Wardle Family and Its Circle

LONGLISTED for the Arnold Bennett Society Book Prize 2020 <p/> This book is a richly illustrated history of the Wardle family of Leek Staffordshire which rose to prominence in fine textile production in the second half ofthe nineteenth century. At its core is an object-centred exploration revealing how an entrepreneurial family responded to complex international factors. Beautiful dyed printed and embroidered textiles were created in Leek using traditional craft skills. Followers of the Arts and Crafts Movement and Gothic Revivalism as well as Art Needlework and Aestheticism benefited from the family enterprises that flourished despite rapid industrialisation.<br> The Wardle family's rich legacy is played out against the backdrop of the Anglo-Indian silk trade. Thomas Wardle travelled in India and integrated Indian designs into British silk production. His work attracted William Morris Walter Crane and A. L. Liberty among others and their designs printed by Wardle were internationally applauded. Elizabeth Wardle embroiderer worked with many major architects such as R. N. Shaw G. G. Scott Jnr and J. D. Sedding.Lavishly illustrated this book will be of interest to those interested in textile and fashion history and the history of the Arts and Crafts movement as well as the relationship between the British Empire and the Indian subcontinent. <p/> BRENDA M. KING is a textile historian and holds the Chair of the Textile Society. She is also a freelance lecturer in the History of Design and Museum and Heritage Studies and the author of <i>Silk and Empire</i> (2005 and 2009) and <i>Dye Print Stitch: Textiles by Thomas and Elizabeth Wardle</i> (2009).