T. S. Eliot
It is most famously the residence of poet, critic and playwright, T. S. Eliot who moved to No.3 Kensington Court Gardens in 1957, after his secret marriage to his secretary from Faber and Faber, (Esmé) Valerie Fletcher on January 10, 1957. The marriage was criticised not only because it was kept a secret from all but her parents, but at the time Eliot was 68 and Valerie only 30 years old.
Despite the criticism and the age difference, it appears to have been the happiest time of Eliot’s life, the Oxford Dictionary of Biography stating he “attained a degree of contentedness that had eluded him all his life”.
However, at the time Eliot’s health was already in decline and he died in the flat only eight years later, on January 4, 1965. Mrs Valerie Eliot still lives at No.3 Kensington Court Gardens and is editor and guardian over his letters, many of which are still un-published. Further notable residents include the Kopman family, who amassed their fortune in the property development and investment banking arenas.
Read more about this topic: Kensington Court Gardens
Famous quotes containing the word eliot:
“... very little achievement is required in order to pity another man’s shortcomings.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)