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A Note of Explanation: A Little Tale of Secrets and Enchantment from Queen Mary's Dolls' House
A Note of Explanation is a previously unknown work by iconic writer Vita Sackville-West. Written in 1922, it was recently rediscovered as a miniature book in Queen Mary's dollhouse in Windsor Castle. Witty and stylish, the story recounts the antics of a time-travelling sprite who inhabits the dollhouse. This illustrated, cloth-bound edition presents the story for the first time since 1924.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1922
About the author
Vita Sackville-West
139 books408 followersNovels of British writer Victoria Mary Sackville-West, known as Vita, include
The Edwardians
(1930) and
All Passion Spent
(1931).
This prolific English author, poet, and memoirist in the early 20th century lived not so privately.
While married to the diplomat Harold Nicolson, she conducted a series of scandalous amorous liaisons with many women, including the brilliant Virginia Woolf. They had an open marriage. Both Sackville-West and her husband had same-sex relationships. Her exuberant aristocratic life was one of inordinate privilege and way ahead of her time. She frequently traveled to Europe in the company of one or the other of her lovers and often dressed as a man to be able to gain access to places where only the couples could go. Gardening, like writing, was a passion Vita cherished with the certainty of a vocation: she wrote books on the topic and constructed the gardens of the castle of Sissinghurst, one of England's most beautiful gardens at her home.
She published her first book Poems of East and West in 1917. She followed this with a novel, Heritage, in 1919. A second novel, The Heir (1922), dealt with her feelings about her family. Her next book, Knole and the Sackvilles (1922), covered her family history. The Edwardians (1930) and All Passion Spent (1931) are perhaps her best known novels today. In the latter, the elderly Lady Slane courageously embraces a long suppressed sense of freedom and whimsy after a lifetime of convention. In 1948 she was appointed a Companion of Honour for her services to literature. She continued to develop her garden at Sissinghurst Castle and for many years wrote a weekly gardening column for The Observer. In 1955 she was awarded the gold Veitch medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. In her last decade she published a further biography, Daughter of France (1959) and a final novel, No Signposts in the Sea (1961).
She died of cancer on June 2, 1962.
This prolific English author, poet, and memoirist in the early 20th century lived not so privately.
While married to the diplomat Harold Nicolson, she conducted a series of scandalous amorous liaisons with many women, including the brilliant Virginia Woolf. They had an open marriage. Both Sackville-West and her husband had same-sex relationships. Her exuberant aristocratic life was one of inordinate privilege and way ahead of her time. She frequently traveled to Europe in the company of one or the other of her lovers and often dressed as a man to be able to gain access to places where only the couples could go. Gardening, like writing, was a passion Vita cherished with the certainty of a vocation: she wrote books on the topic and constructed the gardens of the castle of Sissinghurst, one of England's most beautiful gardens at her home.
She published her first book Poems of East and West in 1917. She followed this with a novel, Heritage, in 1919. A second novel, The Heir (1922), dealt with her feelings about her family. Her next book, Knole and the Sackvilles (1922), covered her family history. The Edwardians (1930) and All Passion Spent (1931) are perhaps her best known novels today. In the latter, the elderly Lady Slane courageously embraces a long suppressed sense of freedom and whimsy after a lifetime of convention. In 1948 she was appointed a Companion of Honour for her services to literature. She continued to develop her garden at Sissinghurst Castle and for many years wrote a weekly gardening column for The Observer. In 1955 she was awarded the gold Veitch medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. In her last decade she published a further biography, Daughter of France (1959) and a final novel, No Signposts in the Sea (1961).
She died of cancer on June 2, 1962.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 24, 2017
This book is absolutely beautiful. A short but completely enchanting story, classy and whimsical, accompanied by gorgeous art deco inspired artwork.
March 16, 2018
Videorecensione: https://youtu.be/J37Y4svwa7A
July 10, 2018
A charming little book with wonderful illustrations. This book is a story about Queen Mary's dollhouse, which, by itself, is an amazing work of art. In the library, there are miniature books, one of which contains this tale about the dollhouse itself.
The last few pages explain how the story ended up in the dollhouse, and why was the author commissioned to write a book for the dollhouse library.
The last few pages explain how the story ended up in the dollhouse, and why was the author commissioned to write a book for the dollhouse library.
January 7, 2023
Such fun! A wonderful story about the ghost in a dollhouse, with gorgeous illustrations.
April 30, 2018
Davvero un piccolo gioiello questo "Mistero nella casa di bambole", che pure viene definito come un semplice jeu d'esprit scritto da Vita Sackville-West su invito della regina Mary per la biblioteca della sua casa di bambole.
