Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Figures In Silk

3.56 of 5 stars 3.56 · rating details · 932 ratings · 172 reviews

As the Wars of the Roses draw slowly to a close‚ England is a place of turmoil. Edward IV is on the throne but his position is unstable and he finds himself challenged by a man who would become Henry VII.

But one woman‚ a silkweaver to the court and mistress to Richard III‚ can cut through the turmoil with her clever ways and her pretty smile. Her sister is mistress to Edwa...more

Hardcover, 450 pages

Published by HarperCollins (first published January 1st 2008)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

“Sister” Novels

46th out of 188 books — 68 voters

Books for 2009

455th out of 554 books — 2,373 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,775)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 04, 2008 Ben Babcock rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-library, historical-fiction, 2008-read, british-historical

I couldn't get into this book, unfortunately. I had a hard time empathizing with the characters that Bennett sets in 15th century England. The protagonist, Isabel, never really seems to seize the day and attempt to carve out her own destiny.

Often I say, "Not my favourite book, but if you have the time, give it a read." There's nothing about Figures in Silk to recommend itself as one of those books, however. Its historical scope is narrow: while set during the War of the Roses and involving sever...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 06, 2013 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Britain just announced to the world that King Richard III's remains have been found, with a reconstruction of his face even made possible. As coincidence would have it, this book features Richard as one of the principal characters. Richard III was not a well-loved monarch and Vanora uses the historical suspicions surrounding him to create this novel. Isabel Lambert is a fourteen year old daughter of a silk-weaver who unexpectedly meets 'Dickon' while they are both praying in a church one morning...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 09, 2012 Sherry Chiger rated it 2 of 5 stars

So we're supposed to believe a sheltered 14-year-old daughter of a well-off merchant during the end of the War of the Roses would open her heart about her fears of her upcoming nuptials to a forbidding-looking man she just met? That's just the first of many implausabilities in this historical novel.

Now, a masterful writer can make the implausible believable or at least palatable (see Dickens). Ms Bennett is not that writer. The sense of time and place is well delineated, but there's way too muc...more

like · see review

Aug 02, 2011 Margo Brooks rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was the third book I read in close sucession of the War of the Roses time period in medieval England. The other two were The White Queen by Philippa Gregory and The King's Grace by Ann Easter Smith (see previous review). Reading all three provided an interesting perspective on Edward V, Richard III, Queen Elizabeth Woodward and the future Queen Elizabeth, mother of Henry the VIII. Each book presented the main characters as villians or heros while sticking to the historical facts surrounding...more

5 likes · like · see review

May 11, 2010 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cannonball-read

While I was on the treadmill this afternoon, I watched as Gordon Brown, his wife, and his two children took their leave of 10 Downing Street. Brown stood in front of the hoards of photographers, smiled, then climbed into a car, streaking through London toward Buckingham Palace to give his resignation to the Queen. I’m not British, nor have I paid much attention to British politics since I spent the spring of 2007 in Scotland, but I got a lump in my throat watching his car make his way down the c...more While I was on the treadmill this afternoon, I watched as Gordon Brown, his wife, and his two children took their leave of 10 Downing Street. Brown stood in front of the hoards of photographers, smiled, then climbed into a car, streaking through London toward Buckingham Palace to give his resignation to the Queen. I’m not British, nor have I paid much attention to British politics since I spent the spring of 2007 in Scotland, but I got a lump in my throat watching his car make his way down the city streets. It’s amazing to me that some of us are lucky enough to live in countries where the our leaders step down after public elections when history has shown us that it’s just as easy to hold your position through battle and murder. Say what you want about politics and politicians, but there are times when the system is beautiful.

I just finished another one of my historical fiction novels, one that shows us what happens when the established system just breaks down. Vanora Bennett’s Figures in Silk — yet another novel based in the Ricardian period—centers around Isabel, a wealthy girl turned silkwoman after the death of her young husband during one of the many skirmishes of the War of the Roses. As she labors to break the Italian stranglehold on the silk market and establish a manufacturing center in London, she enters into a relationship with a secretive man, Dickon. To say any more would be a spoiler, so I’ll let things go here.

