Charleston: A Bloomsbury House & Garden
Charleston: A Bloomsbury House & Garden book cover

Charleston: A Bloomsbury House & Garden

Paperback – Picture Book, September 6, 2018

Price
$16.23
Format
Paperback
Pages
176
Publisher
Frances Lincoln
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0711239319
Dimensions
7.95 x 0.7 x 8.65 inches
Weight
1.05 pounds

Description

A glorious reminder of Charleston's enduring influence. The Times Angelica Garnett, daughter of Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, called Charleston 'an earthly paradise'. In this haunting book you can see why . World of Interiors Quentin Bell (1910 – 1996) the younger son of Clive and Vanessa Bell, grew up at Charleston. He was a painter, sculptor, potter and art critic, and held chairs in Fine Art and History of Art at the universities of Leeds, Oxford and Sussex. His books include the prize-winning Virginia Woolf: A Biography , Bloomsbury and a memoir, Elders and Betters. Virginia Nicholson is the elder daughter of Quentin and Olivier Bell. Virginia spent her childhood holidays at Charleston, and is now is a trustee of the house. She is also the author of a series of acclaimed social histories, including Among the Bohemians: Experiments in Living 1900 – 1939 . She is married to a writer, has three children and lives in Sussex.

Features & Highlights

  • Set in the heart of the Sussex Downs, Charleston Farmhouse is the most important remaining example of Bloomsbury decorative style, created by the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Quentin Bell, the younger son of Clive and Vanessa Bell, and his daughter Virghinia Nicholson, tell the story of this unique house, linking it with some of the leading cultural figures who were invited there, including Vanessa's sister Virginia Woolf, the writer Lytton Strachey, the economist Maynard Keynes and the art critic Roger Fry. The house and garden are portrayed through Alen MacWeeney's atmostpheric photographs; pictures from Vanessa Bell's family album convey the flavour of the household in its heyday.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(137)
★★★★
25%
(57)
★★★
15%
(34)
★★
7%
(16)
-7%
(-15)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Wonderful, evocative book - leads one to dream!

I love this book! I want to travel back in time and visit or live in Charleston Farmhouse, count the Bloomsbury Group among my friends, create or decorate everything in sight, linger in the gardens, and talk about fascinating things with the exceptional people who spent time there. This wonderful book is so evocative of time, place and people that it leads one to dream.

The artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell (Virginia Woolf’s sister) moved to Charleston in the Sussex Downs in 1916, during WWI, and their life there is the focus of this gorgeous book. There is the sense of an almost childlike exuberance in their original design and decoration of every possible surface in the house, including walls, textiles, furniture, ceramics, rugs, even lamps, and in the gardens the creation of ponds, fountains, pathways, private refuges, mosaics, sculpture, and color everywhere. Photographer Gavin Kingcome has supplied many stunning, intimate photographs, while Clive and Vanessa Bell’s younger son Quentin Bell, and his daughter Virginia Nicholson, who spent so much of their lives there, bring it to life with photos and stories of everyone who lived and visited there. Their memories are of intellectual, interpersonal and artistic pursuits coupled with much laughter and deep sadness, too. Many of the anecdotes reveal unexpected, funny or personal details which add to, or even change, one’s sense of who the individuals of the Bloomsbury Group really were

I highly recommend this book, even to those with no acquaintance with the Bloomsbury Group. It is a joy to experience. I am not artistic, but I told a friend the spirit of free expression I get from it makes me think I could be. I plan to own this book, so I can escape to Charleston and spend time with its residents over and over again.

Thanks to NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for a Digital ARC of this book, of which I give an honest review.
9 people found this helpful
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A beautiful book!

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the reminiscences and photos in this lovely book.
1 people found this helpful
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Love this book - beautiful

Loved gave as a gift liked so much bought 2
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Beautiful and educational

Beautiful and informative
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Interesting

This book summarizes many of the ways that Charleston was a major influence to the Bloomsbury Art treasury. I had never heard of the Bloomsbury Art Treasury, but found this book intriguing, as I love to read about obscure things that I wouldn't normally know about.
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Fascinating Look At Bloomsbury Style

Reading CHARLESTON is a glorious experience, especially for those familiar with the Bloomsbury Group’s literary place in history. This beautiful book highlights Charleston Farmhouse, the home of Clive and Vanessa Bell, and is the best extant example of Bloomsbury decorative style. Their younger son Quentin and his daughter Virginia Nicholson share Charleston Farmhouse’s story through elegant photographs, including shots from the Bell’s own family album. 5/5

Grateful to the Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for the early copy, in exchange for my true review.

#Charleston #NetGalley