
The Surprising Life of Constance Spry
Sue Shephard(Author)
Pan Books (Publisher)
Published on 6. May 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-330-54422-1 (ISBN)
Description
Fascinating ... to be eagerly devoured' Clarissa Dickson-Wright
Most people today, if they have heard of her, associate Constance Spry with the cookery book bearing her name. But Connie was much, much more than the author of a bestselling cookery book. She was deeply unconventional, extremely charming and very determined; Spry's life took her from the back streets of Victorian Derby to running a hugely successful business as the florist of choice for the highest of high society, organizing the flowers for royal weddings and indeed for the Queen's coronation. She endured a violent first marriage, had a lesbian affair with a cross-dressing artist and was a pioneer for working women at a time when few women had careers. Sue Shephard tells her extraordinary story with insight, wit and flair.
'Riveting.' Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall
'Makes you fall utterly in love with its subject' New York Times Magazine
'Reveals with the greatest skill and sympathy an extraordinary person - complicated, driven, sometimes secretive but gifted and artistic to an nth degree. What a story.' Elizabeth Buchan
Most people today, if they have heard of her, associate Constance Spry with the cookery book bearing her name. But Connie was much, much more than the author of a bestselling cookery book. She was deeply unconventional, extremely charming and very determined; Spry's life took her from the back streets of Victorian Derby to running a hugely successful business as the florist of choice for the highest of high society, organizing the flowers for royal weddings and indeed for the Queen's coronation. She endured a violent first marriage, had a lesbian affair with a cross-dressing artist and was a pioneer for working women at a time when few women had careers. Sue Shephard tells her extraordinary story with insight, wit and flair.
'Riveting.' Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall
'Makes you fall utterly in love with its subject' New York Times Magazine
'Reveals with the greatest skill and sympathy an extraordinary person - complicated, driven, sometimes secretive but gifted and artistic to an nth degree. What a story.' Elizabeth Buchan
More details
Edition
Unabridged edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
463 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-330-54422-1 (9780330544221)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Sue Shephard
The Surprising Life of Constance Spry
E-Book
11/2010
Macmillan
€18.49
Available for download
Person
Sue Shephard is the author of Pickled, Potted and Canned: The Story of Food Preserving which won the Andre Simon Special Award and Seeds of Fortune. She lives in Bristol with her family.