The Model Wife: The Passionate Lives of Effie Gray,Ruskin and Millais.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,ex-public library.[A WITHDRAWN FOR SALE black inked library stamp to front free endpaper,along with residual evidence of removal of library's glued docket pocket and another unknown adhesive labe at endpaper's lower edge.A Public Library Service adhesive label still in situ to verso of title page.and the security tag/label removed from rear pastedown.Endpapers would stand sympathetic replacement.No other public library evidence - no dw/dj cropping or glueing to boards,no external covering/protection,no ink library stamps to edges or inside the book,and no alpha-numerical notation to spine/backstrip.Laid in loose,a glossy colour illustrated POSTSCRIPT (Mail order books site) card bookmark.] FINE-/FINE.No price-clip to dw/dj - price (£25) to rear panel of dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,colour painting artwork - The Eve of St Agnes,1862,oil on canvas by John Everett Millais - illustrated front panel of dw/dj with white lettering,similarly coloured lettered spine/backstrip,rear panel of eggshell blue background with black lettered precis and a couple of critics' reviews; with negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corners - no nicks,tears or splits present. - both panels indent+ scoring-free.top+fore-edge bright without foxing/spotting but some almost imperceptible thumbing to fore-edges; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips.Publisher's bright,crisp,unblemished,sharp-cornered,original,plain burgundy cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters and publishe'r colophon to spine/backstrip,a burgundy+ white striped headband and plain white endpapers with aforementioned detractions.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,ex-public library copy,ix-xiipp+1-276pp [paginated] includes illustrations list/table, acknowledgements,13 chapters,16pp of contemporary b/w+colour illustrations,portraits reproductions,and contemporary b/w photographs in 2 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp84/5 and pp180/81 respectively,Notes,a 4pp bibliography and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title with facsimile b/w reproduction of subject's handwritten letter to its verso,title page,and a dedication. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional for a book of it's age, and even internally,the book is also in an acceptable condition/state of preservation and presentation.It is only the interior faults described that prevent a higher grading.Despite them,it really is an exceptional copy for brightness and cleanliness. Effie Gray,a renowned beauty and socialite,was at the centre of Victorian England's most scandalous love triangle,involving two giants of the art world.Married at nineteen to the much older John Ruskin, the leading art critic of the time,she found herself trapped in a loveless and unconsummated union with a husband who was to claim that 'her person was not formed to excite passion'. Then,on a trip to Scotland during which John Everett Millais,Ruskin's acclaimed protege,was supposed to paint her husband's portrait,she and Millais fell in love. This was to result in public disgrace,but also in a long and happy second marriage. Suzanne Fagence Cooper has gained exclusive access to Effie's extensive and previously unseen letters and diaries to reveal the reality behind this great Victorian love story.A major critical reassessment of the Victorian art world,the book addresses the careers of Ruskin and Millais from a new angle,with Effie emerging as a key figure in the artistic development of both men.Effie,her sisters and daughters appear in many of Millais' most haunting images, embodying Victorian society's fears about female sexuality and freedom. "The Model Wife" is a compelling portrait of the extraordinary woman behind some of the most beautiful and celebrated pre-Raphaelite paintings. Suzanne Fagence Cooper spent 12 years as a curator and research fellow,studying the Victorian collections of the V&A Museum. She has written several books and essays on the Pre-Raphaelites and Victorian women.Her knowledge of 19th century art has led her to work as a consultant for BBC TV and radio. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.