Little Willy Clarkson
The Most Famous Wigmaker in the World and Arsonist
Seiten
2027
Amberley Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-3981-2847-7 (ISBN)
Amberley Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-3981-2847-7 (ISBN)
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He amused Queen Victoria, he disguised Britain's spymaster, he helped the snipers in the trenches and nearly bankrupted the Boy Scouts. He was also the firebug of Covent Garden. Oh - and he was accused of being Jack the Ripper.
Little Willy Carson left school in 1873 at the age of 12 to work in his father's struggling wigmaking company. Two years later he entered the dressing room of the notoriously diva-like Adelina Patti in Covent Garden, the most famous opera singer in the world. “You,” she shrieked, “and who are you?”
“I am little Willy Clarkson,” “And please, what are you here to do?” “Your hair.”
By the 1920s, he owned the Duchess Theatre in London and his company had over 100 employees and 50,000 costumes in stock. He was a friend of Lily Langtry, Marie Lloyd and Dame Nellie Melba. Everyone in the theatre world knew Little Willy. So did royalty. He made wigs and costumes for Queen Victoria’s amateur dramatics, for all the great actors, for military tournaments. Willy was a well-known sight around Covent Garden with his fluttering eyelashes and his rouged cheeks, a regular at the trendiest bars and restaurants.
But there was a darker side to this gay pioneer. After his death - a suspicious one - Lloyds underwriters filed suits against his estate for fraudulent fire insurance claims, and won. During the trial, it emerged that six other fires and one gas explosion had been reported by Clarkson at his premises in 1895, 1898, 1901, 1910, 1915, 1918 and 1924. What a life.
Little Willy Carson left school in 1873 at the age of 12 to work in his father's struggling wigmaking company. Two years later he entered the dressing room of the notoriously diva-like Adelina Patti in Covent Garden, the most famous opera singer in the world. “You,” she shrieked, “and who are you?”
“I am little Willy Clarkson,” “And please, what are you here to do?” “Your hair.”
By the 1920s, he owned the Duchess Theatre in London and his company had over 100 employees and 50,000 costumes in stock. He was a friend of Lily Langtry, Marie Lloyd and Dame Nellie Melba. Everyone in the theatre world knew Little Willy. So did royalty. He made wigs and costumes for Queen Victoria’s amateur dramatics, for all the great actors, for military tournaments. Willy was a well-known sight around Covent Garden with his fluttering eyelashes and his rouged cheeks, a regular at the trendiest bars and restaurants.
But there was a darker side to this gay pioneer. After his death - a suspicious one - Lloyds underwriters filed suits against his estate for fraudulent fire insurance claims, and won. During the trial, it emerged that six other fires and one gas explosion had been reported by Clarkson at his premises in 1895, 1898, 1901, 1910, 1915, 1918 and 1924. What a life.
Barbara Jeffery is a journalist who has written many features for the national press, including travel essays for the Guardian and Financial Times. She is the author of 'Chancers', the story of Monty Newton and Rodolphe Lemoine, and has spent several years unearthing the extraordinary story of Willy Clarkson.
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 15.3.2027 |
|---|---|
| Zusatzinfo | 8 Illustrations |
| Verlagsort | Chalford |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 156 x 234 mm |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte |
| Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Neuzeit (bis 1918) | |
| ISBN-10 | 1-3981-2847-3 / 1398128473 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-3981-2847-7 / 9781398128477 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
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Buch | Hardcover (2024)
C.H.Beck (Verlag)
CHF 47,60
