Escape From England: From Sacred Hearts To Tribal Arts

by Miranda Crimp, Linda Cashdan (Editor), THEBOOKDESIGNERS (Design)

Here lies the life of a mid 20th century escapist, propelled by instinct from the bland predictable English lifestyle into the unknown. Fleeing from behind convent walls, she watched as the white cliffs of Dover faded into the horizon, poised to slither into the land of the baguette and her initiation into the French attitude. Crossing the Atlantic she donned a pair of rabbit ears and became inducted into the Playboy Club and the mysteries of the American male mind, before zigzagging across the United States in a yellow E type Jaguar. On reaching San Francisco she won the right to be one of the first married women to waitress in the not so friendly skies, to be conscripted to patrol the aisles of an aluminum tube at 37,000 feet, slinging out rice and water to pilgrims on their way to redemption in Mecca, while on the road to discovering her passion for Tribal Art.

332 pages, Hardcover

Published November 19, 2019

Reviews

[Samuel Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Escape From England: From Sacred Hearts To Tribal Arts” by Miranda Crimp is a delight to read. An absolutely delightful and fun read, perfect for sheltering in place and the pandemic as this book takes you around the world in 321 pages with verve, passion, fun, personal insight and growth. I highly recommend this book.

A life story in the form of a travelogue, this book takes you from her proper upbringing in Britain to her stints as a Playboy bunny, airline flight attendant, and ultimately a world-renowned deal of tribal arts from Indonesia and the Pacific. Along the way, you experience the excitement and pain of coming to--and traversing America--in an XKE Jaguar, a first marriage, the pitfalls of becoming a landlord in Marin County, the swinging 60s and 70s, 80s and beyond, and growth as an individual who falls in love with tribal arts and jewelry of Indonesia. Some great and memorable descriptions and situations from San Francisco and Marin County to the shores of Morocco and the Islands of Indonesia and Bali during its heyday.

[G Seguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating account by a very intrepid young woman setting out in the world with literally a knapsack and a couple shillings.
Talk about learning on the fly. Especially for a single woman traveling to regions where not to be in the company of a man was unheard of and quite daring
The world before mass airplane travel was very different than today and this is often overlooked in contemporary accounts.
However our strong heart lady seeks out the more distant corners left to her generation after the Second World War
I was intrigued by her generosity of sharing first hand what it was like in this time period.. soon to vanish.
Great read

G.

[Alyson Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read!

Ms. Crimp leads us through the varied tales of her life with sharp observations presented with wit and humor in an entertaining style. It’s a memoir that begins with her childhood in postwar England and quickly moves on to her escape as she leaves the confines of convent schools and family control. Her adventurous heart takes her around the world, using the vocation of airline hostess to get to these far flung corners, and eventually she grows into being a dealer of antique Indonesian art. I delighted in her witty descriptions of situations and characters all along the way.

[G Spratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revealing raucous adventure. The awakening of a new generation.
A sprite hopping into technicolor hemispheres, as dreams become alive.
The author accomplishes this in brilliant descriptive style, as if you are by her side.
A very personal tale.

[G. Spratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great autobiography from a intrepid traveler setting out into the world Quite something for a young woman to travel to these places where it was rather a challenge since it was considered to be a “ Mans “ world in those days. Very interesting descriptions of a world to change so incredibly.