It: A History of Human BeautyIf Cleopatra's nose had been half an inch longer, neither Caesar nor Mark Antony would have fallen in love with her. It: A History of Human Beauty treats outstanding physical attractiveness as a quality or possession, comparable to power, intelligence, strength, wealth, education or family, that had a marked effect on history. Beauty in men and women opened opportunities to its possessors not available to the ordinary looking or ugly. While in the past women have had to use the lure of sex to achieve power or wealth, epitomised by royal mistresses or the Grandes Horizontales of the nineteenth century, modern film stars (male and female) can acquire great wealth simply by the use of their images, while attractiveness on television is an essential modern qualification for power, as shown by Ronald Reagan and Tony Blair. |
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actress Agnolo Firenzuola American Presidents Arthur Marwick artists beautiful women became Biography blonde body born career Catherine celebrity certainly Charles charm choice contemporary conventions Cora Pearl courtesan culture daughter David Diary dress Ellen Terry evaluation of beauty eyes face famous fashion favours female beauty figure film France French girl good-looking Grandes Horizontales hair handsome Henry History human beauty Ibid important Jean Shrimpton Julie de Lespinasse lady later Lillie Langtry Lincoln living Lola Montez London looks Louis lover lust Madame male Marie Duplessis Marilyn Monroe marriage married Marwick Mary Mata Hari mistress Napoleon Nell Gwyn nineteenth century nose painting Paris personal appearance photographs physical attractiveness physical beauty plain political portraits prostitute qualities Queen recognised Rubens Sarah Sarah Bernhardt servants sex appeal sexual Sixties slim social society stars status success talent television tion Twiggy ugly Veronica Franco wife woman York young