In my Catholic childhood, I had a fascination with the stories of women who became Catholic saints, so the essay on "holy anorexia" found its perfect audience. Her piece on the way “royal bodies” are viewed and treated by the public and the media is forceful. Our current royal family doesn't have the difficulties in breeding that pandas do, but pandas and royal persons alike are expensive to conserve and ill-adapted to any modern environment The Murder of James Bulger – what does a murder and the children’s crusade have in common? The question ‘at what age are children responsible for the things they do, especially the horrific things they sometimes do’. Unfinished wood always adds a rustic quality to a room, so a chunky wooden shelf used as a mantel will instantly give your fireplace a warm feel. Add groups of woodland-inspired accessories for a cosy look – owls, squirrels and birds will all be at home here. It also makes the perfect place to show off all of your nature finds such as conkers and fir cones.

Mantel Decor Ideas and Tips from Experts 51 Fireplace Mantel Decor Ideas and Tips from Experts

My favourites essays were the brilliant Royal Bodies, In Bed with Madonna and The Secrets of Margaret Pole. This 1960s bungalow has been given a Scandi-style overhaul - and the prettiest pantry we've ever seen For those suffering from Tudor withdrawal, there are pieces on Jane Boleyn, Charles Brandon, and Margaret Pole. Despite her protestations to the contrary "I am forced to be more brisk and breezy than scholarly". Mantel is no slouch in critiquing some dry sounding history books: Layers add depth to a space, which is why layering artwork on a mantelpiece works so well, creating a dimensional look. The key is to create a collection of items that while seemingly random, are actually cleverly arranged to create balance.Excellent set of essays, many covering similar historical periods as those covered in her novels, all well-written with memorable phrases and her wonderful cutting intelligence and humour. I enjoyed getting the benefit of her research on Tudor England and revolutionary France from an angle slightly different than her novels. These essays are culled from Mantel’s semi-regular contributions to the London Review of Books over a period of many years. Most are based on books she’s reviewing, chosen because they’re of interest to her for one reason or another. The story of a medium prosecuted for being a witch—in the 1940s—greatly interests Mantel, and so interested me, especially as it turns into an indictment of the type of people (gender- and class-wise) deemed guilty. For a relaxed, homely feel try creating a display with an analogous palette. Here the navy of the mantel blends beautifully with the deep plum on the chimney breast, working in conjunction with each other as they share the same base colours. The accessories on the mantel work harmoniously as they echo the two tones with the artwork and bouquet of flowers, which also mirror the painting above the mantel. Michelle Gage is the founder and creative director of Michelle Gage Interior Design, based in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Mantel Pieces: The New Book from The Sunday Times Best Mantel Pieces: The New Book from The Sunday Times Best

The mantelpiece is what makes your fireplace stand out. Shop our range and create the perfect look for you. Groups of 3 or 5 items usually work better than even numbers, but do use your eye to see what configuration works best. Choose items that tie together, either in theme or colour, and have varying heights. A scattered arrangement that creates layers to add depth will look more interesting than straight lines. In her essay on Britain's Last Witch, she describes the life of Helen Duncan, a psychic imprisoned in Royal Holloway for divulging state secrets from The Other Side.⠀ Marie Antoinette as a royal consort was a gliding, smiling disaster, much like Diana in another time and another country. But Kate Middleton, as she was, appeared to have been designed by a committee and built by craftsmen, with a perfect plastic smile and the spindles of her limbs hand-turned and gloss-varnished. I am a big fan of Mantel's writing, although as a writer I am constantly depressed by her with the ever present thought of "how does she write so brilliantly" coupled with the knowledge I won't write anything as good. I think this book is really for the hard core fans rather than just anyone who likes her Wolf Hall trilogy or other works. It consists on selected writing from the London Review of books which she is a frequent reviewer for - including her essay Royal Bodies which caused quite a stir a few years ago, (although for those of a calmer disposition with relation to anything to do with royalty it is hard to see why).We specialise in selling beautifully crafted, high quality oak fireplace mantels and fireplace surrounds. High Quality Solid Oak Fireplace Mantels to Buy Online Her awareness of her own body makes her acutely aware of others, as when she considers the ill health of Henry VIII. "Historians &, I'm afraid, doctors, underestimate what chronic pain can do to sour the temper & wear away both the personality and the intellect."⠀