Author: Kristine Hughes

Do You Know About Archive CD Books?

The Archive CD Books website offers rare and invaluable British research tools reproduced on CD – books that most of us would otherwise not have access to outside of county libraries and archives. Not only that, the CD’s are affordable – about $30 each. They have wide range of titles, including Pigot’s directories for all counties in England, Post Office directories and unique books such as a contemporary tourist guide entitled, “Excursions through Essex 1818.” They also offer the London 1833 Royal Blue Book, the listing for which reads: One of the most interesting directories, and a really beautiful and valuable book. The Royal Blue Book is in two parts: a complete street by street listing (with house numbers) for central London in 1833, together with a complete alphabetical listing of all heads of household, their occupation where applicable, and address. It also includes Institutions, Societies, Public Offices, Hotels, Coffee-Houses and Taverns, Army and Navy Agents, and Bankers, followed by a section containing advertisements. An 1831 street map of London has also been included on the CD. (The original book never did have a map, but this one is taken from the 1831 Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary of England).

JO MANNING to present talk at Dr. Johnson’s House, London May 20th

“When a man is tired of London . . . “
Jo Manning, author of My Lady Scandalous, Seducing Mr. Heywood, The Sicilian Amulet and other novels will be speaking at Dr. Johnson’s House, London. The topic of Jo’s talk will be Artists and Their Models: A Personal Insight Into Three Georgian Artists and Their Favorite Female Sitters and will include a personal look at three prominent Georgian artists – Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, and George Romney – and what Jo Manning imagines their relationships were with several of their female sitters.
Jo asks, “Have you ever wondered, when you looked at a particularly beautiful portrait, what the dynamics were between the artist and his/her sitter? While researching the world of Grace Dalrymple Elliott for my biography, My Lady Scandalous, I delved deeply into the Georgian art scene and came to some interesting conclusions about three particular artists and their favorite models, all of them women who happened to be courtesans. These portraits are not only beautiful works of art by gifted artists; I believe they tell a fascinating story about the relationship of each of these men to his model(s) and thus serve to enrich our viewing pleasure.”
Dr. Johnson’s House is one of the few residential houses from the period still surviving in the City of London. Built in 1700, the house has now been restored to its original condition, with a collection of period furniture, prints and portraits. Situated to the north of Fleet Street, the house is found among a maze of courtyards and passages that are a reminder of historic London. If you’re going to be in London on May 20th, I urge you to attend. If Jo’s other seminars are anything to go by, this talk will be a pip!