Book Review: I love Those Earrings

Book: I Love Those Earrings:  A Popular History from Ancient to Modern by Jane Merril with Chris Filstrup

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

Earrings can talk-of mourning a dead king, supporting a revolution, or resisting an emperor. They have carried the message that a proper Victorian believed in Darwin, and that a woman invited a lover to her bed.

Raid the jewelry boxes of the glamorous, legendary, and everyday chic women alike. See what earrings they have worn, when, and why, in ways that bespeak their way of life and personality, and how jewelry carries family and cultural heritage with style. Looking at earrings as tiny sculptures, here are details about gems, settings, and fixtures.

Lavishly embellished with over 300 images of jewelry ranging from the Byzantine era to the contemporary artisan, the styles of design, relationships to dress, portraiture and symbolism, and other aspects of adornment are elaborated upon. With research-based anecdotes and her own life in earrings, the author tells a story that will engage anyone interested in celebrities, monarchies, and the barely recorded lives of women of the past, and, of course, anyone who loves beautiful jewelry.


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I Love Those Earrings gives you a very good look at the history of earrings from the past to the present. There was quite a lot of information in the book but it was very interesting to read. Throughout history earrings had other purpose besides being jewelry they were considered at a time as money to showcasing ones wealth. It also told of how the less wealthy wore their jewelry and which styles they favored in the past.

And also, how the jewelry was tied to various romances and scandals within the rich and royalty. And not to mention wars were started just to get their hands on the riches.

I found this book to be fascinating. It might not be for someone who is looking for a fast read (since it's full of information) but it's definitely for someone who enjoys fashion and history. There was so much I found out from reading this.

I enjoyed looking at all the paintings and pictures that were throughout the book. This was a very well written book.