tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post5360617674162254642..comments2024-03-28T20:46:22.875+00:00Comments on Clothes In Books: Swing, Brother Swing by Ngaio MarshClothes In Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-35662000977586954892021-09-13T11:58:29.313+01:002021-09-13T11:58:29.313+01:00Yes, that is all too common, the 'makes her fe...Yes, that is all too common, the 'makes her feel loved' thing. And it was an all too common attitude even 20-30 years ago. (May well still be, but people keep quiet about it). I've just been reading Maugham's Moon and Sixpence, and I think my own attitude has changed - I really didn't like it this time, though I think I let the artist character get away with it when I was much younger... Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-46469684980858228692021-09-03T12:42:13.705+01:002021-09-03T12:42:13.705+01:00It did not bother me, but I was surprised to see i...It did not bother me, but I was surprised to see it in Marsh. It is by no means unusual for a female author to endorse male romantic violence though; Christie does it at times (while at other times depiciting romances where the man seems like he won't ever dare to disagree with his wife) and I have noticed that Wentworth has a recurring thing where an angry man takes a painful grip on a woman's arms, which makes her feel loved. Johanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14957635441637987216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-27271417651020936282021-09-03T10:12:35.401+01:002021-09-03T10:12:35.401+01:00Blimey. I know one has to allow for the times, but...Blimey. I know one has to allow for the times, but it is always particularly depressing when a woman writer puts that on a male character. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-86820139314537326762021-08-29T21:39:37.139+01:002021-08-29T21:39:37.139+01:00Somewhere after the middle of the book Alleyn read...Somewhere after the middle of the book Alleyn reads a letter to the advice columinist where a young man asks for relationship advice, his girlfriend being at times affectionate and at times cold . Alleyn's reaction is to suggest "a damn' good hiding." Johanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14957635441637987216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-57409655330042747802021-08-12T17:47:20.642+01:002021-08-12T17:47:20.642+01:00Yes good point, Lampreys they are not. I may need ...Yes good point, Lampreys they are not. I may need a tipoff to what exactly Alleyn did, as is a while since I read it. About once every three books he does something that I am quite taken aback by. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-11543935313164820302021-06-24T21:34:37.323+01:002021-06-24T21:34:37.323+01:00Thought we would get another version of the Lampre...Thought we would get another version of the Lampreys, but for some reason Marsh does not like this aristocratic family she has created. There was an interesting moment where Alleyn does not live up to the standards of gentlemanness we usually expect from Marsh's books.Johanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14957635441637987216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-677559263952164942016-06-12T20:34:56.461+01:002016-06-12T20:34:56.461+01:00Not the best. I'm reading them out of order an...Not the best. I'm reading them out of order and think also that I have some good ones to come, according to others' recommendations. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-87326976279913745852016-06-12T16:52:14.934+01:002016-06-12T16:52:14.934+01:00This is one of the last Marsh books I read, and I ...This is one of the last Marsh books I read, and I don't recall whether I liked it or not. I like the idea of it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-72654138083873634662016-06-03T22:54:01.850+01:002016-06-03T22:54:01.850+01:00Thanks Daniel for fascinating info - still room fo...Thanks Daniel for fascinating info - still room for anothr book, and it obviously should be your project!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-4931605999513178532016-06-03T12:53:54.246+01:002016-06-03T12:53:54.246+01:00There are two distinct categories of court dress -...There are two distinct categories of court dress - one is obviously the dress worn by judges and lawyers in the judical court, and then you have the formal Court Dress that was worn to the Royal Courts of Europe, a completely different subject - Kensington Palace have an excellent Court Dress collection and there has been at least one book written on the subject... "Splendour at Court: Dressing for Royal Occasions Since 1700" by Nigel Arch and Joanna Marschner.<br /><br />British Court dress was phased out in the late 1950s, 1957/8 was the last year in which debutantes were presented at Court.<br /><br />I'm not sure that there is actually a formal Court dress nowadays - there are very strict codes of dressing and requirements, but you aren't obligated to wear a long gown and train or feathers or carry a bouquet any more, or indeed, wear knee breeches and a cutaway coat and waistcoat.Daniel Milford-Cottamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387407272852763234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-37167677280739103442016-06-03T11:49:01.162+01:002016-06-03T11:49:01.162+01:00Yes, clever name, I wonder why it was changed for ...Yes, clever name, I wonder why it was changed for US audiences - because hanging wasn't the usual method of execution? Though it existed in some states I believe. Yes, exactly, Dufferin and Ava is a brilliantly absurd verison. I seriously when I was very young wondered if there was a connection with Ava Gardener. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-77234961338532357402016-06-03T11:47:31.373+01:002016-06-03T11:47:31.373+01:00Now you've reminded me that I must continue my...Now you've reminded me that I must continue my trudge through the boxset - you're quite right, the casting makes both Alleyn and Troy very bearable.<br />Great story about the names! Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-60282909318260544672016-06-03T11:46:29.813+01:002016-06-03T11:46:29.813+01:00A lovely illustrated book could be the result. A lovely illustrated book could be the result. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-51389172938099609702016-06-03T11:46:06.582+01:002016-06-03T11:46:06.582+01:00It just seemed so pointless. But perhaps I was a b...It just seemed so pointless. But perhaps I was a bit harsh- the book certainly was intresting for the picture of life right then.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-51378040025038001092016-06-03T11:45:29.387+01:002016-06-03T11:45:29.387+01:00This is SO not the one to persuade you Sergio! I w...This is SO not the one to persuade you Sergio! I will keep checking for the right one for you to try next...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-8539987659658717272016-06-03T11:44:52.087+01:002016-06-03T11:44:52.087+01:00No, really don't think so...No, really don't think so...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-73976566209688956042016-05-31T10:30:48.814+01:002016-05-31T10:30:48.814+01:00Speaking of titles, I do have a couple of frocks w...Speaking of titles, I do have a couple of frocks worn by the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava.... one wonders whether in later years, people expected Ava to be Dufferin's secretary/nanny/nurse/glamorous kept woman.Daniel Milford-Cottamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387407272852763234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-5584538156928828682016-05-31T10:28:54.559+01:002016-05-31T10:28:54.559+01:00I do think this is a cracking title, though - the ...I do think this is a cracking title, though - the play on words with "swing" (as at the end of a rope, for the murderer - would be too unsubtle if the victim had been hanged) is fantastic for a whodunnit.Daniel Milford-Cottamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387407272852763234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-64832239212420347462016-05-30T18:46:04.022+01:002016-05-30T18:46:04.022+01:00There is a quote from Dennis Wheatley that I read ...There is a quote from Dennis Wheatley that I read somewhere. The gist is that if you are a jobbing writer, who lives by the pen, then if you wait for inspiration to strike you are likely to starve to death. Best just to start writing...<br /><br />By the sounds of it, this was inspired by a letter from the Taxman. Of all the 'Crime Queens' she seems to be the one most likely to slip into cliche. When she is writing about what she knows, her stories seem more assured, whereas the high society stuff always feels a bit forced. As for the impossibly handsome Alleyn, one of the things that I liked about THAT box-set is that Patrick Malahide manages to be very presentable without being an Adonis. Adaptions generally make the characters more handsome or charming, but if they'd did that here, the audience would never had accepted it!<br /><br />That double barrel name reminds me of an anecdote that I heard on the BBC series QI. Lord Elgin and Duncan attended a dinner, and found the seat next to him was empty. When he asked who was supposed to be sitting there, he was told "It's for Duncan".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-54165541621457003692016-05-30T13:02:43.166+01:002016-05-30T13:02:43.166+01:00Were the Queen, her ladies in waiting, and the Duc...Were the Queen, her ladies in waiting, and the Duchess of Cornwall wearing court dress at the opening of parliament? "Evolution of Court Dress" a PhD subject for someone! You could take in bishops, coachmen, judges (surely time to ditch the rugs).<br />Lucy R. Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08632983296994349550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-16832595554378630202016-05-30T12:16:19.141+01:002016-05-30T12:16:19.141+01:00I have to agree with you, Moira. That name this is...I have to agree with you, Moira. That name this <i>is</i> annoying. But I do like the music context. And as you say, Marsh was good at portraying life at the time she was writing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-68033098835612531812016-05-30T12:04:21.942+01:002016-05-30T12:04:21.942+01:00Not being swayed back to the Marsh-lands yet Moira...Not being swayed back to the Marsh-lands yet Moira :)Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-4154566046798242172016-05-30T10:40:55.692+01:002016-05-30T10:40:55.692+01:00Hmm....not one for meHmm....not one for mecol2910https://www.blogger.com/profile/06422138069939709043noreply@blogger.com