What I find so interesting about this period of Plantagenet decline is how people lived with what was essentially the same war through several generations. Yorkists and Lancastrians faced each other on the battlefield time and time again, two sides of a single family warring for the throne at the cost of their country and their people. In this novel, we experience the deaths of three kings (four, depending on whether you’re counting kings that made it to their coronation or not), each time throwing England into a tizzy of changing dynasties and loyalties. Such instability stifles intellectual and industrial growth; I don’t think that I can be faulted in thinking that England’s renaissance happened mainly due to the relative calm of the Tudor period. When our governments are stable, so are we. A good percentage of our politicians know this and graciously remove themselves from a seat of power when called to by the people. Figures in Silk is not a novel that will go will be touted in literature classes ten years from now, but it bears a read if only to appreciate what we have now.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 12, 2009 Traci rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: macaroni-book-club

There was nothing particularly good or bad about Figures in Silk. It was beige. The first chapter was slow and ridiculously uninteresting, and if it weren't for the fact that I was reading this for my book club I would not have continued. Thankfully, the rest of the book was much better, although it did have moments of gratuitous prose that seems to be so popular among female authors in the historical fiction genre. I could have done without that. I tend to skim a lot in those passages. They jus...more

like · see review

Jun 03, 2012 Debra Martin rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am a fan of historical fiction and when I saw FIGURES IN SILK in the bargain pile, I grabbed it. From the description on the back book cover, I thought I'd be enjoying the story about two sisters, but I was sorely disappointed. The book focuses mainly on Isabel who we first meet as a 14-year-old sheltered girl from a wealthy family and her fears about being forced into marriage with Thomas Claver. In the first scene she is praying/sobbing in church when she meets a "hard" stranger with a "wolf...more I am a fan of historical fiction and when I saw FIGURES IN SILK in the bargain pile, I grabbed it. From the description on the back book cover, I thought I'd be enjoying the story about two sisters, but I was sorely disappointed. The book focuses mainly on Isabel who we first meet as a 14-year-old sheltered girl from a wealthy family and her fears about being forced into marriage with Thomas Claver. In the first scene she is praying/sobbing in church when she meets a "hard" stranger with a "wolfish" smile. She is instantly captivated by him and so begins her decade plus affair with Dickon (aka Richard, Duke of Gloucester). When she agrees to share a meal with him, it feels unbelievable that an innocent girl with no worldly experience would agree to do this.

Isabel goes on to marry Thomas Claver and her life is set on a path of silk merchants. There are some good parts in the book especially Isabel's determination to find her place in the Claver household when her husband is killed after only two weeks of marriage. I was rooting for her at this point in the book, but the endless descriptions of silks, fabrics and the intricacies of the silk trade were boring and I ended up skipping pages at a time.

The author clearly misses the mark in not focusing more on the sisterly relationship of Isabel and Jane. I actually thought Jane's story was quite interesting, but there were only snippets of how she became the mistress of King Edward, survived being arrested as a witch and imprisoned in Ludgate Prison. Even with this turn of events, Isabel remains enamored with Dickon/Richard and never once believes that he has done despicable things to become King. For such a smart business woman, Isabel can't seem to connect the dots.

Another point where the reader must suspend belief is throughout the book both sisters are having affairs for 10+ years, but neither one ends up having a child. That seemed totally unrealistic along with the scene involving the arrest and execution of Lord Hastings. For this one scene only Richard is portrayed as the "mad" king. It was totally out of character with how Richard had been portrayed throughout the story. The ending of the book seemed contrived and not satisfying at all. I didn't care what Isabel did. This book could have been a fresh take on Richard III's rise and fall during the War of the Roses, but it falls short on so many levels that I cannot recommend it. (less)

like · see review

Feb 10, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't think this is one of the authors best books, but I did find the history in it very interesting. I have read a lot of fiction based around the Henry VII and Henry VIII time with Phillipa Gregory etc but nothing very much earlier than this. Knew very little about the reign of Edward IV and this book lead me to read a little more about the period.
I didn't particularly like the Isabel character in the book, and found her self pity and lack of will power to change her hopeless situation very...more

like · see review

Jan 04, 2012 Krista Mercer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, rhfl-challenge-2012

A well-written and engaging look at a young woman's life during the last years of Edward IV's reign. Isabel Lambert, married and widowed at age 14, eventually becomes one of London's rising silkmakers - and attracts the attention of Dickon (Richard of Gloucester). The author's portrayal of medieval commerce, which allowed women to work as femmes soles and own and operate their own businesses, was fascinating.

