Charles Dickens' favorite daughter : the life, loves, and art of Katey Dickens Perugini
(Book)

Art historian Hawksley, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, provides an in-depth view of Dickens' eldest daughter, Katherine, known as Katey, who was an accomplished painter and actress and a woman ahead of her time. Although her parents suffered regular bouts of depression and erratic mood swings, theirs was a famous household where celebrities visited and parties were routinely held. As a young woman, Katey nursed a dying husband, Charles Collins, for almost a decade when the only treatment available was opiates, despite her own illnesses mental and physical, which were exacerbated by cold, miserable weather. Though seemingly afflicted by seasonal affective disorder and repeated periods of depression, Katey lived to 90, becoming a celebrated socialite and artist. This thorough examination of her life and artistic achievements helps establish her place in British art history and includes a detailed family tree. With its blend of scholarship, biography, and art analysis, Hawksley's latest book will find a niche in art collections and should see strong crossover traffic from fans of British literature.--Scott, Whitney Copyright 2009 Booklist

From 1877, when Kate Perugini was accepted to exhibit at the Royal Academy of London, to 1893, when she exhibited a total of nine paintings at several prestigious venues, Kate achieved recognition as a respected and successful artist. Today, however, she is largely unknown outside of the realm of ardent Charles Dickens admirers and art history students. One of Hawksley's (Lizzie Siddal: Face of the Pre-Raphaelites) goals with this biography is to "bring Kate into--her recognized place in the history of British art." Unfortunately, Hawksley here devotes as much space to Kate's father, famed novelist Charles Dickens, as to Kate. That said, it is certainly understandable: Hawksley is herself a Dickens descendant. Because Kate destroyed many of her personal letters and documents, Hawksley's informal narrative relies heavily on the letters of family members and friends, and these sources allow her to present Kate sympathetically as an intelligent woman, a gifted artist, and a dutiful daughter and wife. All the while, her interest in the entire Dickens family and her unique perspective on that family are apparent. The inclusion of references would have been a valuable addition. Recommended for public libraries.--Kathryn R. Bartelt, Univ. of Evansville Libs., IN (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Art historian Hawksley, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, provides an in-depth view of Dickens' eldest daughter, Katherine, known as "Katey," who was an accomplished painter and actress and a woman ahead of her time. Although her parents suffered "regular bouts of depression and erratic mood swings," theirs was a famous household where celebrities visited and parties were routinely held. As a young woman, Katey nursed a dying husband, Charles Collins, for almost a decade when the only treatment available was opiates, despite her own illnesses mental and physical, which were exacerbated by cold, miserable weather. Though seemingly afflicted by seasonal affective disorder and repeated periods of depression, Katey lived to 90, becoming a celebrated socialite and artist. This thorough examination of her life and artistic achievements helps establish her place in British art history and includes a detailed family tree. With its blend of scholarship, biography, and art analysis, Hawksley's latest book will find a niche in art collections and should see strong crossover traffic from fans of British literature. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.

From 1877, when Kate Perugini was accepted to exhibit at the Royal Academy of London, to 1893, when she exhibited a total of nine paintings at several prestigious venues, Kate achieved recognition as a respected and successful artist. Today, however, she is largely unknown outside of the realm of ardent Charles Dickens admirers and art history students. One of Hawksley's (Lizzie Siddal: Face of the Pre-Raphaelites ) goals with this biography is to "bring Kate into…her recognized place in the history of British art." Unfortunately, Hawksley here devotes as much space to Kate's father, famed novelist Charles Dickens, as to Kate. That said, it is certainly understandable: Hawksley is herself a Dickens descendant. Because Kate destroyed many of her personal letters and documents, Hawksley's informal narrative relies heavily on the letters of family members and friends, and these sources allow her to present Kate sympathetically as an intelligent woman, a gifted artist, and a dutiful daughter and wife. All the while, her interest in the entire Dickens family and her unique perspective on that family are apparent. The inclusion of references would have been a valuable addition. Recommended for public libraries.—Kathryn R. Bartelt, Univ. of Evansville Libs., IN