Vita immagina che quella bellissima dimora in miniatura, perfetta in ogni particolare, sia abitata da uno spirito, un fantasma non fantasma, testimone di tantissimi eventi in paesi e epoche lontane (dal ballo di Cenerentola ai racconti di Boccaccio).
Per il suo "trasferimento" a Londra non poteva che scegliere la casa di bambole, e fedele al principio di adattarsi sempre alle mode del tempo e del luogo, eccola come una moderna donna degli anni '20, con le tuniche, le gonne corte e l'immancabile caschetto nero.
Come spiegato da Matthew Dennison nella postfazione, non è difficile intravedere in questo avventurosa creatura senza tempo un po' dell'autrice stessa, ispirazione per l'Orlando di Virginia Wolf.
Il volume è impreziosito dalle meravigliose e dettagliatissime illustrazioni di Kate Baylay (di seguito, qualche esempio) che riporta in vita l'atmosfera degli anni '20, ritraendo lo spirito nelle sue attività quotidiane, e concedendosi anche qualche incursione nelle fiabe menzionate nel testo.
Assolutamente da avere.
Vita immagina che quella bellissima dimora in miniatura, perfetta in ogni particolare, sia abitata da uno spirito, un fantasma non fantasma, testimone di tantissimi eventi in paesi e epoche lontane (dal ballo di Cenerentola ai racconti di Boccaccio).
Per il suo "trasferimento" a Londra non poteva che scegliere la casa di bambole, e fedele al principio di adattarsi sempre alle mode del tempo e del luogo, eccola come una moderna donna degli anni '20, con le tuniche, le gonne corte e l'immancabile caschetto nero.
Come spiegato da Matthew Dennison nella postfazione, non è difficile intravedere in questo avventurosa creatura senza tempo un po' dell'autrice stessa, ispirazione per l'Orlando di Virginia Wolf.
Il volume è impreziosito dalle meravigliose e dettagliatissime illustrazioni di Kate Baylay (di seguito, qualche esempio) che riporta in vita l'atmosfera degli anni '20, ritraendo lo spirito nelle sue attività quotidiane, e concedendosi anche qualche incursione nelle fiabe menzionate nel testo.
Assolutamente da avere.
October 15, 2019
An adorable little historical oddity with lovely illustrations. Reminiscent of Gaiman's Sandman one-offs, though of course this was written well before.
July 24, 2020
Recensione completa -> https://thebooksblender.altervista.or...
February 4, 2018
A curio - a whimsical story of a fairy who lives in a doll's house belonging to Queen Mary (wife of King George V). This would make a lovely gift to any child or those of us who admire the works of this author - the art-deco illustrations are gorgeous. A little treat.
November 7, 2020
4 stelline e mezzo 🌟
June 30, 2020
Bizarre, whimsical and cunning. There is something so wonderful and magical about books you can finish in one sitting. And it has gorgeous illustrations!
January 30, 2023
What a beautiful discovery of a beautiful discovery.
July 18, 2018
The ghost (who is basically Vita herself) haunting the doll house and the appealing illustrations make this a fun and unusual picture book (more appealing to older readers, I think, than little kids). There's a nice biographical bit about Vita at the end. But there is no picture of the actual miniature book! I want to know how small the writing was.
September 20, 2018
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Les Secrets et Enchantements de la Maison de Poupée de la Reine d'Angleterre ?
