Sassoon: The Worlds of Philip and Sybil

by Peter Stansky

"Sir Philip Sassoon (1888-1939), a glamorous, well-known figure in Britain for the 1st four decades of the 20th century, was the most eligible bachelor & the greatest host of his time. He attained prominence in the art world, high society & politics. In contrast, his sister Sybil (1894-1989) lived a more private life. Yet she was fascinating in her own right, marrying into the grandest level of the English aristocracy, restoring Houghton--formerly the house of Sir Rbt Walpole--to magnificence & serving in the high command of the Women's Royal Naval Service during both world wars." Stansky offers the findings of new archival research & a collection of photos to bring the Sassons & their period into focus. He provides an account of Philip's election as the youngest Member of Parliament & his service as military secretary to Douglas Haig during WWI & as parliamentary private secretary to Lloyd George afterwards. He follows Philip as he undertakes the building & renovation of town & country houses, cultivates friendships in a wide circle that includes the Royal Family, stages influential art exhibitions & serves as patron to John Singer Sargent & other artists. At the same time Philip was Under-Secretary of State for Air & later First Commissioner of Works. He also considers Sybil's development from wealthy debutante to the Marchioness of Cholmondeley & her patronage & conservation work. Using the lives of the Sassoon siblings as a lens thru which to view English life, particularly its highest reaches, Stansky offers insights into British attitudes toward power, politics, war, Jews, old vs new money, homosexuality, taste & style.
India: establishing a dynasty
England: becoming English
Philip & Sybil serve their country
Becoming a politician in the 1920s
Setting the stage in London & in the country
The role of art: making an aesthetic
The bomber always get through: politics in the 1930s
Sybil

312 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2003

About the author

Peter Stansky was educated at Yale University, King's College, Cambridge and Harvard University. He taught at Harvard and then at Stanford University, retiring in 2005 as the Frances and Charles Field Professor of History. At Stanford he taught modern British history, directed PhD dissertations, chaired his department as well as holding various administrative posts and in the course of his career was awarded several outside fellowships. He is also former President of the North American Conference on British Studies.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, to look at, to hold, to savor. The illustrations are plentiful, and the writing excellent. Philip Sassoon was like no other man of his time, and he had the vast wealth to realize his visions of beautiful living. Although he died young, there are many interesting anecdotes from people who knew him and enjoyed his lavish hospitality. He and his sister Sybil (she married into the British aristocracy) were important patrons of the arts and preservationists of country homes. Because they were Jewish, they both contended with racism despite the real services they rendered to Great Britain. This is an excellent book that I'll read again and again.