William Caxton: a Biography

by George D. Painter

The unexpected runway moment, the candid dressingroom expression, the steely eyed scrutiny of the front-row denizens. Runway Madness is a personal invitation to New York's infamous Fashion Week. More than 100 arresting photographs by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lucian Perkinsmany never published until nowtell the behind-the-scenes story of this unparalleled fashion event. Perkins captures the models up-close and Kate Moss without make-up, Naomi Campbell in curlers, and Shalom Harlow, Amber Valetta, Christy Turlington, and many others in high pomp as well as unguarded circumstance. Also exposed are the fashion editors and buyers, journalists, and stars whose high-visibility presence is essential. Quotes from fashion insiders provide a running commentary and captions by Washington Post fashion writer Robin Givhan explain each image. The beat, the lights, the cascade of beauty and this is not only a performance, but also a performance art. Long and lean like the runway itself, Runway Madness is the total high fashion experience. "Beyond the smoke and mirrors of the runway lies another part of the fashion world." It is there that Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Lucian Perkins finds the most compelling über-waif Kate Moss sipping champagne decked out in an undershirt, jeans, and a boggling network of curled hair extensions. Design maven Isaac Mizrahi fretting over a voluminous skirt. Glamour-pusses Naomi Campbell and Veronica Webb lolling around, waiting for their curlers to set, while the clock ticks at the rate of $250 per hour. Perkins gets up on the runway, too. He turns his camera on his colleagues, who form an impenetrable wall of extra-long lenses and tripods. He looks out into the audience, where he finds the gender-bending RuPaul, Southern belle Dolly Parton, and actress Mira Sorvino parked amid the ubiquitous fashion editors and buyers and socialites. And he follows the impossibly fabulous creatures as they strut their wa

Genres: Biography

Hardcover

First published December 31, 1977

About the author

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...

Reviews

[Lukerik · Rating 2 out of 5]

A biography of a man about whom almost nothing personal is known. Painter points out that he could have raised an entire first family while he lived on the continent and they might have left no trace in the records. This book is an account of his career. It opens with an account of the wool trade which is surprisingly interesting, and Painter employs some good critical thinking to analyse the scanty primary records and construct some sort of life story. The book is not without merit.

Cracks start to appear when he moves on to Caxton’s time as a diplomat. Painter fails to properly introduce the political players involved so we’re left adrift in a sea of names. At other times the reverse is the problem. He may mention some person who was tangentially involved with Caxton and gives their entire bloody life story in a footnote only for them never to appear again. It’s impossible to know at the time what information your brain needs to retain. His account of the printing business is sometimes interesting, sometimes dull. How is it possible to make an account of the first books printed in England dull? Painter is not a particularly good writer and at times this reads like a source book for a real biographer to use.

[Doug Adamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information but not the most "readable" of presentations. I found I had to pay close attention and even had to reread some paragraphs to get what he was saying. Granted, the problem may lie with me, but, then again, I am the one writing this evaluation. Spends some time correcting the mistakes of earlier biographers. Very meticulous in giving details. Sent me to my dictionary more than once: disponsibility, termagant, stint, and more. Worth a read if you are interested in the beginnings of printing in England.