The 18thcentury milieu stockley describes is so ruthless and exploitative that any shred of sentiment attached to the betterdressed past will be burnt to. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley in this wellcrafted comedy of manners, a wickedly charming woman with a secret past stirs up trouble in 18th century london. What to read savor the end of summer with the seasons best novels, including the latest from cormac mccarthy, kathryn harrison, kelly link, bret easton ellis and more. If you like your women as cruel as they are beautiful, you may fall hard for philippa stockleys darkly witty novel, a factory of cunning, which follows an exiled. A factory of cunning takes readers to the world immortalized in dangerous liaisons. She took a scholarship to oxford english then to the courtauld institute of art, london, studying arthistorical clothing history, with an 18th century speciality. Stockleys debut novel, the edge of pleasure, focuses on gilver, a successful young english artist who lives a decadent life and is famous for his overthetop. This is philippa stockley, novelist and painter, who lives in an old house at the. Fox establishes herself as an eccentric fixture of a successful brothel.
Stockley, a londoner and painter herself, sets her intriguing changeoffortune and changeoflife plot in the capital over the eighties and nineties. A factory of cunning, an epistolary sequel to les liaisons dangereuses written in. Andrew martin calls it the bestwritten bodiceripper ever published. Hmh book clubs find great new books for your reading group. This book is a part of our nlc book club kit collection, and is the perfect selection to get your book club through the winter doldrums. Golden hare books welcomes novelist and artist philippa stockley to.
Buy a cheap copy of a factory of cunning book by philippa stockley. Philippa stockley studied english at oxford and period costume history at the courtauld institute. Philippa stockleys a factory of cunning lacks only the presence of blackadder and baldric to confirm our mediatised. Stockleys first novel, the edge of pleasure littlebrown, harcourt brace. A factory of cunning was entertaining and clever not to mention sufficiently scandalous. Set in late eighteenthcentury england, philippa stockleys american debut gives. If you like your women as cruel as they are beautiful, you may fall hard for philippa stockley s darkly witty novel, a factory of cunning, which follows an exiled. In a factory of cunning, philippa stockley s, sensational new novel, she achieves all this and much, much more. Fox has been scandalized and chased to holland with her loyal maid, victoire. A web of desire, deception and domination telegraph. A hercule poirot collection hercule poirot mysteries by agatha christie. First published in 2005, this story tells how in the years before the french revolution, london is an unsettled, dangero.
Philippa stockley books list of books by author philippa. One freezing may morning, two veiled women step off the boat from holland. I second lilithcats recommendation of quincunx how about possession. It begins with the arrival in london of the mysterious mrs. Fox, as she calls herself, and her maid, victoire who has the fortunate ability to. Charles addamses mother goose and other stories, charles addams. In a factory of cunning, philippa stockleys, sensational new novel, she achieves all this and much, much more. Written in the form of journal entries and letters the reader soon becomes immersed in the seedier side of 18th century london and the complex and immoral plans of a manipulative woman who goes by the name of mrs fox. This is a marvelously intriguing, deliciously wicked, and titillatingly voyeuristic outing that transports the reader to a vividly drawn london of 1784.
The 18thcentury milieu stockley describes is so ruthless and exploitative that any shred of sentiment attached to the betterdressed past will be burnt to ashes on contact. Fox as she navigates upper class society after escaping her scandalous past in france in a factory of cunning by philippa stockley harcourt, 2005. View philippa stockleys profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Philippa stockley read english at oxford and arthistorical clothing history at the courtauld institute of art, london. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. Earl much, lord frederick danceacre, reverend robert denyss, joshua coats. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley goodreads.
Murderous liaisons, first published as a factory of cunning, is an epistolary. Philippa stockley illustrator of the picture of dorian gray. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley overdrive. She will publish an interiors book on old london houses in autumn 2019 with. Eventually she fetches up on the shores of england with her maid in tow. Reminiscent of a young beryl bainbridge or muriel spark, the edge of pleasure is a stylish first novel from a wonderful writing talent. This is a beautifully written, darkly humorous novel full of intrigue and seduction. A factory of cunning is a wellmade entertainment for people who dont go soft at the prospect of corsets and powdered wigs. Both books were bestsellers and were nominated for the booker prize. Philippa stockleys american debut begins with the arrival in london of the mysterious mrs. Her landlord hubert van essel, hiding his own secrets, honors her desire for discretion. Philippa stockley 18th century aristocratic tale evil earls, bawdy clerics and a plot full of twists and turns. The edge of pleasure ebook by philippa stockley rakuten kobo.
Foxon the run from a scandalous french pastwho takes a new identity, determined to reinvent herself. See all books authored by philippa stockley, including a factory of cunning, and the edge of pleasure, and more on thriftbooks. Its a tumultuous time where the war of the sexes is in fall force, where. Philippa stockley author of a factory of cunning goodreads. Reminiscent of the world brought to life in dangerous liaisons, a factory of cunning is seductive, calculating, and thoroughly entertaining.
