Norman Hartnell: The Biography

The first full and comprehensive biography of Norman Hartnell, written with access to previously unseen sources: a portrait of the often troubled life of the Queen's dress designer who came from humble origins and dazzled Royalty, aristocracy and film stars alike. Norman Hartnell was a figure whose talent and designs were celebrated worldwide, and his status as Britain's leading twentieth-century designer was augmented by his unique position as Royal Dress Designer to three Queens and the many ladies of the Royal Family. Hartnell's decades of design accomplishments were formally recognised by Queen Elizabeth II, who made him KCVO, the first `fashion' Knight, during her Silver Jubilee of 1977. Yet, behind the facade of a glittering existence, Hartnell suffered privately from a mixture of personal misjudgements and poor management crises that plunged his House to the brink of financial ruin. Michael Pick's engaging biography charts the vicissitudes of Hartnell's life, drawing on hitherto unpublished sources. It follows the designer's humble beginnings as the son of a London publican and his meteoric rise as a British couturier steadily rivalling Paris designers.