tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post1339561581131244001..comments2024-03-28T09:18:52.374+00:00Comments on Clothes In Books: Tuesday Night Club: Rex Stout and PoliticsClothes In Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-51267395818851014652016-02-14T22:59:08.102+00:002016-02-14T22:59:08.102+00:00Oh good, glad you liked it! Such a responsibility,...Oh good, glad you liked it! Such a responsibility, recommending things, isn't it?Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-65212805048612612252016-02-14T20:13:37.995+00:002016-02-14T20:13:37.995+00:00Just read The Doorbell Rang on your recommendation...Just read The Doorbell Rang on your recommendation, Moira, and really enjoyed it. Thanks!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16510409974009816550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-8742216744393202432016-01-24T12:35:14.822+00:002016-01-24T12:35:14.822+00:00Excellent point Kathy, you make it so inviting...Excellent point Kathy, you make it so inviting...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-29568135161924216642016-01-24T12:09:39.741+00:002016-01-24T12:09:39.741+00:00And another asset of the Wolfe/Goodwin books not m...And another asset of the Wolfe/Goodwin books not mentioned earlier: They are de-stressors! Get a cup of tea, snacks, and open a book and vanish into the New York brownstone> Smile, even laugh and forget the global and local news, the tasks to be done -- and just read and relax.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-90620457412146807192016-01-23T10:45:58.750+00:002016-01-23T10:45:58.750+00:00I will! I'm off to look now...I will! I'm off to look now...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-42581807745244215892016-01-23T10:32:03.073+00:002016-01-23T10:32:03.073+00:00See if you can find the edition of "Champagne...See if you can find the edition of "Champagne for One," with Lena Horne's introduction.<br /><br />And thank you for hosting such an informative and interesting blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-89676074134368650892016-01-23T09:58:44.009+00:002016-01-23T09:58:44.009+00:00Thanks Kathy that's very informative, and I wi...Thanks Kathy that's very informative, and I will bear all this in mind as I carry on reading the Wolfe books...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-26140878629797658062016-01-23T01:55:43.519+00:002016-01-23T01:55:43.519+00:00Interesting that Hitchens said that about Henry Wa...Interesting that Hitchens said that about Henry Wallace. Many progressives in the U.S. didn't or don't agree with him on that, no one I've known over the years.<br />Yes, he was inconsistent politically and I kind of wrote him off when he supported the Iraq war, which was opposed by U.S. progressives of all stripes.<br /><br />Of course anyone has the right to decide who stays in their house. It's the attitude toward women that Wolfe has which is both maddening and hilarious. He has anxiety when women are in his house. He gets flummoxed. He doesn't always respect their explanations -- but he wouldn't have been against the vote or equal rights. No. But this is a fictional character we are discussing, so the question is what Stout thought. He evolved, I think. But as I said, some women friends won't read the books as they are<br />offended -- but that's their right, too.<br /><br />None of this stops me from enjoying the books, but I do not like the racist language in a few books. Archie is awful, too, but Wolfe doesn't repeat the language. But I don't know Stout's personal opinions. <br /><br />I go by Lena Horne's friendship with him and an introduction she wrote to one of his books. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-40069930664477537872016-01-21T22:49:19.419+00:002016-01-21T22:49:19.419+00:00That's a very good point about consistency, it...That's a very good point about consistency, it does make life more interesting doesn't it? I haven't read enough to have strong opinions on Stout, but I do intend to carry on reading more...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-68984706152035376632016-01-21T22:47:59.772+00:002016-01-21T22:47:59.772+00:00That is one amazing dress Shay! Not one that every...That is one amazing dress Shay! Not one that everyone could get away with...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-5686324323187868042016-01-21T22:47:30.685+00:002016-01-21T22:47:30.685+00:00I am really understanding the attraction of Rex St...I am really understanding the attraction of Rex Stout - the background relationship between Wolfe and Goodwin is a delight, and then he did so many different things with the crime content - very traditional mysteries, and then these unexpected political sorties too. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-3994171108060961242016-01-21T20:20:13.333+00:002016-01-21T20:20:13.333+00:00Stout always struck me as politically progressive....Stout always struck me as politically progressive. In TOO MANY COOKS he has Wolfe treat the coloured staff with decency and respect, which is what I tend to take from the book rather than the racial slurs from the lips some of the other characters. A RIGHT TO DIE from 1964 was also very controversial for the time, with its Civil Rights background.<br /><br />I rather like the fact that Stout's views were inconsistent. I remember John Mortimer complaining that with a lot of people if you knew their opinion about one thing, then you could pretty much guess what their opinions would be about everything else. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-53166842122756932812016-01-21T18:43:30.501+00:002016-01-21T18:43:30.501+00:00I had no idea about the political background. You ...I had no idea about the political background. You have made me really want to read this, Moira!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16510409974009816550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-24179330641103446632016-01-21T15:48:10.395+00:002016-01-21T15:48:10.395+00:00It was the very left-leaning Christopher Hitchens ...It was the very left-leaning Christopher Hitchens - a writer I like very much, but would never think he had the last word to say on any particular subject. He always wanted to be controversial.<br />I think we all have to decide for ourselves exactly how much leeway we will give to writers reflecting the times they live in. I think the kind of mad notions Wolfe has about women is NOT the same as someone saying they shouldn't have rights or the vote. And a person can decide who enters their house...