Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
by Marion Rankine
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Description
"A fun, illustrated history of the umbrella's surprising place in life and literature. Humans have been making, using, perfecting, and decorating umbrellas for millennia--holding them over the heads of rulers, signalling class distinctions, and exploring their full imaginative potential in folk tales and novels. In the spirit of the best literary gift books, Brolliology is a beautifully designed and illustrated tour through literature and history. It surprises us with the crucial role that show more the oft-overlooked umbrella has played over centuries--and not just in keeping us dry. Marion Rankine elevates umbrellas to their rightful place as an object worthy of philosophical inquiry. As Rankine points out, many others have tried. Derrida sought to find the meaning (or lack thereof) behind an umbrella mentioned in Nietzsche's notes, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote essays on the handy object, and Dickens used umbrellas as a narrative device for just about everything. She tackles the gender, class, and social connotations of carrying an umbrella and helps us realize our deep connection to this most forgettable everyday object--which we only think of when we don't have one"-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Enjoyable historical and literary overview of the umbrella, accompanied by some wonderful illustrations. I found the chapter "Forgotten Objects and Frightful Moralities" especially enjoyable, laced as it is with a generous dollop of humor. I am delighted to run across an Emily Dickinson poem I don't recall ever having previously encountered -- and I feel spurred to read (or re-read) the books from which some of the author's examples are drawn.
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Author Information
1 Work 53 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
- Original publication date
- 2017-11
- Dedication
- for Big Dog and the Brolly Hunters
- First words
- What can go up a chimney down, but can't go down a chimney up?
- Original language
- English USA
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Art & Design
- DDC/MDS
- 391.4 — Society, government, & culture Customs, etiquette & folklore Costume and personal appearance Kinds of garments; accessories; buttons
- LCC
- PN56 .U43 .R36 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Theory. Philosophy. Esthetics
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 53
- Popularity
- 575,413
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
