Book review: An English Room
Sunday 10 November 2013/ http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/book-review-an-english-room-by-derry-moore-8929666.html
This collection of photographs invites readers into the
favourite rooms of some of our most beloved celebrities. Everyone has a
treasured place to read, study, work, and dream – but there’s something special
about an English room.
In this handsome volume, filled with perceptive photographs,
some of the nation’s most renowned figures share their favourite spaces and
their personal musings about Englishness and English rooms. Benedict
Cumberbatch reveals his favourite place to read a script; Jeanette Winterson
describes why she adores the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris;
actress Harriet Walter is photographed at the bottom of her stairs; and fashion
designer Paul Smith wallows in his book-lined study. Gilbert & George invite
you into their Queen Anne house, while Alan Bennett explains his rumpled
existence in Primrose Hill, north London.
Derry Moore’s discerning eye captures the essence of the
English room, whether in a country cottage, large estate, ancient chapel, or
artist studio – at home or abroad. All those with an interest in English
culture, society, design, and fashion will take pleasure in this unique view
into the private lives of some of our most public figures.
Review of An English Room by Derry Moore
Derry Moore is a world renowned portrait photographer whose
work has appeared in Men’s Vogue, Architectural Digest and whose photos appear
in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Portrait
Gallery. In An English Room he shoots a diverse group of Britain’s finest in
their favourite ever places, their personal sanctuary, the place they go to
work, read, relax and get away from it all. Through his photos he attempts to
discover what makes the essence of “An English Room”.
An English Room is a beautiful hard copy book that would
look fine on many a coffee table. Moore shoots his subjects in their choice of
room with accompanying text explaining why they love it so. Each room also gets
an additional two page spread of photographs. The photos are, as you would
imagine, superb - beautifully lit and composed making the architecture come
alive. What is particularly impressive is how he manages to imbue his photos of
the empty rooms with the personality of the person who loves them. It’s like
they’re haunting the rooms after they’ve left.
The book covers a diverse array of individuals from various
different fields. We see author Jeanette Winterson embracing the joys of book
shop Shakespeare and Company in Paris, actress Harriet Walter in her elegant
home framed by a wallpaper of trees rising high into the sky, Alan Bennett in
the room he decorated in Primrose Hill 40 years previously, Paul Smith in his
studio surrounded by art and vintage toys - a room “full of lovely things”,
Stephen Fry in his dressing room at the Apollo Theatre nesting amongst his
books and photographs and the Duchess of Northumberland in a tree house that
she has built at Alnwick Castle - festooned with fairylights and grander than
my flat.
Cumberbatchweb
Cumberbatchweb - the unofficial website for actor Benedict
Cumberbatch - star of Sherlock, Star Trek into Darkness, The Fifth Estate, The
Imitation Game & The Lost City of Z Visit us at : http://www.benedictcumberbatch.co.uk
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