tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post3405727009906758909..comments2024-03-29T15:04:20.549+11:00Comments on ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly: Lady Nancy Astor, Cliveden Set and nasty appeasement plansHelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-16794317661930092952020-04-04T21:37:25.433+11:002020-04-04T21:37:25.433+11:00Andrew
it seems that the closer we approach Briti...Andrew<br /><br />it seems that the closer we approach British royalty and parliament, the more difficult it is for the average reader to be clear about dodgy dealings in the inter-war era. That doesn't mean that "Nancy Astor" 1982 wasn't very well created for tv .. but it does mean that academic journal articles need to be carefully peer reviewed.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-2065614897349481222020-04-04T14:20:02.676+11:002020-04-04T14:20:02.676+11:001982 was a long time ago now and I doubt such a pr...1982 was a long time ago now and I doubt such a production in 2020 would dare to omit such information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-85928159225027454782020-03-30T13:33:40.660+11:002020-03-30T13:33:40.660+11:00mem
The First World War was such a nightmare, I c...mem<br /><br />The First World War was such a nightmare, I can imagine that thinking British people would respond with a range of responses in the interwar era - workers movements, socialism, pacifism, communism etc etc. The difference was that most organisations were explicit in their goals eg Oswald Mosley and his Fascists wore readily identifiable uniforms and symbols in their public street demonstrations.<br /><br />That was never true for the Cliveden Set. Even now, there is no certainty about their true influence on Cabinet decisions pre-WW2. Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-90847952621656510532020-03-30T11:56:27.419+11:002020-03-30T11:56:27.419+11:00Lets face it they were racist bigoted and probably...Lets face it they were racist bigoted and probably fascist but so were many of their day . It why examining history properly is so important . I am sure that some of these people would have had regrets about their attitudes just as some communists were pretty horrified and disillusioned bu the atrocities that Stalin perpetrated. Let just say that being bigoted in any direction is a dangerous path to tread .memhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05520080648914042943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-32744149782353185862020-03-29T22:19:54.410+11:002020-03-29T22:19:54.410+11:00bazza
Remember the gorgeous teen Christine Keeler...bazza<br /><br />Remember the gorgeous teen Christine Keeler? She was already among Stephen Ward’s favourite guests at his Cliveden cottage. Nancy’s son Lord William Astor also hosted summer parties at Cliveden, including John Profumo, Tory Secretary of State for War. Profumo’s passion for Keeler forced his resignation and harmed the Prime Minister. <br /><br />1961 was a different situation from that in the 1930s, but we can say that Cliveden changed British politics.. again!Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-45903691927649644722020-03-29T21:41:02.747+11:002020-03-29T21:41:02.747+11:00Isn't it ironic that the Cliveden set behaved ...Isn't it ironic that the Cliveden set behaved in exactly the way that they accused Jewish 'cabals' of behaving? That is to say, manipulating governments and media.<br />I have visited Cliveden, now a hotel, on business. It is more famous in the UK as the place where John Profumo met Christine Keeler.<br /><b><a href="http://todiscoverice.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> CLICK HERE for Bazza’s righteously rebarbative Blog ‘To Discover Ice’</a></b>bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794010156639774028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-24468280855587287332020-03-29T10:46:22.552+11:002020-03-29T10:46:22.552+11:00Hilary