I was less impressed with the author's interpretation of Richard's character - perhaps b...more

like · see review

Mar 01, 2012 Ellen Ekstrom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cloth of silk hiding freise...

I recommend Bennett's "Figures in Silk" to those who enjoy historical fiction set in 15th century England and the Wars of the Roses. Bennett introduces the reader to Isabel Lambert, the sister of the infamous 'merry mistress' of Edward IV, Jane Shore. Isabel is the younger daughter of silk merchant John Lambert and by accident she encounters a dark, mysterious young man in a tavern in April of 1471 who encourages her to make her own way in the world. Smitten by the...more Cloth of silk hiding freise...

I recommend Bennett's "Figures in Silk" to those who enjoy historical fiction set in 15th century England and the Wars of the Roses. Bennett introduces the reader to Isabel Lambert, the sister of the infamous 'merry mistress' of Edward IV, Jane Shore. Isabel is the younger daughter of silk merchant John Lambert and by accident she encounters a dark, mysterious young man in a tavern in April of 1471 who encourages her to make her own way in the world. Smitten by the man and taking his advice, Isabel agrees to the marriage her father has arranged with a silkwoman's son, and soon becomes a widow and a merchant with her mother-in-law. They go into a business unheard of at the time, and succeed after a few roadblocks. In the background is the mysterious young man, Richard, duke of Gloucester and later, Richard III. Some Ricardians may not like the portrait Bennett paints of this infamous king. Bennett uses the gossip and conjecture of the time to paint a less than sympathetic picture. Nothing is revealed, but there is room for doubt in Isabel's mind as to her lover's motives throughout the story. I also like the less-than-saintly portrayal of Elizabeth of York, so often shown as a passive Yorkist martyr. Here, Elizabeth raises a few eyebrows - can we say conniving teenaged girl?

As to craft, the story is well told and thoroughly enjoyable. I absolutely loved the detail of the silk industry and the life of the mercers, the vignettes of the merchant class life in London. I also liked how the famous events of the Wars of the Roses are sketched in but take a back seat to the lives of ordinary people. As for the technical issues, once again Spellcheck probably was the villain here, but there were a few continuity problems, i.e., Isabel and Anne are supposedly walking to Westminster from London, and yet Isabel gives her reins to a servant. There is a list of people attending the King's statement at Clerkenwell, rather, the occupation. It was a bit annoying.

This is a book, like Jarman's "We Speak No Treason" and Penman's many titles, that I will most likely read again. I invite you to read it and discover these figures in silk.

(less)

like · see review

Mar 02, 2009 Misfit rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

Recommended to Misfit by: Amazon vine

Shelves: wall-banger, one-time-read-only

Get thee to an editor!! Seriously. While I understand the copy I have is an ARC and thus an uncorrected proof what I read in this book goes way beyond the pale. Twice I found a duplicated sentence, one right after the other. Run-on sentences with way too many commas, colons and semi-colons, along with short disjointed sentences that went nowhere - picture Snoopy writing his classic "it was a dark and stormy night". Frankly I felt I was always on the outside looking in and that's the last place I...more Get thee to an editor!! Seriously. While I understand the copy I have is an ARC and thus an uncorrected proof what I read in this book goes way beyond the pale. Twice I found a duplicated sentence, one right after the other. Run-on sentences with way too many commas, colons and semi-colons, along with short disjointed sentences that went nowhere - picture Snoopy writing his classic "it was a dark and stormy night". Frankly I felt I was always on the outside looking in and that's the last place I want to be when reading a book.

