€5 off first Book Purchase of €50+ | With Code: CHAPTERSBOOKSTORE
Late in the afternoon of 16 October 1977, seventy-eight year-old Florence Broadhurst was brutally murdered. Her killer was never found. The mystery surrounding Florence's death is in keeping with the elegant artifice of her life. Born into humble surrounds in rural Australia Florence soon decided Queensland was too small a stage. Assuming the name Bobby Broadhurst, she sang and danced her way through China before setting up a performing arts academy in Shanghai. After a brief return home she set sail again, this time for London where she married and opened a fashion salon on Bond Street, now going by the name Madame Pellier. A great deal of mystery surrounds this first husband. Was he a Pakistani business man or English gentry, or both? There are certainly photos of Florence travelling by camel across deserts, then there are the images of her taking tea with a then young Queen Mother Regardless of who he was, somewhere along the way Percy Kahn was shed and replaced by Leonard Lloyd-Lewis, and in 1949 the couple and their young son Robert returned to Australia. This time Broadhurst claimed to be an English woman escaping post-war London for the sunshine of the promised land'.
Florence had a good eye for colour and design and in 1959 she drew on memories of images she had gathered from her travels through Asia and Europe - butterflies, bamboo, filigree, arabesques and English floral - to create Australian (Hand Printed) Wallpapers. Florence's charms and skill as a consummate self-promoter soon saw her infiltrating Sydney's social set and building an impressive clientele, ranging from Lady McMahon and literary agent Jill Hickson to Qantas and Estee Lauder Cosmetics. By the time of her death Florence Broadhurst was a very successful socialite - and a wealthy woman. Was it one of these factors that lead to her untimely death? Perhaps son Robert could answer many of these questions, but he rarely speaks to the public - and only through written questions. Having been left to languish for several years after her death, Florence's genius is now undergoing a major revival. Her designs are being reprinted in limited editions and to have an original Broadhurst' is the height of designer chic. Yet who was this at times generous, at times ferociously autocratic and always evasive woman? Like her bold designs Florence was a study in contrasts.
Here for the first time we get to glimpse at the woman behind the hand-printed brocades.
Florence had a good eye for colour and design and in 1959 she drew on memories of images she had gathered from her travels through Asia and Europe - butterflies, bamboo, filigree, arabesques and English floral - to create Australian (Hand Printed) Wallpapers. Florence's charms and skill as a consummate self-promoter soon saw her infiltrating Sydney's social set and building an impressive clientele, ranging from Lady McMahon and literary agent Jill Hickson to Qantas and Estee Lauder Cosmetics. By the time of her death Florence Broadhurst was a very successful socialite - and a wealthy woman. Was it one of these factors that lead to her untimely death? Perhaps son Robert could answer many of these questions, but he rarely speaks to the public - and only through written questions. Having been left to languish for several years after her death, Florence's genius is now undergoing a major revival. Her designs are being reprinted in limited editions and to have an original Broadhurst' is the height of designer chic. Yet who was this at times generous, at times ferociously autocratic and always evasive woman? Like her bold designs Florence was a study in contrasts.
Here for the first time we get to glimpse at the woman behind the hand-printed brocades.
- Publisher Name:Allen & Unwin
- Product Format:Paperback
- ISBN: XG81741143980
- Author:O'brien, Siobhan
- Publication Date:2004-11-01
Refund Policy
If you are not satisfied with your order in any way, get in touch. We have an excellent customer service record and we will do our best to ensure you are pleased with your purchase.
📄 Exercise Your Right of Withdrawal
Under EU consumer law, you have the right to withdraw from your purchase within 14 days of receiving your order, without giving a reason. To formally exercise this right, use the button below. This is a distinct function separate from our general returns process.
Your right to cancel
If you order online, you have the right to cancel your order within 14 days of receiving your goods, without giving a reason. This cooling-off period runs from the day you (or someone you nominate) receives the last item in your order. To cancel, contact us at shop@chaptersbookstore.com stating your order number and your wish to withdraw from the purchase. Once we've confirmed your cancellation, you have 14 days to send the goods back to us.
Condition of returned items
To be eligible for a refund, your item must be returned unworn, unused and unread, in its original packaging, and in the same condition you received it. You'll also need your receipt or proof of purchase. If your return is based on the item's condition on arrival, please include a photo so we can advise the best resolution.
Faulty or damaged items
Please inspect your order on arrival and contact us immediately if an item is defective, damaged, or not what you ordered. Separately from the 14-day cancellation right above, you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund on faulty goods for up to two years from purchase, under standard consumer guarantee rights.
This guarantee covers manufacturing faults only, such as printing errors, missing pages, or binding defects present at the time of purchase. It does not cover damage arising from normal use or wear, including creased spines, worn covers, marked pages or general signs of reading. If you're unsure whether an issue qualifies, send us a photo and we'll be happy to advise.
How to return
To start a return, contact us at shop@chaptersbookstore.com. If your return is accepted, we'll send you a return shipping label and instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted. If a return is due to an error on our part, we'll cover the postage cost.
Exceptions and non-returnable items
Certain items cannot be returned, including custom products, special orders, sale items and gift cards.
Trade-In Programme
If you're trading in previously owned books rather than returning a purchase, please see our separate Trade-In Programme terms, which operate independently of this policy.
Refunds
Once we've received and inspected your return, we'll let you know if the refund has been approved. If approved, you'll be refunded automatically to your original payment method. Please allow some time for your bank or card provider to process and post the refund.
Free Delivery in the Republic Of Ireland on all orders over €30. Standard Delivery Charge in Republic of Ireland of €5 for all orders below €30.
Delivery is subject to warehouse availability. Out-of-stock items will be shipped as soon as possible, upon arrival from the manufacturer/publisher. Please take shipping time into consideration.
