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THE OFFICIAL
JAMES LEES-MILNE
WEBSITE |
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The life of JAMES
LEES-MILNE (1908-97) spanned the twentieth century; and he left his imprint on
that century in a variety of ways.
As the first Historic Buildings
Secretary (1936-51) of the
National
Trust, he was instrumental in establishing that institution as the leading
force in the conservation of the English country house.
Largely through
his efforts, such splendid and much-visited properties as
Attingham,
Charlecote,
Knole,
Petworth,
Sissinghurst,
Stourhead,
Wallington and
West Wycombe came into the National Trust's possession.
As a gifted and versatile author, he achieved note first as an
architectural historian, later as a novelist and biographer.
But he
will be best remembered as a diarist who was remarkable for his candour, wit
and sharp observation. His later diaries, covering the last twenty-five years
of his life, are already recognised as outstanding works of literature and
contributions to social history, as has long been the case with his early
diaries covering the 1940s.
The diaries reveal a fascinating
personality, abounding in paradox. He respected tradition, while hating
convention; he admired the aristocracy, yet was contemptuous of aristocrats; he
combined faint-heartedness with stoical courage; he was bisexual.
His
complex marriage to Alvilde Chaplin (1909-94) has been compared to that of
Harold Nicolson and
Vita Sackville-West - a comparison made poignant by the
fact that he had a homosexual relationship with Harold in the 1930s, while she
had a lesbian affair with Vita in the 1950s.
Other friends included some
of the most interesting literary figures of his time, such as
John Betjeman,
Ivy
Compton-Burnett,
Henry Green,
Osbert Lancaster,
Rosamond
Lehmann,
the Mitford sisters,
Anthony
Powell and
Peter
Quennell. |
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This site has been created by Michael
Bloch, James Lees-Milne's literary executor, who is currently editing his later
diaries and writing his biography (to be published by John Murray). He may be
contacted at MAB@jamesleesmilne.com.
Many
of James Lees-Milne's papers are in the Beinecke Library at Yale. Their
catalogue can be accessed
here
James Lees-Milne's copyrights are managed by
Bruce Hunter of David Higham Associates, London. Enquiries may be addressed to
him at brucehunter@davidhigham.co.uk. |
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