Jane and Isabel are daughters of a wealthy London merchant who has arranged for both their marriages. Jane to Will Shore where she subsequently becomes the infamous Jane Shore, mistress to Edward IV, and Isabel to the lazy son of silk merchant Alice Claver. Isabel's husband dies shortly after the marriage leaving a mountain of debt and not wanting to return to her father's household and another marriage she signs on as apprentice to her mother-in-law and begins to learn the silk trade. Isabel's path eventually crosses again with a dark man she met on her wedding day and finds the attraction is still there - although there is much more to this man than she realizes (I won't be a spoiler but that twist is as plain as the nose on your face). As Isabel's fortunes grow, she and her mother-in-law plan to bring the secrets of Italian silk weaving to London and corner their own market, and her skills at embroidery bring her into contact with the Princess Elizabeth, and a most implausible friendship is born. There is actually a scene where Elizabeth makes a monkey face in Isabel's presence in disrespect to her mother. Perhaps well bred young princesses might have done that behind their mother's back, but with their dressmakers?

While the main characters aren't quite as black and white in their goodness and/or badness as some recent authors have chosen to write this period - they don't exactly come across as terribly interesting either. Jane Shore, who has such a fascinating history of her own, was vapid and quite dull - when she was in the story at all - as a matter of fact Edward IV came across that way as well. Isabel was over the top in her 21C female independence (except when it came to Dickon, then she was dumber than a bucket of rocks). Of course the Woodvilles were all evil and wicked, but we didn't even get the pleasure of being shown how bad they were, we were just told that they were bad and everyone hated them. I'm not even touching what she did with Richard III, but I think the author read up a bit on Shakespeare before writing the book.

As for the historical setting, I'm not that well read on this period but things just didn't ring true. Calling the King and Queen "Your Majesty" (I believe that started with the Tudors), Richard traveling alone with no attendants whatsoever (where was Francis Lovell, let alone a squire or two?) to name two. And ROFL for the "coronation meetings" they were all having. As for the silk trade and how well it's portrayed? Again I haven't a clue but since the author didn't provide any notes to back up her story lines, I'm taking that with a grain of salt as well.

If she'd just stuck with Isabel and Jane's stories and the silk trade in London, made the two sisters half way interesting and kept the Royal family and it's intrigues out of it she might have had something here. As it is now, I can only recommend it as a sedative to help you to sleep at night. If you're set on reading this, I strongly urge you to get it from the library first and then buy it if you love it. A very very generous two stars. (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Ambrosia Jefferson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to say of all the war of the roses books this is going to be one of my favorites. While it does focus on the royals in some respects the main focus is the story of trying to get the silk weaving business brought to England. You learn all the ins and outs of the mercers guild and many others within England at the time. Isabel Lambert a fictional created sister to the infamous Jane Lambert, better known as Jane Shore Mistress to King Edward is the center piece in all of this silk world.

Isab...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 12, 2009 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Vanora Bennett's novel, "Figures in Silk," intermingles historic and fictional persons in an entertaining narrative concerning Yorkist England.

Her main character, Isabel Lambert, is a 14-year-old girl when she meets a man who turns out to be Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Isabel is about to be married to Thomas Claver -- who dies one month after their wedding, but she never forgets the dark-haired and serious man who spoke to her. Isabel decides to enter the silk trade as an apprentice to her moth...more

like · see review

Jan 04, 2012 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

The year is 1471. After years of civil war (the War of the Roses), the king of England (Edward IV) has restored order and peace to the land. The silk industry is booming in London, aided by the group known as "silk women". Two sisters come onto the scene and are the focus of this book. Elder daughter Jane becomes the mistress of the king. The younger sister, Isabel, who has been made a young widow because of the war, becomes an apprentice to her mother-in-law (Alice Claver)--a silk woman of vast...more

like · see review

Jul 05, 2010 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I really wanted to like this book as I am a fan of Vanora Bennett’s but try as I might I just couldn’t really like it. One positive thing to say about the book is that Bennett has obviously researched the silk weaving industry extremely well, that is evident in this story. As for the characters I have to say I found Isabel at times to be irritating and as the lead character I felt she was seriously undeveloped. In other parts of the book I felt that the characters were just mere background to a...more

like · see review

Apr 18, 2011 Susie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set in the last half of the 1400s in London, this is the saga of Isabel Claver, a fictional character "living" among real historical characters, like the royalty fighting the War of the Roses, and Jane Shore, a real life mistress to the king.

