COVENT GARDEN: IMAGES FROM FRUIT VEGETABLE AND FLOWER MARKETS

For all those whose image of London's Covent Garden is that of Eliza Doolittle selling flowers, this book will be a revelation. Photographer Boursnell spent six years taking these photos of the produce and flower markets until their closure in 1974, to be replaced by trendy, anonymous boutiques. Looking at these pictures one sees a way of life that lasted for generations. Boursell includes lovely photos of the artistically arranged produce and the many buildings that made up Covent Garden but the real treasure of this book is the myriad of faces of the people who worked there, hauling, selling, delivering and cleaning up, along with the shoppers from every walk of life. This lovely, nostalgic collection is a treat for anyone who visited Covent Garden in the old days and for all those who never had the chance to. Distributed by Perseus-PGW. Oversize 10.5x12.5". Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)