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Bestselling historical biographer Matthew Dennison takes a look at the turbulent life of Vita Sackville-West. Dennison’s latest work is the first biography of Sackville-West in 30 years and traces her life from lonely childhood, through an open marriage to Harold Nicolson during which both pursued homosexual affairs (including, most famously, Vita with Virginia Woolf) and literary success and disappointment, to the celebrated gardens at Sissinghurst created by the couple. Sackville-West was born into aristocracy but she took her talent for play-acting and rebellion to the artistic vanguard of modern Britain.

Dennison is author of the critically acclaimed The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria’s Youngest Daughter; Empress of Rome: The Life of Livia; The Twelve Caesars; and Queen Victoria. He writes about country houses and gardens for several magazines.

Sponsored by HSBC.