Wordless Wednesdays-Love

                                         Taken from the Archives 2009

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                                                   Love  in Spring Time  

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Thackeray's Vanity Fair: Becky Sharp shallow citizen or conscious Victorian damsel?

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thackeray, William Makepeace. Vanity Fair. A Novel Without a Hero. London: Barnes and Noble Classics, 1999.
Thackeray´s Vanity Fair is a novel that portrays the life of a social climbing governess Becky Sharp, and ultimately her descent into “vanity fair.” “ Vanity Fair” is a term that Thackeray coins to describe the misaligned values of those obsessed with social status, peerage and the vulgar acquisition of money by any means. This novel is also an historical account of the status consciousness that was rife in Victorian England. Thackeray shows the vileness of human nature through his main protagonist, the exploitative, calculating and callous Becky Sharp, who ends up a shallow citizen of Vanity Fair. Becky manages to ruin tow men, both Rawdon Crawley and Jo Sedley,[ yet comes away with a fortune]. Thackeray juxtaposes Becky with her childhood friend Amelia Sedley from the Pinkerton´s school, and shows that an angelic Amelia may not be as witty and sharp as Becky yet, in the end, she is far more noble.
Thackeray is a superior raconteur in subtly exposing the self-delusion, ego, vanity and shallowness of human nature. He accomplishes this by many twists and truns of plots and sub-plots through which the story unravels. The plot, multiple themes and climax of the tale include the lives of the lovers of Vanity Fair. Rawdon and Becky Sharp, William Dobbin who is enamored of Amelia Sedley who is enamored of George Osborne who, like every man in the novel, is also enamored with Becky Sharp. Thackeray tells the tale of Vanity Fair through the prism of Victorian status conscious England. He writes his book through the dramatic lens of a country at war. The historical backdrop of the novel is one of war, as the main characters depart their lovers to fight in the famous battle of Waterloo. He describes each characters vain interactions with one another and shows the reader, in very specific details, how each, with his or her own vanity, have earned their membership in Vanity Fair. Thackeray´s novel Vanity Fair is rich with the study of human character, sin, vice, evolution, descent and then reflection.

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Taken from the Archives of 2008- Waterloo Station

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London Neighborhoods: Chelsea's Design District- A Decorater's Paradise


Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above Sloane Square tube station. The modern eastern boundary is Chelsea Bridge Road and the lower half of Sloane Street, including Sloane Square, along with parts of Belgravia . To the north and northwest, the area fades into Knightsbridge and South Kensington, but it is safe to say that the area north of King's Road as far northwest as Fulham Road is part of Chelsea. Chelsea in it hey day was popular along Kings Road magnetizing a plethora of hipsters and hippies.

Map of Chelsea

 Now, it also serves as a mecca for Interior Decoraters/Architects and Designers. I had the pleasure of attending a workshop at the Chelsea Design Centre  in 2010.The Design Centre offers a one stop venue for home furnishings from fabrics and wallpapers to furniture, mirrors and more. I enjoyed Mulberry Home ( Fabrics) and The Silk Gallery ( fabrics) which  is an English fabric company weaving silks with other fibres including cashmere and linen this season. I also fancied Cutture ( haute couture stationary) who create laser cut designs for stationary and will undertake bespoke

commissions.

The Chelsea Design Centre has some beautiful finery, however, I found their prices exorbitant, however, I personally derived much satisfaction and inspiration from my visit there. This tea cup lamp looks easy to make, a bit of wire and a few porcelain tea cups.

Quirky Tea Cup Lamp at Design Center

The Design Centre is a pretty amazing building that houses hundreds of interior design brands all under one roof. It's an incredible resource for Interior Designers/ Decoraters in London. Chelsea is also great fun and inspirational just to peak  into all the delectably charming  and one of a kind unique boutiques and galleries.

   



Chelsea Harbour Design Centre has around 70 showrooms selling soft furnishings and is open from Monday to Friday for the trade and the public. There are many well known showrooms in the design centre from Colefax and Fowler to Mary Fox Linton. London Design Week and Focus also take place in the design centre annually.

Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Address

Address:	411 The North Chambers Chelsea Harbour London SW10 0XF
Telephone:	+44 (0)20 7225 9166

Next in http://www.sabrinaslondondiaries.blogspot.com/ CHELSEA in the 60's !