"Je n'ai lu qu'un roman de Vita Sackville-West, Toute Passion Abolie, mais j'en ai gardé un souvenir marquant, de douceur et de mélancolie. Quand j'ai vu la beauté de cet ouvrage illustré, allié à la plume de Vita, je me suis dit qu'il ferait bien joli dans ma bibliothèque et je remercie grandement Grasset Jeunesse d'avoir eu la gentillesse de me l'envoyer."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Ce livre a une histoire un peu magique. En 1942, Mary, reine d'Angleterre, fait construire une maison de poupée grandiose avec l'eau, l'électricité et même un ascenseur. Quoi de plus normal alors que de demander aux artistes de l'époque de décorer les murs de leurs toiles miniatures et de remplir la bibliothèque de leurs petites histoires. C'est à cet occasion que Vita Sackville-West écrivit celle-ci et l'original est toujours aujourd'hui, à Windsor, dans la bibliothèque de la maison de poupée."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce livre est vraiment très joli, parfaitement fini et bien illustré. Il me rappelle celui écrit par la Reine Victoria enfant, les Aventures d'Alice Laselles, que j'avais ramené d'Angleterre (et si Grasset voulez bien le traduire d'ailleurs, ça ferait une jolie collection !). L'histoire simple mais jolie, de l'esprit qui habite la maison de poupée, possède deux niveaux de lectures qui permettront aux grands comme aux petits d'y trouver leur compte. Pour autant, elle m'a parue, au premier abord, un peu trop complexe pour ma nièce de 5 ans à qui je l'ai lue avant la sieste mais le soir même elle me réclamait de nouveau l'histoire de la maison de poupée. Je m'en remets donc à son jugement sans faille."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai aimé que l'histoire de la création de ce livre nous soit présentée à la fin. En revanche, pas un mot de l'illustratrice, Kate Baylay, dont les dessins sont pourtant sublimes et habillent si joliment ce petit conte. C'est bien dommage."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Je n'ai lu qu'un roman de Vita Sackville-West, Toute Passion Abolie, mais j'en ai gardé un souvenir marquant, de douceur et de mélancolie. Quand j'ai vu la beauté de cet ouvrage illustré, allié à la plume de Vita, je me suis dit qu'il ferait bien joli dans ma bibliothèque et je remercie grandement Grasset Jeunesse d'avoir eu la gentillesse de me l'envoyer."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Ce livre a une histoire un peu magique. En 1942, Mary, reine d'Angleterre, fait construire une maison de poupée grandiose avec l'eau, l'électricité et même un ascenseur. Quoi de plus normal alors que de demander aux artistes de l'époque de décorer les murs de leurs toiles miniatures et de remplir la bibliothèque de leurs petites histoires. C'est à cet occasion que Vita Sackville-West écrivit celle-ci et l'original est toujours aujourd'hui, à Windsor, dans la bibliothèque de la maison de poupée."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce livre est vraiment très joli, parfaitement fini et bien illustré. Il me rappelle celui écrit par la Reine Victoria enfant, les Aventures d'Alice Laselles, que j'avais ramené d'Angleterre (et si Grasset voulez bien le traduire d'ailleurs, ça ferait une jolie collection !). L'histoire simple mais jolie, de l'esprit qui habite la maison de poupée, possède deux niveaux de lectures qui permettront aux grands comme aux petits d'y trouver leur compte. Pour autant, elle m'a parue, au premier abord, un peu trop complexe pour ma nièce de 5 ans à qui je l'ai lue avant la sieste mais le soir même elle me réclamait de nouveau l'histoire de la maison de poupée. Je m'en remets donc à son jugement sans faille."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai aimé que l'histoire de la création de ce livre nous soit présentée à la fin. En revanche, pas un mot de l'illustratrice, Kate Baylay, dont les dessins sont pourtant sublimes et habillent si joliment ce petit conte. C'est bien dommage."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
July 15, 2019
Un récit incroyable dans tous les sens du terme : la petite histoire dans la grande ! Dans la réalité, la maison de poupée de la reine d’Angleterre existe bien et se visite !
Mais au-delà de l’aspect historique, le livre conte le passage extraordinaire d’une femme, qui dans cette maison rencontre les plus grands ; de Cendrillon à Barbe Bleue, et laisse des traces à chacun de ses passages. Elle se fond au travers des époques en se plaisant à changer d’apparence.
Un conte merveilleux, élégant et subtil dans le style Art Nouveau soutenu par de superbes dessins. À offrir à toutes les occasions ou simplement pour se faire plaisir.
Mais au-delà de l’aspect historique, le livre conte le passage extraordinaire d’une femme, qui dans cette maison rencontre les plus grands ; de Cendrillon à Barbe Bleue, et laisse des traces à chacun de ses passages. Elle se fond au travers des époques en se plaisant à changer d’apparence.
Un conte merveilleux, élégant et subtil dans le style Art Nouveau soutenu par de superbes dessins. À offrir à toutes les occasions ou simplement pour se faire plaisir.
January 18, 2022
"Es war einmal ein Puppenhaus, das einer Königin gehörte..."
Ich habe mich in diese Geschicht verliebt. Tatsächlich ist es vielleicht das schönste, liebste kleine Buch in meine ganze Sammlung, und jetzt erzähl ich dich warum: diese Erzählung wurde in 1924 für Königin Mary verfasst, und schildert die Geschichte einer zeitreisenden Elfe die in einem Puppenhaus niederlässt. "Eine Frau von Geist" ist mit so viel Sorgsamkeit geschrieben, dass wir nicht anders können, uns als Teil davon zu fühlen.
Ich werde es mit meinem ganzen Herz immer schätzen, und hoffe, dass meinen zukunftlichen Kinderen es genießen können.
