Published on 9th September, British Blonde: Women, Desire and the Image in Post-War Britain by Lynda Nead gives “a vivid account of the atmosphere and culture of postwar Britain, explored through the image of the British Blonde.” The book is published by the Paul Mellon Centre.

From the Yale University Press website: “In the 1950s, American glamour swept into a war-torn Britain as part of a broader transatlantic exchange of culture and commodities. But in this process, the American ideal of the blonde became uniquely British—Marilyn Monroe transformed into Diana Dors.

British Blonde examines postwar Britain through the changing ideals of femininity that reflected the nation’s evolving concerns in the twenty-five years following the Second World War. At its heart are four iconic women whose stories serve as prompts for broader accounts of social and culture change: Diana Dors, the quintessential blonde bombshell; Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain; Barbara Windsor, star of the Carry On films; and the Pop artist Pauline Boty. Together, they reveal how class, social aspiration, and desire reshaped the cultural atmosphere of the 1950s and 1960s, complicating gender roles and visual culture in the process.

Richly illustrated with paintings, photography, film stills, and advertisements, this interdisciplinary and engagingly written study offers a highly original perspective on an era that transformed Britain’s visual and cultural identity.”

Lynda Nead will be giving a talk at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 23 October. Further information is available here: [link]

Imprint: Paul Mellon Centre 
Format: Hardback 
ISBN: 9781913107499
Dimensions: 254 x 190mm
Pages: 240
Illustrations: 143 colour + b-w
Price: £30
Further information on the book is available here: [link]