. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702161051

Vita Sackville-West, English novelist and poet.

Violet Trefusis, British author.

From the description of Vita Sackville-West papers relating to Violet Trefusis, 1905-1926. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80855459

Wife of Sir H Nicolson

Epithet: afterwards Nicolson, writer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000688.0x00025d

Vita Sackville-West and Violet Trefusis (née Keppel) met at a party in the winter of 1905, when Violet was ten and Vita twelve. From the beginning, their relationship was intense, and the constant travels of both families created the necessity of an ongoing and voluminous correspondence (Vita's early letters to Violet were burned by Violet's husband, Denys Trefusis, on their honeymoon).

The friendship became a love affair in 1918, well after Vita's marriage to Harold Nicolson in 1913. Violet herself married Major Denys Trefusis in 1919. Throughout the years 1918 to 1921, the correspondence continued. Violet, who was unhappy in her marriage, often begged Vita to run away with her. They did "elope" briefly to Paris in 1920, but Vita, whose marriage was a happy one, allowed herself to be "rescued" by her husband.

After another trip abroad with Violet in January 1921, Vita chose life with her husband and two sons over life with Violet. Denys Trefusis agreed not to divorce Violet, and she eventually went to live with him in Paris. Violet was forbidden to have any contact with Vita, although letters were exchanged through their mutual confidant, Pat Dansey (who herself became one of Vita's lovers). Slowly, the correspondence came to an end, and aside from a brief meeting at a party in 1924, the two women did not see each other again until 1940, when Violet fled France for England during World War II.

For more detailed biographical information about Violet Trefusis, see the register for the Violet Trefusis Papers (GEN MSS 427).

From the guide to the Vita Sackville-West papers relating to Violet Trefusis, 1905-1926, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

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Subjects:

  • Travel
  • Authors, English
  • Authors, English
  • Bloomsbury group
  • Delphian oracle
  • English literature
  • English poetry
  • Gardening
  • Lesbian authors
  • Lesbians
  • Letter-writing
  • Literature
  • Media and Communication
  • Mental illness
  • Renaissance
  • Sackville
  • Women novelists, English
  • World War, 1939-1945

Occupations:

  • Authors
  • Authors, British
  • Poets, British

Places:

  • China, Asia (as recorded)
  • Egypt (as recorded)
  • England (as recorded)
  • San Francisco, California (as recorded)
  • Sissinghurst Castle (England) (as recorded)
  • Italy (as recorded)
  • Peking, Chihli, China (as recorded)
  • Iraq (as recorded)
  • Middle East (as recorded)
  • Tehran (Iran) (as recorded)
  • Iran (as recorded)