Chelsea Girls - by Catherine Lloyd (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A glamorous and revealing biographical novel for readers of Renee Rosen, Allison Pataki, and Fiona Davis, starring one of Swinging London's defining figures, Mary Quant, who made history with the miniskirt, slashed hemlines, and transformed more than fashion, for herself, for her friends, and for a generation.

Post-war London is a city in flux, with burned-out buildings serving as vivid reminders of the past. But beneath those scars is a sense of resurging optimism. Chrissie Walker, a new student at Goldsmiths arts college, feels it keenly. So does Mary Quant, the auburn-haired classmate who becomes Chrissie's best friend.

Like Chrissie, Mary wants more from life than to nab a husband and settle down. Though shy, Mary shows her daring in subtle ways, including her home-sewn clothes. Designed to run and move in, her outfits inspire Chrissie and others to reinvent their own style. They also catch the eye of charismatic fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene, who becomes Mary's partner and helps fund the opening of Bazaar, a King's Road shop that marks the beginning of an empire.

Dresses with ever-rising hemlines, skinny-rib sweaters and Peter Pan collars, boldly patterned tights and scarves--Mary Quant's "Chelsea look" becomes a sensation among socialites, working-class girls, and everyone in between. As the miniskirt becomes a global phenomenon, Mary Quant ignites a fashion revolution that transforms everyone in its orbit--including Chrissie, who must reconcile her own ambitions with her friend's fame, debutante Daphne, whose life opens up in unexpected ways, and Fern, an aspiring model who will become an icon.

In the years that follow, each will deal with the public and personal challenges faced by unconventional women willing to break the rules--and in the process, transform the world.

Review Quotes

Praise for Catherine Lloyd:

"[A] lively historical cozy...Numerous plausible suspects and perceptive observations on the period's social mores make this an entertaining entry in the series. More Morton mysteries would be welcome." --Publishers Weekly on Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld

"A fast paced, well-written walk through London's high society in 1838." --New York Journal of Books on Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld

"Social injustices, prejudices, and all things Regency, including the appropriate flowery narrative, may be hard pills for present-day readers to swallow, but are era appropriate and well researched in this superb series debut. Caroline is an absolute gem of a heroine, whom readers will surely come to love as she bravely maneuvers through polite society to gather evidence and determine whodunit. Regardless of the unresolved ending, fans of historical mysteries and uncompromising women protagonists will find Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder impossible to put down." --Mystery Scene Magazine

"A charming cross between a Regency romance and a well-constructed detective story with a surprising denouement." --Kirkus Reviews on Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder

"Utterly engrossing." --Historical Novel Society on Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder

About the Author

Catherine Lloyd is the acclaimed author of Regency-set historical mysteries, including the Kurland St. Mary Mystery series and the Miss Morton Mysteries. Born just outside London, England into a large family of dreamers, artists, and history lovers, she holds a master's degree in history from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. She currently lives with her family in the UK and can be found online at Catherine-Lloyd.com.