by Jane Ashelford (1996)
The clothing worn in the past affords an invaluable insight into lifestyles that have disappeared forever. Choice of dress has always been affected by numerous influences - social and economic, artistic and technical - and, of course, the vagaries of individual taste. In this delightfully illustrated book, a unique account is offered of the history of dress over four centuries. Drawing on the rich resources of Britain's National Trust properties, which include numerous costume and textile collections, revealing painted portraits, and extensive documentation in the form of family correspondence, diaries, and household papers, Jane Ashelford goes beyond a mere chronicle of cut, shape, and decoration. She looks at the social aspects of dress - how styles were conveyed, how and where materials and clothing were purchased, and what people wore at all levels of society and at all ages, from swaddling bands to widow's weeds. Many remarkable ensembles are seen here, often for the first time, in spectacular photographs specially commissioned from Andreas von Einsiedel. Men's, women's, children's, and servant's attire and accessories provide vital information about the taste, preoccupations, and aspirations of the individuals who wore them, and the world in which they lived.
Jen Green
Using archaeological evidence and excellent artwork, this series explores Britain during the key people's reign in history. In all its aspects it helps readers to draw their own conclusions about civilization from the evidence available. It explores the basic facts about these fascinating periods through a series of direct questions such as 'What did people do in their spare time?' 'Did people have families like ours? or 'Who ruled the country?'
traduit du manuscrit tch que par Gilberte Rodrigue
Neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze documents iconographiques en noir et blanc et 32 planches en couleurs, tous accompagnés d'une légende explicative, illustrent les pages de cette somptueuse encyclopédie. Le texte et l'illustration de la première section passent en revue, par tranche de l'histoire universelle, 4000 ans d'histoire du costume et de la mode. La deuxième section se présente comme un répertoire des divers vêtements et accessoires. Chacun de ses 21 articles porte sur un élément de l'ornementation vestimentaire : coiffures, barbes, chapeaux, cols, manches, jupes, etc. Il comporte un lexique alphabétique des variétés de cet ornement. Par exemple, à l'article chapeaux, on définit les termes baigneuse, balzo, batwat, béret, bicorne, bonnet, etc. Cette section est aussi illustrée que la première.
Jean Wilson
"The plays of Elizabethan and Jacobean England, and Shakespeare's work in particular, are usually presented in a purely literary context; the material context is relatively neglected. Yet the setting, staging and costuming of Shakespeare's plays are not only fascinating subjects in their own right; they also illuminate aspects both of the playtext and of contemporary social and cultural history." "The Archeology of Shakespeare sets out to right this imbalance in theatre studies by systematically investigating the material evidence that bears upon the theatre and theatrical presentations of Shakespeare's day. The astounding discovery in 1989 of the foundations of the Rose theatre, followed later in the year by the uncovering of the site of Shakespeare's own Globe theatre, have transformed our knowledge of the subject. Dr. Wilson assesses the results of these investigations in relation to what is known of the other theatres of London, and supplements her findings by the study of contemporary art forms, especially tomb sculpture, an under-used body of material that throws considerable light on the interiors and staging practices of Elizabethan playhouses." "Chapters on the social and cultural background to the Elizabethan theatre, as well as on Shakespeare himself, provide the context to the fascinating detail of the 'archeology'. Nearly ninety illustrations of contemporary paintings, sculptures and buildings complement the text."--BOOK JACKET.
Lesley Pearse
Somerset, 1836, and baby Hope is cast out from a world of privilege as living proof of her mother's adultery? Smuggled away from the Harveys and Briargate House to a nearby village, Hope grows up in the arms of the warm and loving Renton family, unaware of her true identity. But fate has harsh plans for Hope and a chain of events sees her forced to lead a vagabond's existence until she finds the courage to fight back and prove herself a fearless and able nurse, a vocation that takes her to the horrific battlefields of the Crimea. But the secrets of the past are not yet done with Hope Renton and she must return to England to face the legacy of her birth?