I'm currently reading "Glamour: A History" by Stephen Gundle (Oxford University Press, July 2008). Don't let the inclusion of the term 'glamour' in the title fool you - this is not some trite do-it-yourself type manuel on how to be glamorous that seems to abound across bookstores these days. This is a scholarly treatment of a much maligned and often misunderstood subject. Gundle traces the emergence of 'glamour' (both the word and the concept) from roughly the fall of Napoleon I to today while dispelling popular misconceptions along the way. He draws on a multitude of sources and examples including history, literature, cinema, politics and popular culture. In doing so, he furthers our understanding of that elusive and oh-so-coveted quality.
One reviewer described it as "(...) a substantial book about an insubstantial topic." (Source) Not so fast. Yes, it is a substantial book but the topic is far from being an insubstantial one. One need only look for instance to England's Gallic neighbor where a recent injection of glamour via the arrival of the new Madame Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace proved a quick and potent antidote to the French president's dismal approval ratings amongst his countrymen. A mere six months following the quickie courtship and hasty nuptials, Sarkozy's ambitious reform plans are back on track and his approval ratings in steady ascent. (Source) In fact, any observer of modern politics will tell you that if politics is theater, then the elusive quality that is glamour forms an essential part of that theater production. When deftly deployed, it is a powerful and potent force to further one's ends. You can decry the fact that as a society, we allow ourselves to be too easily blinded by glamour but to dismiss it as insubstantial is just plain wrong. For a better understanding of what glamour entails (and what it does not), I highly recommend Professor Gundle's analysis.
Sincerely,
The Luxe Chronicles
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