Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday; Clara and Mr. Tiffany; Susan Vreeland


Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
 
I love with Tiffany lamps and well this cover is just great, don't you think?


Random House - Jan./11/2011
During the Gilded Age just before the turn of the twentieth century, Tiffany forged his reputation in stained-glass. His highly recognizable style blended Art Nouveau, the exoticism of the Aesthetics Movement, and his own adoration of nature.

Until recently, it was assumed that he was the designer of the celebrated leaded-glass lampshades. However, two collections of letters reveal that an unrecognized woman, Clara Driscoll, designed the floral shades as well as many of the bronze bases. 

Clara and Mr. Tiffany presents these two figures--one the giant of American decorative arts, the other unknown--as they engage each other, collaborating, probing and frustrating each other, stumbling over their passions.

Driven by the Tiffany Family Imperative to honor his father, owner of Tiffany & Co., by surpassing his elder's fame and financial success, Tiffany confronts the central issue in the Arts and Crafts debate: art versus industry, and its concomitant, creative indulgence versus financial restraint. 

Yearning to establish herself as a creator of exquisite pieces of art, and to be recognized publically, Clara is a vibrant, intelligent, wry woman, a leader whose challenge, like that of many women, is to decide what makes her most happy--the professional world of her hands, or the personal world of her heart. 

The novel interprets her creative and personal life, her loves, losses, triumphs, and her startling decisions.

16 comments:

  1. Definitely sounds like fun! And yes, love the cover!!

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  2. I didn't know about this title. Susan Vreeland is a great author.

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  3. I love the cover. Sounds like something very different. Thanks for passing this on.

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  4. Oh, I love Tiffany lamps, too! What a unique cover. This one sounds like a great story.

    Here's mine:

    http://curlupandread.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/waiting-on-wednesday-3/

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  5. The cover is fantastic and the book sounds great too!!!

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  6. This one sounds really different. The cover is just beautiful! My wow is here

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  7. Oh, I just love Tiffany glass, and think this book sounds fantastic! I hadn't yet heard of it, so thanks for the heads up! Great pick!

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  8. Oooh great pick! So intriguing with the history, and the cover is amaaaazing. :) My WOW is at The Crowded Leaf.

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  9. Sounds like a great read, I hope you enjoy it :)

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  10. Very interesting! I've always wondered how Tiffany glad art came to be so prevalent. Nice pick.

    If you'd like, you can check out my WoW post here.

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  11. This really does sound interesting. I'll have to check it out. I agree, I love the cover.

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  12. I love Tiffany lamps so the subject matter and the cover are winners.

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  13. This sounds like a wonderful book! How disappointing for Clara Driscoll that someone else has been credited with her beautiful lampshades. harumpf! This book is definitely going on my tbr list....and not just because my mother's maiden name is Driscoll and I have always loved my grandparents on my mom's side and identified strongly with my Irish heritage!

    Susan Vreeland is a wonderful author. I am looking right at her book, "The Boating Party" with an amazing Renoir print on the cover.

    ~ Amy

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  14. Yes the cover is great and the book sounds good too!

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