Who Would Like This Book:
If you get giddy over history, culture, or the unsung wonders behind everyday things, this book will grab you. Kassia St Clair weaves fascinating tales - literally - about how fabric has shaped economies, societies, and even world events from ancient caves to space suits. Anyone into science, women’s history, world trade, or the arts will discover unexpected connections between threads, tech, fashion, and power. Plus, St Clair’s lively style makes complex stories totally accessible, so you don’t have to be a textiles expert to enjoy.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers looking for lots of visuals or hands-on how-to content might find the lack of illustrations a frustration. Hardcore history buffs or textile professionals could be let down by occasional oversimplifications or minor factual errors, while some may lose interest when the subject shifts from natural fibers to modern synthetics. If you prefer textbook-style depth or a strictly chronological narrative, the essay format and anecdotal style may not be your jam.
About:
'The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History' by Kassia St. Clair is a fascinating exploration of the impact of various fabrics on society throughout history. The book weaves together stories of the discovery and invention of different textiles, from ancient silk in China to modern synthetic fabrics. Readers are taken on a journey through time, uncovering the role of fabrics in shaping human culture and civilizations. St. Clair's writing style is described as accessible and engaging, drawing readers into the rich tapestry of textile history with vivid descriptions and insightful perspectives.
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From The Publisher:
A Sunday Times (UK) Book of the Year
Shortlisted
Society of Authors' Somerset Maugham Award
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
The best-selling author of The Secret Lives of Color returns with this rollicking narrative of the 30,000-year history of fabric, briskly told through thirteen charismatic episodes.
From colorful 30,000-year-old threads found on the floor of a Georgian cave to the Indian calicoes that sparked the Industrial Revolution, The Golden Thread weaves an illuminating story of human ingenuity. Design journalist Kassia St. Clair guides us through the technological advancements and cultural customs that would redefi ne human civilization-from the fabric that allowed mankind to achieve extraordinary things (traverse the oceans and shatter athletic records) and survive in unlikely places (outer space and the South Pole). She peoples her story with a motley cast of characters, including Xiling, the ancient Chinese empress credited with inventing silk, to Richard the Lionhearted and Bing Crosby. Offering insights into the economic and social dimensions of clothmaking-and countering the enduring, often demeaning, association of textiles as "merely women's work"-The Golden Thread offers an alternative guide to our past, present, and future. 8 pages of color photographs
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