The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season

by Sophie Campbell

When travel journalist Sophie Campbell squeezed into heels and a hat to investigate the English social season, she got more than she bargained for. Why, she wondered, were events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, The Derby at Epsom, Royal Ascot, the Henley Royal Regatta, Wimbledon Fortnight and Glorious Goodwood so formal, so fashionable and so famous?Her hectic and sometimes hilarious journey through the English summer proved as exotic as any tribal rite of passage as she swam the River Thames in the dark, partied with owners and trainers at Ascot, camped out for Wimbledon, joined Irish Travellers at The Derby, infiltrated the parents’ stand at the Eton v Harrow cricket match and got caught using a mobile in the Stewards’ Enclosure at Henley. En route she found a fascinating and surprisingly complex social structure dating back to the time of the Stuart monarchs and involving fashion, food, art and the marriage market. The English summer will never be the same again.

  

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Historical, British Literature

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

One of the most exciting and talented creators working in comics today, Sophie Campbell has made her mark on IDW books such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Jem and the Holograms.

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design, Campbell began her career writing and drawing independent comics primarily focused on the lives of young women from all walks of life, including Wet Moon, Shadoweyes, and the Abandoned. She further proved her versatility as an artist when she began drawing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for IDW, where her kinetic action sequences and distinctive character art were a hit with fans and critics alike.

Campbell was brought on as the first artist on the IDW continuing series Jem and the Holograms, where she was responsible for the modern redesign of the characters and establishing the unique look of the comic. Her work on Jem with writer Kelly Thompson was so well received that the two were profiled by the New Yorker in 2015.

Campbell continues to work on several projects for IDW, as well as her own creator-owned independent comics.

Reviews

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Campbell sets out to explore the typical English social season. She attends events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Ascot, and the Henley Royal Regatta. Along the way, she also interviews people involved in these events about their historical significance. This book outlines her experiences. I particularly enjoyed the pictures, which really helped me visualize the different events.

The author chose twelve different events, so none of them gets covered with a large amount of detail. I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but I found this book to be a bit bland. It didn't really hold my interest. Perhaps it would appeal more to someone who is English, who would understand all of the cultural references that I missed.

I received this book as a Goodreads First-Read. Yay!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting romp through 12 events in the English summer season. The author, a travel journalist, attends all 12 events and also gives a history of each event and how it started.

[Frederike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious read, best done in installments, about famous English events which I would love to have attended as well

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting romp through the English social calendar. Somewhat boring at times.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Campbell’s breezy, fun look at the modern London “Season,” and all of its iconic events was a lot of fun to read. Handsome men who spend their days in the Army or the City, girls who make a full-time job into a part-time one so they can attend all these events (think a young Sarah Ferguson who exasperated her boss with her social life), the parents paying for it all–it’s a delight. She throws in a reasonable amount of history, but it’s the level you would enjoy with a Pimms, Champers or a strong G/T. Put on your Sloaney clothes and dive right in. Rupert, Henry, Caroline, and Sohpie will let you join in their party.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. "The Season" is a look at the English Social Season, which takes place during the summer and acts as a who's who guide to English society. As a Yank and an Anglophile, I've been fascinated by the social season. We really don't have anything comparable on any large scale here in the States so I was interested to learn a little bit more about these customs.

Ms. Campbell takes us through the entire social season and all of the various sets of customs for each event. These events include horse races, regattas, and the Chelsea Flower Show (this event would probably be my very favorite) among other events What was especially interesting to me was how long some of these traditions and customs have been around for. I also really liked reading about the fashion aspect of these events. It does help to have a little bit of knowledge of what these various events are before you read this book so that you understand what's going on.

This book will appeal to those who want to know a little more about the why of these events. There are some really interesting historical elements to all of these events even though on the surface, they can often seem as simply an excuse to have a really big party! I thought the section about the debutantes were really interesting. Up until the end of the 1950s, families would still bring the eligible young ladies of their families to court to bring them "out," or rather to officially initiate them into the adult world. I didn't realize that happened for so long!

Overall, this is an interesting overview that whet my appetite to find out more about some of these events!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whirlwind indeed! Campbell takes us on a breezy tour through the English aristocratic social events of the "Season" - giving the reader a taste of the fashion and flippancy and also the historical development and importance of events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Ascot, and the Henley Royal Regatta. It was a great introduction for me, an anglophile on the more historical side, and showed me that the "period drama" shows that I enjoy so much on TV really still have a modern equivilant in contemporary life. Which I find interesting and also a little... frightening. A fast and fun read, not dull but not terribly serious either. Recommended!

I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program - thanks!

[Gretchen Freeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the book caught my attention, but the plodding prose and dreary historical rambles made this book into a slog. I think the author didn't really get behind the scenes or into the privileged ranks of British society to give us any more than the briefest of glimpses or the dullest of observations about the social Season.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a first reads giveaway. All in all I found this to be an enjoyable book-as the jacket said it is a description of the English Social Season. I think the book would have been better if it had gone into more detail about fewer events but that is my only real complaint.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cricket, horses, tennis, gardens, lawns, opera...and a healthy dose of history to tell us how the English social season began, adapted, and morphed into what it is today. Very interesting for Anglophiles like myself who would love to be part of the crowd but live across the pond.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly delightful read. Loved it

[Beth Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

More history than I expected. Fun overall.