thanks for the link to Two Temple Place on...Hilary<br /><br />thanks for the link to Two Temple Place on your blog and on Spitalfields Life. Two Temple Place/aka Astor House must have been glorious back in the day, but after the older Astor’s death in 1919, it was rented out to any commercial enterprise. We are therefore very lucky that it was preserved properly and opened by the Bulldog Trust just this decade.<br /><br />https://positiveletters.blogspot.com/2013/05/amongst-heroes-artist-in-working.html<br />https://spitalfieldslife.com/2017/12/22/at-two-temple-place-x/Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-36340988272708852832020-03-29T01:12:00.592+11:002020-03-29T01:12:00.592+11:00Hi Hels - it's an area of history I know littl...Hi Hels - it's an area of history I know little about ... so this has opened my eyes a little - lots to get to grips with though.<br /><br />I know of Waldorf Astor's office on the Thames - Two Temple Place ... a truly magnificent place - beautiful woodwork, interiors, including stunning glass windows by Clayton + Bell ... when there's an exhibition on I take the opportunity of visiting - I just love the interiors. Initially I went for a Cornish artists' exhibition: Cornish Heroes ... sadly I missed the first one - on William Morris - they are usually free ... so love that! I written up about the house and the Cornish exhibition ... <br /><br />Thanks for another informative post - showing me how little I know about that period of our history ... cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-64737861024149075092020-03-28T23:23:45.645+11:002020-03-28T23:23:45.645+11:00Parnassus
the British believed that being wealthy...Parnassus<br /><br />the British believed that being wealthy, belonging to the aristocracy, living in beautiful city and country estates, and being guided by Christian duty were the ultimate responsibilities in life. The fact that Cliveden House was one of the most beautiful stately homes in the country only confirmed the family's importance and their guests' importance. <br /><br />But that importance did not exclude racism, anti-Semitism, pro-Fascism, anti-Catholicism etc. In fact the opposite! It was not a coincidence that Oswald Mosley, Charles Lindbergh, Lord Lothian and others were warmly welcomed at Cliveden.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-29897525998201316312020-03-28T22:32:48.353+11:002020-03-28T22:32:48.353+11:00Hello Hels, The British certainly did find out wh...Hello Hels, The British certainly did find out what kind of friends their pals the Nazi Germans turned out to be. And all of these machinations were based on hatred, not real political or economic interest.<br /><br />A big conflict for architecture buffs like me is that many magnificent houses are built or inhabited by the worst kind of so-and-so's, like the novels and music that are similarly marred. <br />--Jim Parnassushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958901307538141468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-30577058898750399142020-03-28T20:26:55.886+11:002020-03-28T20:26:55.886+11:00Deb
her achievement being the first woman ever to...Deb<br /><br />her achievement being the first woman ever to sit in Parliament, and for holding her seat for decades, can not be underestimated. She was a really important role model for other women who joined her in Parliament in the 1920s.<br /><br />But what we read after the British victory in WW2 jumped straight from 1919, totally omitting those horrible years of negotiating with the Germans, lobbying British cabinet members re appeasement and writing editorials in influential British newspapers. <br /><br />Mind you, lots of politicians and royals have had their alcoholism or sexual adventurism hermetically sealed from the public by newspapers and tv.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-39507481899995617242020-03-28T20:06:30.578+11:002020-03-28T20:06:30.578+11:00Andrew
Yes, I do know that series: "Nancy As...Andrew<br /><br />Yes, I do know that series: "Nancy Astor" (1982) produced by the BBC. The era was beautifully recreated, showing that the Astors were very lavish with their wealth, giving homes, land and money to Plymouth. Plus they well-spoken, hospitable, well dressed and politically astute.<br /><br />Yet with all the contemporary writing about the Cliveden Set before WW2 started, how could the British tv industry not be more honest about Nancy Astor and her closest colleagues? Fear of legal consequences?Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-41497758477868954922020-03-28T15:49:09.236+11:002020-03-28T15:49:09.236+11:00I am surprised. Everything written about Nancy Ast...I am surprised. Everything written about Nancy Astor raved about her successful political career, generous hospitality and feisty behaviour. Not about her racist politics.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-11781243441767501822020-03-28T15:02:17.056+11:002020-03-28T15:02:17.056+11:00I will opt for the latter, an influential right wi...I will opt for the latter, an influential right wing think tank. Thank goodness for people like Cockburn and his like. There was a lavish 1980s tv series featuring her and I don't remember any of this bad stuff you mention. Sanitised or defective memory. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com