The Complete Victorian Treasury

by Sheila Pickles (Editor)

This heady banquet of prose, poetry, and art is devoted to subjects dear to Victorian hearts. Beginning with love, marriage, and children, it skillfully draws on the novels of Emily Bront and George Eliot, Galsworthy and Trollope, and the poetry of Keats, Tennyson, Kipling, and the Brownings. The Grand Tour--that continental ramble that culminated among the ruins of Rome and served as a finishing school for aristocrats--was also popular with Victorians. Here we find Edith Wharton writing on Paris, Robert Louis Stevenson on the Alps, Lord Byron on Venice, Henry James on Rome--with marvelous depictions of European scenery encountered along the way. Christmas was never more lavishly celebrated than in19th-century England, and the book's final section features enchanting evocations of the festive season as Victorians knew it. Beautifully enhanced with200 period paintings and illustrations, every page of this treasury is a literary and visual delight.

187 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Sheila began her career working for Franco Zeffirelli in the worlds of theatre, film and opera in Italy in the 60s. "He was my education," says Sheila. "He was the first one to open my eyes to the whole world of the Arts. In Rome beauty was all around me." At Zeffirelli's suggestion she took over the dying business of Penhaligon's - the historic perfume house making colognes and special preparations for discerning gentlemen - and spent the next two decades brilliantly bringing the business back to International life. Starting with the launch of several exquisite new scents, her creativity took her into designing original luxury gifts and finally into publishing. Sixteen unique scented anthologies of verse and prose redefined the giftbook market including the international bestseller, The Language of Flowers. Two million copies sold!

With the Objets d'Art Jewellery website, Sheila has created a 21st century version of her books, now on line for the next generation. Showing the inspiration and provenance of the jewellery gives a special meaning to which everyone can immediately relate. "Working in the Uffizzi Gallery in Florence with Zeffirelli during the Florence Flood in 1966 was a cathartic time for me", says Sheila. "This was when I realised for the first time the full value of the past and what it can offer us in the future."

Sheila’s creative spark and enormous energy are taking her into a new world, mastering website technology and new marketing techniques in a different direction close to her heart - the beauty of jewellery.

Sheila has two children, James who works in film and Charlotte who is a make-up artist. Charlotte has lent us her beautiful face and is one of the jewellery models.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book on my shelf for a few years now and finally got around to reading it. This isn't a book; its a piece of art! It's gorgeous in its cover, glossy pages, illustrations, graphics and type, and that's just the frosting on the cake because the prose is lovely choices too. I came away with an appreciation for the Victorians and a desire to read more and learn more. A visual treat!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A literary and visual delight!