Philippa stockley is a painter and a deputy editor for londons evening standard newspaper, as well as a novelist. She turned down a three book contract when her first novel was. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley 11 march 2009, 12. Her second, murderous liaisons, first published as a factory of cunning. To do so she must pit her formidable skills for revenge against earl much, a british aristocrat with no less notorious a past who is easily her match in sinfulness and intrigue. She is the author of two previous novels, both critically acclaimed. Stockley lives in london and is completing an interiors book on old london. Buy this book stockley presents a stylish portrait of a formerly famous artist as a notsoyoung man. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley the independent. Assign a main category to the following characters and discuss how each both represents and breaks out of the stereotype. Not quite as enjoyable as fingersmith but its an entertaining read all the same. Read a factory of cunning by philippa stockley available from rakuten kobo.
Black lily, an evening with philippa stockley golden hare books. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley book club. After a degree in english at oxford, philippa stockley studied at the courtauld institute where she wrote a thesis upon costume in the novels of fielding and defoe which gave her an introduction to the background of her second novel, the factory of cunning. Set in late eighteenthcentury england, philippa stockleys am. Fun, flounces and some notsodangerous liaisons a factory of cunning by philippa stockley little, brown pounds 14. Fleeing france by the skin of her teeth, the heroine of a factory of cunning resides for a period in holland under the care of her protector, dr. The city they find is morally mildewed, a place where, as mrs fox observes, cold. I also designed and edited a book for the sir john soane museums.
This book is a part of our nlc book club kit collection, and is the perfect selection to get. Philippa stockleys new novel black lilyis a fast 17thcentury epic set in london, full of murk and poison, with unisex appeal. Author of the edge of pleasure and of a factory of cunning, a sequel to les. Set in late eighteenthcentury england, philippa stockley s american debut gives us a wickedly delightful but deadly serious battle of the wills and the sexes. First published in 2005, this story tells how in the years before the french revolution, london is an unsettled, dangerous place. Philippa stockley read english at oxford and arthistorical clothing history at the courtauld institute as a twoyear ma. First of all, i must confess that i am not very fond of epistolary novels but nevertheless i enjoyed it although i have some mixed feelings about your book. Puzzlingly since stockley is a deputy editor of the london evening standard and the author of a wellreceived historical novel, a factory of cunning, the book is further sabotaged by her. The washington post book world a factory of cunning is a wellmade entertainment for people who dont go soft at the prospect of corsets and powdered wigs. Philippa stockleys a factory of cunning by writereaderly underway for the last four days, the factory is set in 1784 london, written in high georgian english, telling of the manipulations and cunning of the aptly named femme fatale for fun, mrs fox ah, so much unintended alliteration.
The evening standardsays it would make terrific tv. She produced her first illustrated novel at six and her first stage design at ten. If you like your women as cruel as they are beautiful, you may fall hard for philippa stockley s darkly witty novel, a factory of cunning, which follows an exiled french aristocrat as she pimps and swindles her way through london in the summer of 1784. The male characters of a factory of cunning can be compartmentalized into stereotypical clustersfool, cuckold, devil. Between these two swirls a story featuring venal lords, wronged maidens, and reprobate clergymen, transporting readers from bawdy houses to country estatesplaces where the pleasures of the flesh are both high comedy and serious business. A caribbean mystery miss marple mysteries by agatha christie. Madame depardieu and the beautiful strangers, antonia quirke.
On the run from a scandalous french past, she takes on a new identity, determined to rehabilitate herself. Philippa stockley read english at oxford and arthistorical clothing history at the. She is the author of the edge of pleasure little, brown, harcourt brace and of a factory of cunning, an epistolary sequel to les liaisons dangereuses little, brown. A french noblewoman of dubious and mysterious past navigates the waters of 1784 london in philippa stockley s highly enjoyable romp of a novel, a factory of cunning, composed of letters and journal entries. Phillippa stockley spins a romantic yarn of travel, murder, intrigue and adventure in a factory of cunning, while resolutely rejecting the sentiment of romance, says laura baggaley. Having been routed from paris by a mob for her involvement in a scandal, our resourceful heroine set herself up as a brothel keeper in. Drawing the past is one thing, but smelling, touching, scratching and shitting it is quite another.
Les liaisons dangereuses into c21 faculty of medieval and. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley 362pp, little, brown. Philippa stockley is the author of a factory of cunning and the edge of pleasure. The edge of pleasure little, brown and harcourt brace, 2002 and a factory of cunning little, brown and harcourt brace, 2006. Foxon the run from a scandalous french pastwho takes a new identity. Set in late eighteenthcentury england, philippa stockleys american debut gives us a wickedly delightful but deadly serious battle of the wills and the sexes. Philippa stockleys new novel black lilyis a fast 17thcentury epic set in london. Murderous liaisons, first published as a factory of cunning, was an. A factory of cunning by philippa stockley, paperback.
608 251 1067 398 531 204 832 984 1203 1342 1435 1467 193 961 832 1374 767 633 1422 825 328 1503 1166 983 1442 321 1338 710 1061 586 1237