Isabel has been raised within the merchant class of the silk industry in London, and at 14 is being married off to another prominent silk industry family. Her husband dies within months of the marriage, and she is given the opportunity to go into the busines...more

like · see review

Sep 20, 2009 Tara Chevrestt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, england, arc

I had my doubts when I purchased this novel, having read some negative thoughts on it and having hated Anne Easter Smith's version of the War of the Roses. This suprised me, however, at almost every turn. Isabel and Jane are sisters who are married off to strangers while Edward is taking control of England's kingship. Isabel is widowed quickly and takes to her mother in law's silk business against her own father's wishes. Jane gets a divorce from her husband and becomes a harlot for the king and...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 04, 2009 Jill Knight rated it 3 of 5 stars

A great love story historical portrayal of a very strong common girl and a would be King of England. They main character takes you on a journey of a life that was lived to the fullest even when doubt and lies step in to destroy her. I would have liked to haved learned even more about the silk making process in addition to the selling and marketing within the first portion of the book so that relating to her everyday life would have seemed more real. The genuine giving of her love to someone so u...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 25, 2012 Samantha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to like Figures in Silk but I ended up being disappointed. Vanora Bennett is a good writer and I enjoyed her writing style. At first, I was sucked right into the story and excited to read about Isabel, the fictitious sister of Jane Shore, mistress of Edward IV. But then it became apparent that there wasn't much of a plot and Isabel was wholly unlikable.

The best parts of the novel were when Bennett focused on actual historical figures, like Richard III and Jane Shore. The made up charac...more

like · see review

Jul 24, 2011 Layla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very gentle and interesting historical novel focussing on the life of a young widow, who in order to save her husband's reputation, enters into life as a silk apprentice. Through time she becomes a master at her work and along the way develops friendships and romance with local notables.

I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of silk work, embroidery and mercantile life in 15th century London.

The book is also interesting because it builds on current knowledge of the lives of actual merchants who...more

like · see review

Aug 03, 2009 Annie H rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-europe

I have to say, I loved this book. At the same time, I should also say that I can understand how some may think it boring or uninteresting. The protagonist, Isabelle, was someone who I liked, but could easily be hated for her indesisiveness and unworldliness. I thought that having her act in the way she did was in excellent contrast to her mother-in-law, who was extremely influential and outspoken, especially for a women of that time. I have always been interested in European history, so this boo...more

like · see review

Nov 10, 2009 R rated it 4 of 5 stars

This historical romance about the War of the Roses is almost the opposite point of view than Philippa Gregory's White Queen. I loved the history of silk making woven into the and of a woman who lived an unconventional life of the woman of the time. The reader so wanted the love between the "handsome stranger" to flourish and be recognized. A truism that became apparent is that we sometimes can not see the flaws in those we love. Throught out time, that axiom is true. Just watch the news where ne...more

like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Holyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book follows the lives of two sisters (daughters of a wealthy silk merchant) during the reign of King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester's subsequent coup. Their lives in the story begin with arranged marriages which neither wants but then each sister makes her own choices and develops a full life of her own creation. One sister follows the path of mistress to wealthy/important men and the other (whose story fascinated me most) chooses the world of silk and mercantilism. I loved the historic...more

like · see review

Aug 24, 2009 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is solid historical fiction. What really worked was the vivid setting (War of the Roses England) and the lead character of the daughter of a silk merchant. The relationships were a bit inconsistent, and some of the historical details about silk seemed like the author was trying to squeeze as much of her research onto the page as she could, but it was pretty interesting stuff. Couldn't help comparing it to The Sunne in Splendour, which is one of the best novels to cover this fascinating peri...more

like · see review

Apr 14, 2011 Jenn Nelson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ok, this book is very well written. You can tell that she did A LOT of research on silk weaving and the silk trade during this time period. However, I found myself skipping over the explanations about silk so I could get to encounters between the lead character, Isabel and Dickon, (Richard III) I would have loved to see a lot more develop there. The author wrote from multiple view points, but never from Dickon's perspective and through out the book, his was the mind you wanted to unlock the most...more

like · see review

Nov 04, 2009 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book opens as John Lambert marries off his two daughters which changes their lives forever. England after the War of Roses is a stable time but the fates of these two women, and their involvement with the silk trade/industry makes for interesting reading. Power shifts, alliances are made and broken, trades/skills are learned. I had just finished reading The White Queen which is better written but an interesting addition to historical fiction from this time period. Good insight into the silk...more

like · see review

Apr 07, 2013 Kimberly Fehler rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book should be read in the context of learning more about the trades people during the period of the War of the Roses. Although the royal figures are ever present in the story line, they are by no means the main event.

