THE SUBVERSIVE STITCH - Embroidery and the making of the feminine (First paperback edition - second printing)

Rozsika Parker

ISBN 10: 0704338831 / ISBN 13: 9780704338838

Published by The Women's Press, London, 1989

About this Item

First paperback edition - second printing - published as a large-format paperback in 1989. The book was originally published in hardback in 1984, and first issued in paperback in 1986. Profusely illustrated in black and white. *** Near fine in colour illustrated glossy card covers, just very slightly rubbed and creased at the edges. Head and tail of spine slightly rubbed and creased. No serious creases and no tears. Page block edges clean. No reading lean to the binding. Light vertical reading creases to the spine. Spine tight. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. No creases or tears. Pages clean. ***244mm x 160mm. 247 pages including a detailed section of Notes, Select Bibliography and Further Reading, Glossary and Index at the back of the book. ***'In this fascinating study, Rozsika Parker, co-author of "Old Mistresses: Women, Art and Ideology," traces the shifting notions of femininity, and roles ascribed to women, through embroidery from mediaeval times to today. In the middle ages women worked alongside men in embroiderers' guild workshops as apprentices, designers and stitchers of gold, silver and silk. Yet by the eighteenth century embroidering was considered to come naturally to women alone, and by the nineteenth century the fine stitchery expected of women of the upper classes, and the skilled work extracted for starvation wages from working-class women, had become both symbol and instrument of subservience.' ***'--- marvelously written and illustrated book --- Ms Parker's thesis is a bold one --- but it is one that she sustains convincingly.' - Times Educational Supplement ***' --- a book wonderfully rich, not only in information, but in people and ideas.' - Guardian ***'The book is the basis for a major exhibition of the same name.' (Quotes taken from the back cover) ***A second printing, from 1989, of the first paperback issue of this detailed work of social history. Quite uncommon. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # PB678

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE SUBVERSIVE STITCH - Embroidery and the ...

Publisher: The Women's Press, London

Publication Date: 1989

Binding: Original Wraps

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket, as Issued

Edition: First Paperback Edition

About this title

Synopsis:

In this fascinating study, Rozsika Parker traces a hidden history--the shifting notions of femininity and female social roles--by unraveling the history of embroidery from medieval times until today.

Review:

"an impressively researched case for evaluating women's lives and their position in society through the history of embroidery."
-"Feminist Bookstore News, Jan/Feb 1990
." . . Parker has done a beautiful, scholarly and highly readable exploration of the subject. . . . "The Subversive Stitch is a carefully researched, well-written and entertaining study of European and American attitudes toward both embroidery and women through history."
-"Academic Library Book Review, Oct 1990