The Strawberry Hill Set

<p>To Horace Walpole''s house at Strawberry Hill, in Twickenham, came a remarkable assortment of poets and writers, artists and antiquaries, politicians and society figures. Among them were Thomas Gray, whose great ''Elegy'' might never have been published without Walpole''s encouragement; that ''laughter-loving dame'' Kitty Clive, the greatest comic actress of her day; Lady Suffolk who entertained Walpole with stories of the days when she was George II''s mistress; the epicene John Chute, whose architectural knowledge and enthusiasm helped to inspire Strawberry Hill; the gentle Berry sisters, who comforted Walpole''s old age; George Selwyn, celebrated for his wit, languor, and necrophilia. ''If Mr Selwyn calls'', said Mr Fox on his death-bed, ''show him up. If I''m still alive I''ll be glad to see him and if I''m dead he''ll be glad to see me.'' <br><br>The most fascinating member of this circle was Horace Walpole himself. Son of Sir Robert, Member of Parliament for many years, author of the first Gothic romance, <i>The Castle of Otranto</i>, passionate collector, influential amateur of architecture and, above all, prince of English letter-writers, he emerges gradually but clearly through the eyes of his friends. <br><br>Brian Fothergill, always an accomplished biographer, perhaps found his most congenial subject in this book: the result is a work as entertaining as it is informative.</p>