There are some spots where believability is tested. A fourteen year old girl from a respectable house would never go to a tavern alone with a male (not a relative) and share a meal.

There are other parts that are believable as well as charming. I just wish that Ms. Bennett had...more

like · see review

Nov 22, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wish there was a 2-1/2 choice. I liked the interesting history of the silk industry and liked Isabel and her friends. But Bennett fell into the usual trap of historical writers where Richard III is concerned: plausibility. Does a loyal and able brother really become a serial killer because his underage nephew succeeds to the throne? Can a man declared king by parliamentary decree really have somehow maneuvered the entire decision based on whispered lies? And, seriously, a York princess is going...more

like · see review

Oct 03, 2010 Sarah Wagner rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, england

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

May 20, 2013 Connie Wisniewski rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Figures in Silk is a wonderful story set it the late 1400. Isabel Lambert's father married her off to the son of The House of Claver, a wealthy silk dynasty.When her young husband dies, she is forced into apprenticeship for her mother-in-law. As she becomes involved, she finds she loves the colors and textures and all aspects of the industry. It is a wonderful book that allows insight into the early English politics, and very interesting facts on how the Englishwomen became involved in fabric pr...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 59 60 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (24)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

127 users

European Literature > British Literature

11 users

Romance > Historical Romance

5 users

Historical Fiction > Medieval

3 users

Literature > 15th Century

3 users

Book Club

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Vanora Bennett

I became a journalist almost by accident. Having learned Russian and been hired after university by Reuters (to my own surprise and the slight dismay of traditionally-minded editors who weren’t sure a Guardian-reading blonde female would be tough enough for the job), I was then catapulted into the adrenaline-charged realm of conflict reporting. While on a trainee assignment in Paris, I fell in wit...more I became a journalist almost by accident. Having learned Russian and been hired after university by Reuters (to my own surprise and the slight dismay of traditionally-minded editors who weren’t sure a Guardian-reading blonde female would be tough enough for the job), I was then catapulted into the adrenaline-charged realm of conflict reporting. While on a trainee assignment in Paris, I fell in with the Cambodian émigré community and ended up reporting in Cambodia myself, a decade after the Khmer Rouge regime ended, as well as covering Cambodian peace talks in places as far apart as Indonesia and Paris. That led to a conflict reporting job in Africa, commuting between Angola and Mozambique and writing about death, destruction, diamonds and disease, and later to a posting in a country that stopped being the Soviet Union three months after I arrived. I spent much of the early 1990s in smoky taxis in the Caucasus mountains, covering a series of small post-Soviet conflicts that built up to the war in Chechnya.

My fascination with the cultural and religious differences between Russians and the many peoples once ruled by Moscow grew into a book on the Chechen war (Crying Wolf: The Return of War to Chechnya). A second, more light-hearted book followed, about post-Soviet Russia’s illegal caviar trade, once I’d got homesick for London and moved back to writer leaders on foreign affairs for The Times. This book was The Taste of Dreams: An Obsession with Russia and Caviar.

I now lead a more sedate life in North London with my husband and two small sons, enjoying the reading, research, writing and metropolitan leisure activities that I grew up expecting adult life to involve. I’ve found that writing books is much of a surprise, a pleasure and an adventure of the mind as it was to become a foreign correspondent.

As a journalist I’ve written for, among others, The Times and its website, TimesOnline, the Los Angeles Times, Prospect, The Times Literary Supplement, the Guardian Saturday magazine, the Daily Mail, the Evening Standard, Eve magazine, The Observer Food Monthlyand The Erotic Review.(less)

More about Vanora Bennett...

Books by Vanora Bennett

The Taste of Dreams: An Obsession with Russia and Caviar

Crying Wolf: The Return of War to Chechnya

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Figures In Silk

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Figures In Silk
avg rating	preview: Figures In Silk Goodreads rating: 3.56 (932 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3291046-figures-in-silk?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327928820l/3291046.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3291046-figures-in-silk?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Figures In Silk by Vanora Bennett[/url]

Figures In Silk

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website