Umbrella Unfurled

Description

Universally recognisable, the umbrella and its older, prettier sister the parasol have made their mark. Politics, religion, war and fashion have all been influenced by this modest contraption. With a beautiful collection of images, The Umbrella Unfurled follows its hero to Ancient Egypt, where at first it was for the Pharaoh's use only. References and physical representations of it are found throughout the Old World, often bearing great symbolic and ceremonial weight. Yet despite its more practical reputation in the West, it still holds cultural significance. As the ultimate accoutrement to the fashionable Edwardian lady; as part of the rank-and-file uniform of the City gentleman; it even made it onto the battlefield, though against the better judgement of the Duke of Wellington. And it has been wielded with more sinister intent as the weapon of choice by the KGB in seeking to dispatch dissidents abroad. Decorative, useful, symbolic and even deadly, the umbrella has a story older and more elaborate that one might think, all related in a highly entertaining gift book that could only have been written by an Englishman.

Nigel Rodgers is the author of 16 books on subjects ranging from Roman architecture to travel and philosophy and has been translated into eleven languages. Among his books are The Dandy - Peacock or Enigma (Bene Factum 2012), Incredible Optical Illusions (Simon and Schuster), Hitler (Hodder and Stoughton), Roman Empire and The Ancient Greek World (Anness). With Mel Thompson he has written Existentialism Made Easy (Hodder) and the highly acclaimed Philosophers Behaving Badly (Peter Owen). He was educated in England, France, and Italy and read History and History of Art at Cambridge; he was a founder member of the Siesta Club (logo - 'Crossed Hammocks), lives in Wiltshire and, in the moments between his siestas, he writes!