Actress and writer Maria Perry was brought up in Cheshire by a grandmother who liked good diamonds and believed women's education harmed the complexion. Sent to Manchaster High School and a graduate of Somerville College, Oxford, she has had some narrow escapes.
After abandoning a career in journalism for the chorus of Jesus Christ Superstar, she wrote a biography of Elizabeth I and was invited to do PhD at Yale. Instead she wrote the shopaholic's classic Knightsbridge Woman. Captivated by Mayfair at the age of three, she is a discerning patron of Fenwick's, Fortnum's and Berry Bros & Rudd.
Amongst a stack of books in Waterstones ‘we like’ was Chelsea Chicks. Now if, like me, you love wandering around London reading the blue plaques on buildings to see who once live there and wondering what it was like back then, you’re going to love this book.
Forget the ‘chicks’ bit, this is like years and years of gossip columns crammed into one small book about the going on’s behind the now blue plaque’s and streets in one of London’s most iconic areas. Did you know Whistler lived in Chelsea? Yes the Whistler as in “Whistler’s Mother”.
Chelsea Chicks is the story of Chelsea and the people that have graced it with their presence, from Henry VIII to Alonso (Formula 1) being spotted by young girls at the Chelsea Farmers Market.