One of the things I like best about blogging are the great emails that come in from all over the world.
Yesterday I was thrilled to find Helen O’Neill, the author of Florence Broadhurst – Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives in my inbox.
I read the book a couple of months back and enjoyed it very much. I think anyone with an interest in design would love it.
It is stunningly produced, with a wonderful cover and lots of gorgeous colour plates featuring Broadhurst’s iconic designs inside.
Broadhurst herself is an absolutely fascinating and ultimately inspirational character. She was a ruthless businessowman, a PR genius and an entrepreneur to her (no doubt colourfully varnished) fingertips, at a time when female entrepreneurs were very few and far between. Had she been living today, I’ve no doubt she would be at the head of huge business empire placing Florence Broadhurst designs on everything from stationery to rugs. She was also a true eccentric, travelled widely – again at a time when most women were expected to stay at home and mind the baby – and had an interestingly ambiguous take on morality. I loved her.
My one gripe with the book is that it tries too hard to create drama and controversy – Florence’s life is fascinating enough in and of itself – but I think that much of this impression stems from the publisher’s overhyping. But the so-called scandals and mysteries of her life felt a bit overegged. See here for a very interesting conversation about the book.
But I digress. Helen wrote to thank me for mentioning the book on the blog and then went on to reveal that the book still doesn’t have a UK publisher. I find this completely extraordinary, given what a super book it is and particularly when one walks round Waterstone’s and sees the drivel which does get published nowadays. UK publishers you must be mad!
Helen seemed to think that some UK blog mentions might help, so I’m very happy to oblige. She’d like her mother who lives in the UK to be able to walk into a shop and see Florence on the shelves. UK publishers, how can you be so cruel?
Sadly, I’m not entirely sure that many any UK publishers read this blog. (Well, they certainly won’t any more – Ed).
