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3/28/2014

Bloomsbury Women

 


Bloomsbury Women: Distinct Figures in Life and Art  by Jan Marsh has been on my radar for several years. Finally after much procrastination, I ordered a used copy from BN which arrived today. Alas, my copy does not have this luscious dust jacket but does boast a darkish red cloth cover which I find most acceptable. The drawing, photos, and text are not a disappointment in this fascinating non-fiction work.
 
Here are the opening sentences:
 
" 'Bloomsbury was conceived in 1904, when Vanessa and Virginia Stephen and their brothers Thoby and Adrian moved from fashionable Kensington to the quieter London district of Bloomsbury, close to the British Museum. It was born, so to speak, the following year, when the house at 46 Gordon Square became the melting place for their young artistic and intellectual friends, who gathered on regular weekday evenings to talk and to listen." 
 
 And from page 56:
" 'One day someone said you might get a job to paint furniture and do decorative work at the Omega Workshops,' she recalled. 'Feeling brave I went to Fitzroy Square and asked to see Mr. Fry. He was a charming man with grey hair and said I should come round the next day and start work. I went round and was shown what to do. Batiks. I was paid by the hour...and felt like a millionaire.' "

 
:: What are you reading? ::

6 comments:

fredamans said...

Very interesting! When I hear or see Bloomsbury, I immediately think of publishing.

Happy weekend!

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I am so sorry for your family's loss.

Ricki Treleaven said...

I have several art books about the Bloomsbury group, and I studied Virginia Woolf's novels quite a bit in college.

I would enjoy reading this book!

Linking from Freda's Voice,
Ricki Jill

Mereknits said...

My dear friend you are the winner of my Chocolate yarn knitting giveaway.

Could you please email more mailing information? You can find me at meremorg@aol.com.

Hooray! I am so excited.

Meredith

kathy b said...

Reading:
The Beast in the Garden and loving it.

Jennyff said...

As I am trying to downsize and declutter, I am reading my books by size rather than content. Stupid I know but it is clearing the shelves and enhancing the charity shop stocks.