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-81129203568569804802016-01-21T06:44:48.378+00:002016-01-21T06:44:48.378+00:00I wonder who said that about Henry Wallace's c...I wonder who said that about Henry Wallace's campaign. Many people supported him who were liberals and among the left and its organizations. I've heard about his campaign throughout my life from many quarters, including from progressive college professors.<br /><br />Stout's political inconsistencies don't keep me from enjoying his books. I gloss over the views of women (Wolfe won't allow women to stay overnight and he's always flummoxed talking to women. Archie is a womanizer; that's another story.), although some of my women friends won't read his books. On the racism, I don't give him a pass on that, but I think he changed as the Civil Rights Movement developed.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-46659440452618783952016-01-20T23:00:41.833+00:002016-01-20T23:00:41.833+00:00These are gorgeous, thank you - I hope all readers...These are gorgeous, thank you - I hope all readers will go and take a look. Stout was married to a fashion textile designer - I found out last week from a reader and have been looking it up. It makes sense - he's not always big on what people wear, but has sudden flashes of knowledge and expertise that perhaps have come from Mrs Stout. <br />My picture was far too stiff, but it was all I could find from the right era. <br />I just keep looking at the pics you linked to. So fabulous. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-18851781806764636672016-01-20T22:19:33.764+00:002016-01-20T22:19:33.764+00:00Maybe Balenciaga.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1...Maybe Balenciaga.<br /><br />https://www.pinterest.com/pin/197876977347139264/ Shayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16527241089629026268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-24684223337007336612016-01-20T13:21:57.757+00:002016-01-20T13:21:57.757+00:00A thin, white film of folds that started at her br...A thin, white film of folds that started at her breast and stopped at her ankle?<br /><br />HAS to be Madame Gres. Something like this, perhaps?<br /><br />http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O17899/evening-dress-gres-madame/<br /><br />Gres loved her pleats and folds - there's no shortage of white pleated Gres dresses out there to find, though I couldn't find any from 1949 to match the book date. (the one above is 1955)<br /><br />Here's a miniature dress by her though - around 1950, so close enough? http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130977/miniature-evening-ensemble-gres-madame/Daniel Milford-Cottamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387407272852763234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-38688756015189689842016-01-20T12:50:56.544+00:002016-01-20T12:50:56.544+00:00Thanks Kathy - that's very interesting. Yes, S...Thanks Kathy - that's very interesting. Yes, Stout's view seem to have been somewhat all over the place, and he doesn't fit in with modern ideas on women and racism. But still a great writer and most enjoyable. <br />Very interesting about your family and Wallace - I looked him up after reading that (he's not really familiar to the Brits...) and also read someone saying that the Wallace candidacy 'set the cause of the American Left back by 20 years'. Fighting words...?Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-5780635282927107272016-01-20T12:46:44.206+00:002016-01-20T12:46:44.206+00:00Wouldn't that have been the perfect Clothes in...Wouldn't that have been the perfect Clothes in book illo? I wish....Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-67590015507583840492016-01-20T12:46:25.706+00:002016-01-20T12:46:25.706+00:00Thanks for stopping by, Joe, and the more I think ...Thanks for stopping by, Joe, and the more I think about it the more I agree with you. I can't stop thinking about the book since I finished readin it, and it does have a very readable quality. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-80450643654056997522016-01-20T09:52:39.975+00:002016-01-20T09:52:39.975+00:00I think you hit the nail on the head describing St...I think you hit the nail on the head describing Stout's politics. He promoted free speech here and wrote anti-fascist tracts for the W.W.II effort. <br />I think he was a liberal, but that he also vacillated in his views.<br />I was surprised to see that he supported the Vietnam war, as least as reported by Wikipedia. That war was very unpopular here, as was the draft. There was an enormous anti-war movement here with people from all over the country, varying political views, professions and communities.<br /><br />There were demonstrations constantly, local and national. And lots of activities aimed against the draft with soldiers burning draft cards, throwing away medals, speaking out, going to Canada or Europe.<br /><br />So, I find Stout's views on the war to have been quite inconsistent with those of progressives, liberals, leftists, etc. So, I'd say he was an inconsistent liberal.<br /><br />I still enjoy his books and Wolfe, Goodwin and their staff and other detectives. Dialogue is great. And The Doorbell Rang is one of my favorites in the series.<br /><br />Also, I could say that at times Wolfe's and Goodwin's attitudes on women needed some enlightenment. And there is some racism that needed correcting.<br /><br />One note: My father and uncle campaigned for Henry Wallace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-91015316260424653192016-01-20T04:37:32.086+00:002016-01-20T04:37:32.086+00:00These two sound quite good, but I'll take a pa...These two sound quite good, but I'll take a pass. No photos of Hoover in a dress?col2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-76493706493303713842016-01-20T01:04:01.238+00:002016-01-20T01:04:01.238+00:00The Doorbell Rang is my absolute favorite Stout bo...The Doorbell Rang is my absolute favorite Stout book. It's got it all--a tricky plot, great Archie-Nero dialogue, good supporting characters, and a certain "gravitas" because we're talking about the FBI here. I read it every 2 or 3 years.Joe Allegrettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13032453985256342838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-87638275320556265372016-01-19T22:16:13.377+00:002016-01-19T22:16:13.377+00:00Yes it is quite weird isn't it? I couldn't...Yes it is quite weird isn't it? I couldn't quite make sense of the extreme reaction. But I did very much enjoy both books. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.com