The Rare and the Beautiful

Book excerpt: A compelling biography of a family, and a portrait of an era.Each of the seven Garman sisters were strikingly beautiful, artistic and wild. Born around the turn of the nineteenth century, most of the siblings were to become involved in the radical literary and political circles of British life between the First and Second World Wars. Their morals were unconventional: bisexuality, unfaithfulness and illegitimate children were a matter of course. Nevertheless they were high-minded and intensely loyal.They were the last muses: women who were prepared to sideline their own talent, friendships, material comforts -- even their own children -- in order to beguile and inspire the men they loved.Cressida Connolly's family biography will focus on three sisters in particular: Kathleen Garman: The father's favourite who ran away to London to study music. There she was spotted by the American sculptor Jacob Epstein, who promptly fell in love with her. She was to remain his muse until his death. She had three children by Epstein, was shot in the shoulder by his first wife and at last became Lady Epstein in 1955.Mary Garman: Came to London with Kathleen and studied art at the Slade. She married p