Lucinda Gosling – författare

A compact guide to the world of glamour and privilege seen in Bridgerton: that of the Debutante.Until the middle of the last century, London’s social calendar was dominated by ‘the Season’, a round of social events and parties during which the daughters of the upper classes made their ‘debuts’. Debutantes and their families descended on the capital from all over Britain to take part in this elaborate process that in its blend of glamour, great privilege and archaic and sometimes comic ritual is emblematic of a world now lost.From the preparations and formalities of court presentation to the exhausting round of parties that followed, Debutantes and the London Season is a detailed look at a phenomenon that was central to the lives of generations of privileged young ladies.

An exploration of coronations from before the time of William the Conqueror through to Elizabeth II’s in 1953.The monarchy has made many concessions to the modern age, but the affirming rituals of the coronation – the pageantry, the theatre and the symbolism – are centuries old. Looking at the British coronation from its beginnings, Lucinda Gosling takes the reader on a thematic journey through the history and meaning of these elaborate ceremonies. She reveals the finely tuned planning involved, explains the symbolism of the regalia, and reminds us that past coronations did not always go according to plan. She also looks at the increasing public involvement in the coronations of the twentieth century, from street parties to the advent of television, showing how the event evolved into the global celebration of 1953 and became an internationally recognised expression of Britain’s heritage and national identity.

Until the middle of the last century, London''s social calendar was dominated by ''the Season'', a round of social events and parties during which the daughters of the upper classes made their ''debuts''. Debutantes and their families descended on the capital from all over Britain to take part in this elaborate process that in its blend of glamour, great privilege and archaic and sometimes comic ritual is emblematic of a world now lost. From the preparations and formalities of court presentation to the exhausting round of parties that followed, Debutantes and the London Season is a detailed look at a phenomenon that was central to the lives of generations of privileged young ladies.

Until the middle of the last century, London''s social calendar was dominated by ''the Season'', a round of social events and parties during which the daughters of the upper classes made their ''debuts''. Debutantes and their families descended on the capital from all over Britain to take part in this elaborate process that in its blend of glamour, great privilege and archaic and sometimes comic ritual is emblematic of a world now lost. From the preparations and formalities of court presentation to the exhausting round of parties that followed, Debutantes and the London Season is a detailed look at a phenomenon that was central to the lives of generations of privileged young ladies.

An exploration of coronations from before the time of William the Conqueror through to Elizabeth II''s glorious coronation in 1953.The monarchy has made many concessions to the modern age, but the affirming rituals of the coronation – the pageantry, the theatre and the symbolism – are centuries old. Looking at the British coronation from its beginnings, Lucinda Gosling takes the reader on a thematic journey through the history and meaning of these elaborate ceremonies. She reveals the finely tuned planning involved, explains the symbolism of the regalia, and reminds us that past coronations did not always go according to plan. She also looks at the increasing public involvement in the coronations of the twentieth century, from street parties to the advent of television, showing how the event evolved into the glorious global celebration of 1953 and became an internationally recognised expression of Britain''s heritage and national identity.

An exploration of coronations from before the time of William the Conqueror through to Elizabeth II''s glorious coronation in 1953.The monarchy has made many concessions to the modern age, but the affirming rituals of the coronation – the pageantry, the theatre and the symbolism – are centuries old. Looking at the British coronation from its beginnings, Lucinda Gosling takes the reader on a thematic journey through the history and meaning of these elaborate ceremonies. She reveals the finely tuned planning involved, explains the symbolism of the regalia, and reminds us that past coronations did not always go according to plan. She also looks at the increasing public involvement in the coronations of the twentieth century, from street parties to the advent of television, showing how the event evolved into the glorious global celebration of 1953 and became an internationally recognised expression of Britain''s heritage and national identity.

William Heath Robinson remains one of Britain’s best-loved illustrators and has embedded himself into English vernacular, inspiring the phrase ‘it’s all a bit Heath Robinson’ to describe any precarious or unnecessarily complex contraption. Born in London, he originally had ambitions to be a landscape painter, but would establish his artistic reputation as a book illustrator during the genre’s so-called golden age. It was his association with weekly illustrated magazine The Sketch that was to launch and cement his legacy as a humorous artist. Combining a distinctive draughtsmanship with a curious and ingenious mind, the advent of the First World War inspired Heath Robinson to dream up a series of increasingly outlandish and bizarre military inventions with which the opposing armies would try to outwit each other. From the kaiser’s campaigning car or a suggestion for an armoured bayonet curler, to post-war ‘unbullying’ of beef, his cartoons are a fantastically absurd take on wartime technology and home-front life. Sadly, his inventions were rejected by a (fictitious) ‘Inventions Board’, but the charm and eccentricity of his ideas was loved by the public and he remains to this day one of the finest exponents of humorous British art.

