Published by Times Square Press, Paris, New York. Jane Avril Queen of the French Can Can. Aristocrat, marquise, French and Italian nobility, striper, dancer, author, writer, humanitarian, lovers' collector, queen of the French Can Can, friend of Oscar Wilde, Verlaine, Mallarme and the greatest poets of the era...and a French legend!"

Previously published: London: Fig Tree, [2014].

Published by Times Square Press, Paris, New York.10th Edition. Revised and Enlarged. The Rise and Fall of Louise Weber La Goulue, Creator of the French Can Can. Published by Times Square Press, New York, Paris. Louise Weber lived the two lives of cabaret: The happy one of a rich and famous dancer on stage and the tragic one in her real life, when her last impoverished days ended her up in the streets of Paris, where she died totally forgotten, homeless and toothless.

Paris and the Musical explores how the famous city has been portrayed on stage and screen, investigates why the city has been of such importance to the genre and tracks how it has developed as a trope over the 20th and 21st centuries. From global hits An American in Paris, Gigi, Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge! and The Phantom of the Opera to the less widely-known Bless the Bride, Can-Can, Irma la Douce and Marguerite, the French capital is a central character in an astounding number of Broadway, Hollywood and West End musicals. This collection of 18 essays combines cultural studies, sociology, musicology, art and adaptation theory, and gender studies to examine the envisioning and dramatisation of Paris, and its depiction as a place of romance, hedonism and libertinism or as ‘the capital of the arts’. The interdisciplinary nature of this collection renders it as a fascinating resource for a wide range of courses; it will be especially valuable for students and scholars of Musical Theatre and those interested in Theatre and Film History more generally.

Cancan! covers the nineteenth-century influences on the dance's development, including women's fashions (particularly their underwear), sex and morality, and major political changes. Author David Price describes the colourful personalities responsible for the transformation of what was an amateur dance into a professional entertainment, and the theatres, music-halls and dancing gardens where they performed. The book gives a full account of the ballets, operettas and musicals by Offenbach, Lehar, Cole Porter and others featuring the cancan, as well as the artists and film-makers who depicted the dance in their work - artists like Toulouse-Lautrec, Seurat, Picasso, Rouault and the Second Empire illustrators; and film-makers such as Jean Renoir, John Huston and others. Included are comments from dancers and choreographers in France, Britain and the USA.

Discover the hidden history of women—and the world—through this visual exploration of intimate objects and the surprising, sometimes shocking stories behind them. “I adored this book!”—Olivia Colman This is a neglected history. Not a sweeping, definitive, exhaustive history of the world but something quieter, more intimate and particular: a single journey, picked out in 101 objects, through the fascinating, manifold, and too often overlooked histories of women. With engaging prose, compelling stories, and a beautiful full-page image of each object, Annabelle Hirsch’s book contains a curated and diverse compendium of women and their things, uncovering the thoughts and feelings at the heart of women’s daily lives. The result is an intimate and stirring alternative history of humans in the world. The objects date from prehistory to today and are assembled chronologically to show the evolution of how women were perceived by others, how they perceived themselves, how they fought for freedom. Some (like a sixteenth-century glass dildo) are objects of female pleasure, some (a thumbscrew) of female subjugation. These are artifacts of women celebrated by history and of women unfairly forgotten by it. With variety and nuance, A History of Women in 101 Objects cracks open the fissures of what we think we know in order to illuminate a much richer retelling: What do handprints on early cave paintings tell us about the role of women in hunting? How is a cell phone related to femicides? What does Kim Kardashian’s diamond ring have to do with Elena Ferrante? Wide-ranging, subversive, witty, and superbly researched, this is a book that upends all our assumptions about, and presentations of, the past, proving that it has always been as complicated and fascinating as the women who peopled it.

Published in conjunction with an exhibition at The Courtauld Gallery, London, June 16-September 18, 2011.

Discover the captivating world of cinema with Cinema, the Magic Vehicle. If you are a film enthusiast looking to delve into the history of cinema from its early beginnings to the 1980s, I have an extraordinary book recommendation just for you. This remarkable book is filled with the most inspiring descriptions of the greatest films spanning the years 1913 to 1981. If you feel like you've been watching mostly remakes and are unsure of what else to explore in terms of historical films, this book will serve as your ultimate guide. It will transport you through time and immerse you in the fascinating works of film that have shaped today’s cinema. From silent film masterpieces which, without words, evoke strong emotions to the grand works of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Cinema, the Magic Vehicle will take you on a journey across diverse styles, genres and themes. Whether your interest lies in drama, comedy, science fiction or film noir, you will find something captivating within these pages. In addition to the correct screen credits and film descriptions, this book provides valuable historical context to help you to understand how cinema evolved over the years. You will discover how political, social and cultural events influenced filmmakers and how their works reflected the spirit of their era. This is not just a collection of film summaries but a fascinating time-travel experience that will deepen your understanding of the history of cinema and its impact on the world. Let yourself be swept away on an extraordinary journey through the history of cinema. Cinema, the Magic Vehicle is a guide to uncovering countless cinematic treasures and finding those essential titles worth watching. Open your eyes and heart to the wonders that await you, and let the magic of cinema captivate you for hours on end. Experience the gems that lie within. Start your adventure today and discover the captivating world of cinema from its earliest days to the golden age of film. Cinema, the Magic Vehicle is the key that will unlock unforgettable experiences and uncharted cinematic treasures. Get ready for unforgettable adventures and let the enchantment of cinema take hold of you.