E.L.: The Bread Box Papers : The High Life of a Dazzling Victorian Lady/a Biography of Elizabeth Chapman Lawrence (Hardcover)

~ Helen Hartman Gemmill (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Once described as "the most popular American woman that ever was in England", the letters of Elizabeth Chapman Lawrence simply signed "E.L."- bring a lively, witty perspective to the people and events of the Victorian era. From dancing with Prince Albert to dining at the White House, from reminiscing with Gen. McClellan to gossiping about Empress Eugenie-all was duly recorded in the spritely missives sent by diplomatic pouch to Mama. A thoroughly enjoyable and well-researched biography, "E.L." brings to life again a captivating lady who will charm readers today as easily as she charmed her contemporaries more than a century ago.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tower Hill Press (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941668029
• ISBN-13: 978-0941668026
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,571,919 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, May 2, 2000

By	Phil Swanwick (Kingston, Ontario) - See all my reviews

I was looking on a resource on daily life in Victorian America. This seemed like the perfect find. Upon getting it home however, I was badly disappointed. Sprinkled with the dryest English wit imaginable, it is essentially the story of a regular person. Apart from her distinguished company, there is little of interest in her life. She travelled frequently, but only did the same thing in other countries as she did in her own - attended cocktail parties, operas, balets, balls and the like. It is reminiscent of the peaceful chapters in War and Peace. On and on, in droning monotone, event after tedious event is described to her somehow interested mother. It does say one thing about rich Victorians: they were boring!