Drawing on the archives of Mary Evans Picture Library, Images of the Past The British Seaside is a nostalgic promenade through the history of Britains seaside resorts from their early genesis as health destinations to their glorious, mid-20th century heyday, subsequent decline and recent regeneration.British coastal resorts developed during a period of vast expansion and social change. Within a century, the bathing phenomenon changed from a cautiously modest immersion in the sea to a pastime that prompted the building of vast art deco temples dedicated to the cult of swimming. Once quiet fishing villages mushroomed into bustling seafronts with every conceivable amusement and facility to entice visitors and secure their loyalty for future visits. Where transport to the coast may have once been via coach and horses or boat, soon thousands of working class day-trippers flooded seaside towns, arriving by the rail network that had so quickly transformed the British landscape. This fascinating book follows these shifts and changes from bathing machines to Butlins holiday camps, told through a compelling mix of photographs, cartoons, illustrations and ephemera with many images previously unpublished.Covering every aspect of the seaside experience whether swimming and sunbathing or sand castles and slot machines The British Seaside reveals the seasides traditions, rich heritage and unique character in all its sandy, sunny, fun-packed glory.

Drawing on the archives of Mary Evans Picture Library, Images of the Past The British Seaside is a nostalgic promenade through the history of Britains seaside resorts from their early genesis as health destinations to their glorious, mid-20th century heyday, subsequent decline and recent regeneration.British coastal resorts developed during a period of vast expansion and social change. Within a century, the bathing phenomenon changed from a cautiously modest immersion in the sea to a pastime that prompted the building of vast art deco temples dedicated to the cult of swimming. Once quiet fishing villages mushroomed into bustling seafronts with every conceivable amusement and facility to entice visitors and secure their loyalty for future visits. Where transport to the coast may have once been via coach and horses or boat, soon thousands of working class day-trippers flooded seaside towns, arriving by the rail network that had so quickly transformed the British landscape. This fascinating book follows these shifts and changes from bathing machines to Butlins holiday camps, told through a compelling mix of photographs, cartoons, illustrations and ephemera with many images previously unpublished.Covering every aspect of the seaside experience whether swimming and sunbathing or sand castles and slot machines The British Seaside reveals the seasides traditions, rich heritage and unique character in all its sandy, sunny, fun-packed glory.

This compilation of WWII-era magazine articles is “a really useful reference guide covering aspects of life in the 1940s . . . packed with information” (Home Front History). This manual brings together articles from stylish contemporary magazines of Britain during the World War II era, including Britannia & Eve, the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, and Tatler, on all aspects of life on the home front.   These fascinating articles cover complying with black-out regulations; what to do with the family car; augmenting rationed foods and turning them into tasty meals; contributing to the war effort by keeping livestock, salvaging valuable materials, and growing food—all, of course, while remaining fashionable and keeping up appearances.

In the nineteenth century, the phenomenon of 'going abroad' was born. Beautiful Mediterranean towns, the luxurious spas of Mittel-Europe and the golf courses of France became the playground of the idle wealthy. Until foreign travel became more accessible, the picturesque towns and smart hotels catered only to an elite mix of royalty, celebrities and high society. This was where the great and glamorous could relax, mingle, see and be seen – where rules could be broken and routines forgotten. Drawing on the Mary Evans Picture Library's archives and contributions from Galleria L’IMAGE, Lucinda Gosling traces the growth of some of Europe’s most exclusive and desirable holiday destinations – from Monte Carlo and Maidenhead, to Biarritz and St Moritz – and explores the lives of the privileged holidaymakers who travelled there. Revealing a world of gossip and glamour, Holidays and High Society tells the story of travel in a golden age through its fashions, faces and places, using evocative vintage travel posters, brochures, fashion spreads and more. The ultimate form of escapism for anyone with a passion for the past.

The declaration of war in August 1914 was to change Britain and British society irrevocably as conflict came to dominate almost every aspect of civilian life for the next four years. Popular weekly magazines such as The Tatler, The Sketch and The Queen, recorded the national preoccupations of the time and in particular, the upper-class experience of war. Targeted at a well-heeled, largely female audience, these magazines were veteran reporters of aristocratic balls, the latest Parisian fashions and society engagements, but quickly adapted to war-like conditions without ever quite losing their gossipy essence. Fashion soon found itself jostling for position with items on patriotic fundraising, and Court presentations were replaced by notes on nursing convalescent soldiers. The result is a fascinating, at times amusing and uniquely feminine perspective of life on the home front during the First World War.