Wednesday 16 April 2014


This isn't the kind of book I'd buy - certainly not at £25 - but I saw it in the library and was seduced by the lovely pictures.
But, heavens, I found Emma Bridgewater's writing so annoying.
I'm as big a sucker as anybody else for all that aspirational stuff about life in the country with chickens and a dresser of enviable china - even though I know that I'd run a mile if a chicken cocked its eye at me. But it's a seductive image and, like every woman I know, I've bought into it.
Now I think of it, every kitchen where I'm on tea-drinking terms has some of her mugs/bowls/butter dishes ...
It's a brand. You shop at Waitrose. You buy Emma Bridgewater.
I'd have been interested in knowing a bit more about how she built such a successful business.
But there's a cliquey-ness about this book. It's rambling and unstructured. It's like being at a party where everybody else is on first name terms - and you're the glassy-eyed with boredom person who doesn't know who they're talking about. And the author hasn't the good manners to make introductions.
It's a bit like reading the Daily Mail sidebar of shame, only with a posher cast. (Kim, Cheyenne, Dita ... no, I haven't got a clue either.)
And it's put me right off my butter dish with the blue stars.
Which I don't suppose was the intention.

12 comments:

Magic Bean said...

Oh no! You can't be put off your own butter dish, it might make your sarnies taste funny. Forget all writings in the book and take it straight back to the library. Now. Ax

Lucille said...

I have formed a similar impression from interviews with her. Did she mention Sarah, Adam, Hugh and Monty?

mary said...

It's shoved in a corner and I never bother using it, Magic Bean. One more thing to wash up!

Good for you, Sue! I liked the old patterns much more than anything they do now, it's gone very mass-produced. Cornishware is much nicer!

mary said...

I think she probably did, Lucille. For some reason, it was a character called Desmond who caused me most irritation - who the hell was he?
I'm afraid the whole caboodle of them brought out the worst in me!

Lucille said...

A Daily Mail article mentions a cousin Desmond.
She comes from a very large and complicated family.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous post ! I succumbed only last Friday to my first purchase.

mary said...

Too large and complicated for me, Lucille.

Enjoy your new mug, Anonymous!

Sue said...

Mary, I want to thank you for saving me £25.But,on the other hand I do still love my EB stuff(and I have too much, by far).Xsue

Cosy Books said...

Last month, R and I were looking for Roast Chicken crisps at a british sweet shop. A note of recognition was uttered when I spied Emma's large polka dot teapot on a shelf. My lovely husband asked me if I would like him to buy it (can only imagine he's desperate for Brownie points). 'Go on, take a look at the price tag' I told him. It was $100 but the look on his face was priceless. Just the crisps it is!

mary said...

It's one to get out of the library, Sue, not a keeper.

Never mind, Darlene, that $100 is better in your holiday fund.

Sally - My Custard Pie said...

Feeling slightly embarrassed by my Emma Bridgewater Union Jack tea pot now - sort of Daily Mail meets the Telegraph. Have just subscribed to your RSS feed - need to read more of your entertaining thoughts :)

mary said...

Nice to meet you, Sally! And please don't stop enjoying your teapot just because the book got up my nose!