Ich habe mich in diese Geschicht verliebt. Tatsächlich ist es vielleicht das schönste, liebste kleine Buch in meine ganze Sammlung, und jetzt erzähl ich dich warum: diese Erzählung wurde in 1924 für Königin Mary verfasst, und schildert die Geschichte einer zeitreisenden Elfe die in einem Puppenhaus niederlässt. "Eine Frau von Geist" ist mit so viel Sorgsamkeit geschrieben, dass wir nicht anders können, uns als Teil davon zu fühlen.
Ich werde es mit meinem ganzen Herz immer schätzen, und hoffe, dass meinen zukunftlichen Kinderen es genießen können.
May 30, 2018
This was just lovely. A previously unpublished story by Vita Sackville-West, written for the tiny library in Queen Mary's doll house at Windsor Castle, deliciously-illustrated in Art Deco style, this slim volume tells the story of a dollhouse "spirit" that has spent her life galavanting around the world throughout time before settling in the miniature world of this dollhouse made for the queen of England. Delightful and a beautiful collector's piece.
July 31, 2020
I loved the Art Deco/Mucha-like illustrations in this book, but the story is odd. I mean, it is supposed to be odd, surrealistic, whimsical. It's hard to tell who it is written for--my library has it in the adult fiction section, but I question its placement there since it could be a children's story, although not necessarily one that kids would particularly find attractive. It's weird, so I enjoyed that aspect, and the art work is worth a flip through.
December 22, 2022
This is a fun little book that I got on a visit to Windsor Castle. It's about a tiny "bright young thing" that lives in Queen Mary's Dollhouse. The illustrations in this are absolutely stunning and the story by the mysterious Vita Sackville-West was really charming. I can see why Virginia Woolf was obsessed with her. She was definitely an interesting person and I would love to read more books by her in the future.
May 7, 2018
YOU GUYS. Do you like being delighted by bizarre, niche pieces of art? This is just about the oddest thing I've come across in quite some time. All you need to know is that this was written in a miniature book that lives in a doll house alongside other, miniature, fully-realized pieces of writing. If that doesn't pique your interest, I'm not sure what you are, but probably not human.
November 8, 2018
Wasn't too keen on the actual story but the story behind the story is fascinating. This book is a found story. The original copy is postage stamp sized and located in the famous Queen Mary's Dollhouse in Windsor Castle. It was been reprinted here as a full sized book. Very cool to think about what other stories may be lurking in the small pages of the dollhouse bookshelves.
September 1, 2019
Actual rating: 4.5 stars. I really really enjoyed this!!!!!!
The story was so enchanting and whimsical. It passed so quickly that I was shocked when I got to the last paste and saw END.
I loved the art style in this, I loved how this included lots of stories from my childhood and I really loved how everyone was perplexed as to what was happening in the house.
The story was so enchanting and whimsical. It passed so quickly that I was shocked when I got to the last paste and saw END.
I loved the art style in this, I loved how this included lots of stories from my childhood and I really loved how everyone was perplexed as to what was happening in the house.
January 1, 2020
A charming, whimsical, and enchanting book. Beautifully bound and illustrated, and just a little mischievous. When I was a child I used to imagine what it would be like to live in my dollhouse, and I hadn't thought about it in years, but this book brought all of that back. Best impulse buy I've had in a while. Definitely recommend.
April 10, 2018
This is such a special, beautiful little book. I was fascinated by Queen Victoria’s dollhouse when I visited Windsor Castle, so it’s a special treat to get to read the book written for the dollhouse’s library, especially when accompanied by such lovely illustrations.
August 16, 2020
Beautifully illustrated and whimsically told. I didn’t know about this author until I read this book. What a fascinating person. Her life and experiences replicated in parts throughout the story. Utterly charming and delightful.
April 7, 2022
So beautiful! I love the illustrations and the simple, cute story. My sister gifted me this book and it reminds me of her! :) I also enjoyed the afterword by Matthew Dennison, it helped me understand everything better.
November 24, 2022
Un volume bellissimo. Il testo è più che altro una favola breve ma il libro è arricchito dalla splendida copertina in stoffa e dai bellissimi disegni al suo interno. Un libro coccola da tenere in libreria e sfogliare quando si ha voglia.
October 31, 2023
A charming beautifully illustrated short read. This book was written for Queen Mary’s Doll’s House and has now been upscaled for human reading. It’s a story which adults and children would equally enjoy!
April 28, 2018
While the story is a lovely tale, it is the story behind this story that is the most fascinating!
May 23, 2018
pretty and witty.
June 20, 2018
A charming story recently "found" and illustrated with some wonderful art. There is even a portrait of Vita hidden in plain view on one of the pages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews