She was born in 1926, her father was Jacob Epstein, the sculptor, and her mother was Kathleen Garman. Her father was married and he would visit her mother in Chelsea between 6 and 7 pm each day. Her mother lived a Bohemian life that was considered unsuitable for bringing up her children. Kitty went to stay with her grandmother Margaret in Herefordshire and her elder sister was also looked after. Her grandmother and her partner Toni Thomas became her bibliophile guardians and Margaret's daughters Lorna and Ruth were her role-models.
