LEFT HAND, RIGHT HAND! THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF OSBERT SITWELL (1945-50) Vol. 1: 'Left Hand, Right Hand!' (1945); Vol. 2, 'The Scarlet Tree' (1946); Vol. 3, 'Great Morning' (1948); Vol. 4: 'Laughter in the Room' (1949); Vol. 5: 'Noble Essences: Or Courteous Revelations' (1950).

First UK editions, first printings (vol. III in association with the Book Society). Five volumes. Contemporary half brown morocco by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath, for Henry Sotheran Ltd. Ochre buckram boards, five raised bands with gilt ruled compartments and titles in gilt to the spines. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Frontispiece, illustrations and photographic plates throughout each volume. A fine set, the bindings square and firm. The contents, with a small previous owner's bookplate to the front pastedown of each volume, are otherwise clean and bright throughout.

All but the final volume, 'Noble Essences' was first published in the US, with the UK editions following soon afterwards. "In its scope and its performance it will surely remain as one of the main literary memorials of its time" (Edwin Muir, 'The Observer'); "Much has happened since 'Left Hand, Right Hand!' first appeared in the mirifical spring of 1945; but there has been nothing in the field of imaginative prose to challenge the opinion that Sir Osbert Sitwell's autobiography must always be regarded as one of the wonder-works of the twentieth-century" (John Russell, 'The Sunday Times). (Fifoot OA34b, OA38b, OA40b, OA42b, OA48a).