Review: The Madman's Gallery by Edward Brooke-Hitching

The Madman's Gallery - The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and Other Curiosities from the History of Art by Edward Brooke-Hitching is an exploration of art through time, beginning in 38,000BC right up to 2021 and comprises drawings, paintings, sculptures and more. The author makes clear what the reader can expect to find in this illustrated book:

"While the bulk of art history books focus on the revolutionary and traditionally revered works, The Madman's Gallery is intended to offer an alternative guided tour of art history, focusing instead on the oddities, the forgotten, the freakish, all with stories that offer glimpses of the lives of their creators and their eras." Page 10

As I was reading the first half of the book, I didn't think it was an eccentric exploration of the strangest artwork and oddities ever made, but now that I've finished I can begin to appreciate the collection as a whole.

The Portrait of Gregor Baci - who was a Hungarian nobleman impaled with a lance during a jousting tournament but who shockingly lived another year with the sawn-off piece of wood entering his right eye and exiting through his neck - sent me off to Wikipedia to find out more.

Looking at the portrait of Federico Da Montefeltro by Piero Della Francesca it's impossible not to notice the notch missing from the top of his nose. The initial injury was the result of a jousting accident in 1450, where an opponent's lance pierced his helmet, shattered his nasal bridge and caused the loss of his right eye. According to historical accounts and medical historians, Federico intentionally had surgeons amputate the remaining bridge of his nose to widen the visual field of his remaining left eye. Jousting is dangerous people!

Religious artworks abound in this collection, and predictably the work of Hieronymus Bosch is included and later the controversial and highly offensive 'work' of Andres Serrano (Immersion) was mentioned but thankfully not included in the book.

I couldn't help wondering what 17th century viewers made of The Miraculous Lactation of St Bernard (1645-52) where Alonso Cano depicted the moment when the twelfth-century St Bernard received a miraculous stream of breast milk from a statue of the Virgin Mary. To me it looks both offensive and utterly ridiculous, making it an understandable inclusion in The Madman's Gallery.

I greatly enjoyed learning about Mr Barker's monster panoramas that caused Queen Charlotte to vomit into a lace handkerchief in Leicester Square in London 1794. They were gargantuan hand-painted 360 degree panoramas that spanned 250m2 and they gave the Georgian population of the time the equivalent of a virtual reality experience as they viewed the various city views, landscapes and battle scenes making some viewers feel queasy.

Francisco Goya's Black Paintings which includes the famous Saturn Devouring His Son (1819-1823) that so shocked and interested me at High School is also included.

However a new to me painting was The Coronation of Ines De Castro in 1361 (c.1849) by Pierre Charles Comte which captures the crowning of the wife of the King of Portugal, four years after her death. The King at the time ordered his deceased wife's body to be exhumed and crowned four years after her death in order to legitimise their children together. What a bizarre event and it definitely makes for a strange painting.

In more recent works, The Artist is Present performed by Marina Abramovic in 2010 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York is included and became the subject of The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose years later.

The Madman's Gallery - The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and Other Curiosities from the History of Art by Edward Brooke-Hitching paints a good picture that will appeal to readers with an interest in art and art history. I'm glad I read it, but I think I preferred his other book, The Madman's Library - The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review: Tudor Fashion by Eleri Lynn

I've had Tudor Fashion by Eleri Lynn on my virtual TBR for - ahem - years but when I started reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel back in January, I thought it was finally time to request it from my local library. Eleri Lynn is the former curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Historic Royal Palaces and if the name rings a bell, that's because I recently reviewed another of her books Underwear - Fashion in Detail.

During the 1500s, dress was a form of competitive magnificence and was regularly reported on across the continent by ambassadors. And it's thanks to these letters that we have some detailed descriptions of the clothes being worn at court, particularly by the reigning monarch.

During the Tudor period (1485-1603), Sumptuary Laws were still in place and every member of society knew what they were - and were not - permitted to wear, creating clear class divides. However, a book about Tudor fashion is obviously going to focus on the most exquisite fabrics, needlework, embellishments, jewels and accessories of the time as that's where the level of craftsmanship is at its highest.

Much of what we know about fashion in the Tudor period - and earlier - has been obtained by studying the portraits painted at the time. To this end, several artworks are included in the book and serve to complement various descriptions of garments, jewels and accessories. Also included are photographs of several exhibits held by the V&A Museum, Historic Royal Palaces and other Trusts, museums and galleries around the world.

Given my motivation for exploring Tudor Fashion while reading Wolf Hall, I was thrilled to see the portrait of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex painted by Hans Holbein the Younger. Wolf Hall is about the life of Cromwell and this very portrait features in Mantel's book. Lynn also explains that Cromwell avoided the trappings of his station and instead chose to dress as a simple lawyer in black robes as he was not born into nobility.

I love reading about the Tudor period in particular but was still shocked to read just how enormous the Tudor household was.

"The Tudor household was vast: Henry VIII's numbered 1,500 at its height. The household consisted of three sections: the household above stairs, which fell under the control of the Lord Chamberlain; the household below stairs, which was presided over by the Lord Steward; and the stables, which was overseen by the Master of the Horse." Page 109

Fascinating isn't it? Lynn goes into further detail, outlining which staff were assigned to which areas of the household, who was entitled to wear livery and how it was produced and funded.

I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed section about dressing a Tudor lady or queen and given women didn't wash their hair often, I appreciated this insight as to how they kept their hair from becoming greasy:

"A combing cloth was then placed over her shoulders while her hair was rubbed with a warm cloth to remove grease and dandruff, then combed. A ready-styled and dressed wig would then be put on her hair." Page 137

It was also a nice reminder - for me - to read how crucial pins were in Tudor dress. Pins were the primary means of holding the various layers of clothing together and in 1559, 24,000 pins of different sizes were supplied to Queen Elizabeth I, with similar numbers provided every 6 months. In How To Be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman I learned that pins from this era are still being found in the Thames today and in Mudlarking - Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem, the author explained that pins accumulate and wash together in tangled metallic nests and that they're one of her favourite treasures to find because they're so ordinary.

Tudor Fashion by Eleri Lynn is an informative and enjoyable read and will appeal to those with an interest in fashion, history, conservation, art and the Tudor period.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

Review: Underwear by Eleri Lynn

I've always been curious about underwear across history and I enjoy the snippets that occasionally pop up in the books I read* but where those authors may have touched on one or two fascinating facts from history, in Underwear - Fashion in Detail by Eleri Lynn it's the author's sole focus.

Eleri Lynn is a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the book is published by V&A Publishing which tells me she's at the height of her field with access to some of the best artefacts from history. It also tells me she's more than qualified to guide the reader through an evolution of underwear in this book.

Surprisingly, this evolution doesn't follow a chronological path, and the history of underwear is instead divided into the following chapters: Covering Up, Decoration, Control and Constrict, Fastenings, Support and Uplift, Volume and Inside Out.

This did create a little content overlap from time to time but not so much that I minded and in some cases it was helpful. I did have to smile when I read about drawers and knickers which were open at the crotch and weren't common in Britain until the 19th century.

"Early drawers, called pantaloons or pantalettes (long trouser-like undergarments for women), were introduced around the beginning of the century, but were not popular as they were considered too masculine and unhygienic. They were also considered immodest because they were cut quite long and were visible below the hem of the dress." Page 20

In the middle of the century (1850s) they were cut to a mid-calf length so as not to show beneath the skirt. Contrast that level of modesty with women's leggings, bike shorts and scrunch bum shorts today and I wonder what our ancestors would have made of our modesty standards - or the lack thereof - in the 2020s.

The author highlights the constantly evolving nature of fashion, showing how corset styles and construction changed and adapted across decades and centuries. A detail I found surprising was:

"The average corset was only expected to last about a year, as even very sturdy corsets would distort with wear." Page 94

As you would expect, the photographs of the V&A exhibits were detailed although sometimes it was hard to gain an appreciation of the entire garment. The accompanying illustrations were helpful but as a layperson, I would have appreciated some indication as to the front, back and side views as they weren't always obvious to me.

I've always found the bullet or torpedo shaped bra of the 1950s a strange fashion trend, and cringe when I see photos of Marilyn Monroe wearing them under a sweater. I remember when Madonna wore the conical corset designed by Jean Paul Gaultier in 1990 and in doing so turned soft feminine lingerie into a symbol of power and domination. This book helped me understand why it was that rosy pink colour, which was the most popular colour of underwear in the early to mid 1900s. That aside, I hope the bullet shaped bra never makes a return for the masses.

Here though, the author explains that the conical shaped bra included intricate concentric stitching and required padded inserts called falsies to fill out the shape and keep them from collapsing. I hadn't given much thought as to how the look was achieved so it was fun to consider it here. I wonder what the sweater girls would have made of the silicone chicken fillet inserts popular in the 1990s.

The sports bra gets a mention, but for some reason Lynn doesn't show us the plunge bra, and includes a photograph of the 'Ultrabra Perfection' balcony bra instead which was disappointing.

"Gossard launched the Ultrabra plunge bra in 1994, with the advertising tagline: 'Ultrabra, creating the ultimate cleavage'. It was followed by additions to the range, including 'Ultrabra Perfection', 'Ultrabra Light' and the 'Ultrabra Super Boost', which launched in 1999 with the slogan: 'Biggest Cleavage EVER... Or your money back!'"

I was also surprised not to see the wonder bra or push up bra, both of which seemed like significant fashion developments in the last 50 years and worthy of inclusion in a book like this. There was also no mention of Skims and the current shapewear trend which is as popular as ever.

Underwear - Fashion in Detail by Eleri Lynn ends suddenly and doesn't offer a conclusion on shifting trends over the centuries or any observations about the future of underwear. I did wonder if that was because the Victoria and Albert Museum collection includes historical items and curators focus on the past and present perhaps but not the potential future. That may be the reason, but given her expertise, I was keen to know Eleri's thoughts on the impact of changing technology and how future fabrics and changing materials will impact the underwear we wear in the future.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Carpe Librum!

* Those interested in intimate snippets about underwear from previous books I've read, might enjoy the following:

In The Dirt on Clean - An Unsanitized History by Katherine Ashenburg we're told the the Marquis d'Argens wore a flannel under-waistcoat to keep warm in the 1700s and wouldn't take it off for fear of catching cold. It was revealed he'd worn the waistcoat for four years, but when he finally agreed to take it off, it had "so fixed itself upon him that pieces of his skin came away with it." Eeek!

In How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain by Ruth Goodman I learned that the long tails of shirts once acted as a barrier between the body and the trousers, essentially performing the role of underwear (or drawers) for men. Men's shirts reached down to just above the knees with a slit at both sides, so they could be tucked around one's nether regions without impeding movement. As a result, to see a man with his shirt tails hanging out was 'disgusting' and now I understand why!

More recently in The Stuff of History by Steven Moore, I read about the 14 year old boy who broke into Buckingham Palace between 1838-1841, allegedly lived there in secret by hiding in rooms and chimneys and stole a pair of Queen Victoria's underwear. I was reminded of this when reading Underwear by Eleri Lynn, when we see a pair of Queen Victoria's underwear. Historians know they were worn by the Queen as they're embroidered with her monogram.

When reading Black - The History of a Color by Michel Pastoureau I learned that white was once the most common colour of underwear but that this trend has reversed and black is now the most popular. Wearing black underwear was once transgressive but no longer draws attention the way it once did. Go figure!

Review: The Stuff of History by Steven Moore

Last month I was looking for an audiobook I could listen to while wrapping Christmas presents and writing Christmas cards and selected The Stuff of History: A Curated Compendium of Curious Objects and Forgotten People by Steven Moore.

Steven Moore is probably best known for being a TV presenter on Antiques Roadshow and Antiques Roadtrip and has been an antiques dealer, auctioneer, museum curator, author and journalist. What he offers in The Stuff of History is a compilation of topics and subjects from across different periods in history and from all around the world; sometimes focussing on a person and other times on an object.

One of my favourite chapters was the story of the 14 year old boy who broke into Buckingham Palace between 1838-1841 and allegedly lived there in secret by hiding in rooms and chimneys. He was eventually caught but not before he stole a pair of Queen Victoria's underwear and it was quite the scandal at the time.

The blurb prepares the reader for a carefully curated miscellany and the publishers couldn't have described the contents more accurately. The author clearly chose subjects he was was fond of, but the selection didn't seem to contain any unifying theme or overarching common thread. The history of the Resolute Desk in the White House sits comfortably alongside the rise of Chinese porcelain and the evolution of the fork. The frequent format of introduction: ('It is the 26th July and we're in London, it's 1935' and 'It is the 20th of June 1952 and we're in Long Beach California') became repetitive very quickly and in response I began to mentally prepare a list of alternatives to 'it is this and we are here'.

The audiobook is narrated by the author himself and readers will enjoy his voice and accent which is perfect for the subject matter being presented. However, the book doesn't seem to reach a logical conclusion, the last object is presented and that's it. This format could have gone on for another 20 chapters but I was hoping for a concluding chapter summarising the book and perhaps providing the reader with a glimpse into the world of antiques, how the author began his career or resources for those looking to learn more about antiques and history in general.

Instead, we're given a quiz at the end which I'll admit was an inspired inclusion. I was initially all for it but the author chose obscure facts from each chapter instead of asking questions that would help cement an important historical fact in the memory of the reader which was a lost opportunity in my opinion.

The Stuff of History by Steven Moore will appeal to readers with an obscure interest in history who want to feel as though they're dipping into a range of books covering art, collectibles, antiques and social history.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: Beyond Suburbia by Warren Kirk

* Copy courtesy of Scribe Publications *

Victorian photographer Warren Kirk is back with a brand new collection Beyond Suburbia. Having enjoyed Northside, Christmas in Suburbia and Westography, I was keen to discover the vistas Kirk would discover beyond the suburbs of Melbourne. Having grown up in Gippsland, I know there are plenty of old shop fronts and ghost signs to be found in every small town in Victoria and it appears Kirk has found some real gems in his travels.

The Introduction is written by Australian author Don Watson - who was born in Warragul and grew up on a farm in Korumburra - so it was nice to see a photograph of a gold hand-painted sign for the Sentinel-Times Publishing Co from Watson's home town of Korumburra in this collection.

Like Christos Tsiolkas and Helen Garner before him, Don Watson set the scene perfectly although I still would have preferred to hear from the author himself. Having enjoyed several of his collections now, I'm eager to hear what inspires Warren Kirk, how he conducts his work and how he introduces himself to his subjects, somehow managing to put them at ease in their environments while staring down the lens of what must be an impressive camera.

Whether the subject of the portrait stands in front of their home or behind the counter of their shop, the photograph invites you to see them in their domain, complete with knick-knacks, shop inventory and more besides. I found myself wondering if the photographer asked them to stand in front or behind their front gate, whether they wanted to change their clothes or fix their hair but were encouraged to stay precisely as they were to allow their genuine selves to be captured for posterity without artifice or embellishment.

In this collection I noticed an increased focus on signage and ghost signs which put me in mind of Melbourne Ghost Signs by Sean Reynolds, also published by Scribe. I wonder if these two photographers have ever met.

Kirk likes to photograph the interiors and exteriors of houses, shop fronts, motels (like the one on the cover), service stations, hairdressers, automotive shops and more. If the paint is faded or peeling, if the ironwork is rusty, if the hand painted signage is reminiscent of days gone by or the architecture is a throwback to the 1930s - 1960s it's guaranteed to capture his photographic eye.

Many of these structures - and sometimes the people in them - bring to mind those that populated my formative years and conjure memories of another era. A cafe with a timber interior and picture frames covered in seashells taken in Sale gave me a jolt of recognition, having visited there often in my youth. Some rural and regional towns were familiar from various road trips and a consequence of living in Melbourne for the past 25 years, while most could have been taken anywhere in Australia.

Warren Kirk's body of work seems to be unified by a theme of time and the passage of it, with each photograph transporting the viewer 50+ years back in time. Beyond Suburbia is recommended for anyone who enjoys photography or has an interest in Australia's social history. I wonder where his camera will take him next. 

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: All Buttons Great and Small by Lucy Godoroja

All Buttons Great and Small - A Compelling History of the Button, From the Stone Age to Today by Lucy Godoroja was a dry yet interesting read. The Australian author owns her own button shop in Newtown, Sydney and her shop is called All Buttons Great and Small, inspiring the name of this book.

I'd love to visit her button shop one day, but Godoroja is clear from the start that she's not a collector:

"I am not a collector of buttons. I have always, however, been enthralled by them, and over the past 35 years millions of buttons have passed through my hands." Page 1

Over the course of the book, I began to appreciate the author's interests seem to reside in the creation and design of buttons and their materials across time and cultures. However, I did learn some interesting button facts along the way.

Buttons were worn as an adornment, but I didn't know they once served as a portable means of value for the wearer, as it enabled a person to carry their investment with them in the case of an emergency.

Venetian glassmaking is internationally renowned, but I didn't know the establishment of Murano was an inspired government decision:

"With the burgeoning trade in Venice, in 1291 the government of the day made the decision to relocate the glass industry to the island of Murano, for fear of fires from the furnaces breaking out and spreading to the city centre, but particularly, with the added benefit of being able to shield industrial secrets from prying eyes." Page 66

Buttons could be an expression of wealth and King Louis XIV of France shockingly spent more than $5M on buttons during his reign and once commissioned a set of at least 100 diamond buttons. 

I learned that during the 1790s, the Parramatta Justice Precinct was home to the second convict hospital and evidence has been found of colonial bone button manufacturing on this site. It's assumed the many sew-through buttons discovered by archaeologists were made by hand by the convicts recuperating in the hospital or living in the huts on site.

I learned the difference between pottery and porcelain:

"Clay is the basic material of all types of pottery, but while porcelain is a type of pottery, not all pottery is porcelain. True porcelain is known as 'hard paste' as it requires hard firing at very high temperatures, after which it becomes extraordinarily dense." Page 104

More interesting though was reading the brief section about koumpounophobia, the fear of buttons. Steve Jobs openly admitted suffering from this phobia, hence his preference for wearing skivvies or polo necked tops rather than shirts.

Those few highlights aside, there was way too much information provided on scientific developments and inventions of particular materials used to produce buttons for my liking. I didn't find it interesting at all to read about the evolution of various button making materials, and the chapter entitled The Plastics Evolution - comprising the invention and use of shellac, rubber, semi-synthetics, synthetics, bakelite, amino plastics, acrylic, plexiglass, perspex, lucite, acrylite - nearly sent me to sleep.

Borrowed from the library, button lovers and crafters won't find any button inspired artwork here. There's no chapter about button collections around the world - or within Australia - or research around the discovery and value of rare and precious buttons. High-end fashion designers and their use of buttons was included, but this wasn't of interest to me. There were some stunning colour photographs of buttons throughout this beautifully produced hardback, but ironically the captions didn't contain enough detail. There is an impressive bibliography and index, but no button trading or shopping references in the index or websites to visit.

All Buttons Great and Small - A Compelling History of the Button, From the Stone Age to Today by Lucy Godoroja is an academic button book for serious collectors, sellers or historians interested in the materials used to make buttons from ivory, wood and tortoiseshell right through to metals, alloys and plastics. I have a moderate interest in buttons but unfortunately it didn't extend this far.

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: Melbourne Ghost Signs by Sean Reynolds

* Signed copy courtesy of Scribe Publications *

For those that don't know, a ghost sign is a hand painted advertisement on a building from the past that can still be seen today. Sometimes they're rediscovered during renovations or the demolition of an adjacent building. Appearing like a ghost from the past, they're often covered again when a new development is erected, giving us a short lived glimpse into our social history. Other ghost signs have been preserved and have managed to survive decades in the harsh Australian climate.

Hailing from Illinois, Sean Reynolds moved to Melbourne in 2015 and works for the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. During lockdown, Reynolds started to become interested in ghost signs on his daily walks with his daughter and Melbourne Ghost Signs contains the photographs he took all over Melbourne. Helpfully broken down into chapters entitled: Central Business District, West, South, East and North, the reader can jump straight to their part of town or read the book cover to cover.

The hardback is equal parts photography and history lesson, as the author does a deep dive on the property photographed, the business or product being advertised and often the business owners. Deploying a light sense of humour and an abundance of puns, Reynolds is able to conjure a sense of nostalgia as he delves into the history. Here's an example from a property in Victoria Street Footscray, where a 70 year old ad for Cinzano can still be seen.

"But wait, there's more! The building's three younger siblings, each with its own enchanting tale, add to the corner's allure: one, a former abode of Wesdan Electrical; another, a once-upon-a-time children's library turned milk bar; while the third, now emblazoned with 'D.P. Automotive Services', has donned many hats - from tailoring to boot repairs, before revving up as an automotive service shop." Page 50

During my time as Secretary for the Southbank Residents Association, The Tea House in Southbank was a hotly contested site for development. Reynolds tells us it was the heart of the Robur tea empire and opened for business in 1905. Outdoor painted advertisements for Robur Tea soon popped up everywhere, however Robur Tea was purchased by Tetley in 1974. The author points out many faded Robur signs throughout this book, and his love for the brand runs so deep he has a Robur teapot tattoo on his bicep!

Despite the relative seriousness of vanishing and reemerging heritage, facadism, ghost signs and history, the author uses clever puns throughout and has a relatable sense of humour. I smiled to myself seeing his reflection in a few of the photos and wish I could help him fulfil his unquenchable desire to taste a Tarax soft drink.

This location in West Melbourne was full of mouth watering puns to die for, here's a taste:

"The biscuit empire of T.B. Guest & Co. sprawled like a sugary Roman Empire, conquering palates and crushing competitors with the might of a thousand ovens." Page 47

Jokes aside, I would have liked for each photograph to have a date credited, as some of the ghost signs have since been covered up. And while each location has a street name and suburb attributed, I also wished the street number was included. This would have enhanced the reading experience and enabled the motivated reader to visit the site via Google Maps street view or do a drive by.

Melbourne Ghost Signs by Sean Reynolds is a terrific trip down memory lane and will appeal to readers who enjoyed Old Vintage Melbourne and Old Vintage Melbourne 1960 - 1990 by Chris Macheras (also published by Scribe Publications) or Adrift in Melbourne and Corners of Melbourne by Robyn Annear. You can also check out some of the author's photographs on Instagram.

Since finishing Melbourne Ghost Signs, I've noticed a lot more ghost signs around the city and I hope to track some down from the book over the summer. Carpe Librum!

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: The Beauties by Lauren Chater

* Copy courtesy Simon & Schuster *

It's 1665 and Emilia Lennox heads to court to seek the favour of King Charles II after losing everything when her husband's lands and title were confiscated. Seeking to have them restored, Emilia begins a dangerous liaison where the lengths to which she'll go to have her status restored by the King will be tested. Meanwhile, Henry is a talented artist and assistant to the court painter commissioned to produce a series of portraits; the beauties from the title.

The Beauties by Lauren Chater contains multiple narrators with alternating chapters from both Emilia and Henry in the 'present' time period, and chapters from years earlier told by a younger Anne Hyde from the Hague.

Assuming The Hague was in France when in fact it's in the Netherlands and not noticing the Anne Hyde chapters were 6 years earlier than the primary timeline was a mistake on my part that generated some reader confusion and slight disconnect as a result.

Perhaps if I knew my history a little better, I'd have realised sooner that young Anne Hyde went on to become the first wife of James, Duke of York, making her the Duchess of York. The chapters that slip back in time a mere six or so years earlier to capture the Duchess of York commissioning the series of portraits was an odd choice to me. The narrative between Emilia and Henry was rich with compelling characters and there was plenty going on to hold the reader's interest without that.

That said, let's enjoy some of the descriptive writing that kept me engaged throughout:

"To distract myself, I poured all my energy into my new role as a lady-in-waiting. When the season changed, I travelled with the Princess to her home at Binnenhof Palace in The Hague. There I learned to dress the Princess's fine brown hair for stately occasions, pinning the curls tightly to her scalp so only the pearled tips of the pins peeked through. I learned how to sponge sweat out of a gown by daubing a mixture of vinegar and spit to lift the offending mark." Page 49

The setting at court was richly described and my feet ached along with Emilia's as she waited hours on end for a glimpse of the King. I thoroughly enjoyed the painterly setting at the artist's studio and the production goings on at the theatre.

It's somehow reassuring - although I'm not sure why or how - to see characters written today, yet placed in a novel set more than 350 years ago having the same struggles we do. The author convincingly captures the timeless nature of the worries that often plague us:

"At night, she lies awake staring at the roofbeams while the questions twist and twine, tying her in ever tighter knots of confusion. If only she could see the outcomes of her choices, then she could safely decide." Page 132-133

Emilia was trying to decide her future and I recently found myself wishing the same were true. Speaking of worries that often plague us, those who know their history well (which isn't me obviously) will recognise the year 1665 as being smack bang in the middle of the Great Plague of London and while only occupying a small section of the novel, I did enjoy the impact the plague had on the various characters. This was very well handled and I enjoyed the realistic portrayal of events and outcomes between characters as a result.

The Beauties by Lauren Chater is highly recommended for readers who enjoy a little art with their historical fiction, and if you enjoyed Beauty In Thorns by Kate Forsyth or The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal then this is for you!

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Review: The Madman's Library by Edward Brooke-Hitching

The Madman's Library - The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History by Edward Brooke-Hitching is a weighty yet stunning hardback book bursting with glorious images and plates showing the books - and their pages - described within. According to his bio, Edward Brooke-Hitching lives in London and is the son of an antiquarian book dealer, which may shed light on his interest in unusual books, obscure books, famous and forgotten books.

It's immediately clear that the author is a well-researched book lover and bibliophile, and it doesn't take much effort for the reader to match his enthusiasm for books and of course reading them.

The author gives us a tantalising sample of what we can look forward to early on:

"Invisible books, books that kill, books so tall that motors are needed to turn their pages and books so long they could destroy the universe. Edible books. Wearable books. Books made of skin, bones, feathers and hair. Spell books, shaman manuals, alchemist scrolls, sin books and the ancient work known as the 'Cannibal Hymn'. Books to communicate with angels, and books to summon treasure-hunting demons. The lawsuit filed by the Devil, and a contract bearing his signature. Books worn into battle, books that tell the future, books found inside fish or wrapped around mummified Egyptians. Leechbooks, psychic books, treasure-finding texts and the code-writing hidden in the Bible." Introduction Page 16

The writing strikes a comfortable balance between being well researched and well written while never tipping over into the dry and academic style of writing that often ruins my interest level in books like this. Brooke-Hitching really gets it.

"But these books breathe. They hold thoughts, knowledge and humour otherwise long gone. Their stories - and to a degree, their authors - are alive upon opening them, undiminished by the violence of time." Introduction Page 16

Tell me you haven't shared these thoughts too. The use of hornbooks pops up in my reading from time to time, and while I'd once Googled to clarify what they were, I don't recall ever seeing one, until now, which was a joy.

And while I knew what a hornbook was, I'd never heard of a xylothek or a wooden library, have you? According to the author, Xylotheks:

"... record arboreal biodiversity by forming a library from the trees themselves. Each volume is made of the wood of a different tree, their spines composed of the bark... and their contents containing specimens of the tree's leaves, seeds, branches and roots." Books that Aren't Books, Page 34

I defy any reader to view the accompanying photograph in the book and not instinctively want to reach out to touch and smell the volumes. Apparently xylothek collections of native flora can be found around the world and we have one here in Australia! Who knew?

I enjoyed studying the sheer ingenuity and variety in the emerging designs for the typewriter, and of course reading about the Voynich Manuscript; a book that has been studied around the world, but never been successfully decoded or deciphered.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Madman's Library and have already made plans to read his follow up published in 2022, entitled The Madman's Gallery - The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and Other Curiosities from the History of Art. Here he turns his eye to the 'greatest curiosities from the global history of art' by gathering together more than a hundred 'magnificently eccentric antique paintings, engravings, illustrations and sculptures, each chosen for their striking beauty and the wonderfully bizarre story behind their creation.'

Colour me interested!

My Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★