Book Review: The Pocket

 

The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives by Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux is a well-sourced yet highly readable survey of the 240+ year history of detached pockets.

This book is lavishly illustrated with color photographs of original pockets, supplemented by contemporary depictions of pockets in use, primarily paintings and engravings, to a total of 161 images. The book's 214 pages are divided thematically into seven chapters (plus introduction and conclusion), investigating not only the construction and use of pockets, but also the social, economic, and sentimental implications of pockets throughout the period. There are a further 40 pages of notes and indexes, including a list by decade of all the court cases at the Old Bailey in which pockets are mentioned; original pockets included in the work are also listed by museum for easier research. The examples and sources are largely British. 

There are no diagrams or instructions for replicating period pockets, but the many photographs offer ready inspiration for material, style and decoration; a fair number of close-ups are included, highlighting old repairs and interesting construction details.

I found this book very interesting. The thematic arrangement and lively writing style made for an enjoyable read. The non-chronological narrative makes feel less like a reference book, though the extensive endnotes and works cited offer a good start for further research. Judicious use of sticky-notes might also be in order for someone interested in a particular subset of the book's timespan. It seems like the late 18th into the early 19th century has the most material featured, but considering the paucity of early sources in general and the waning popularity of the garment on the other end of the period, I think the authors make a good attempt at including the whole timespan c.1660-1900.

Stars: 5

Accuracy: High

Strongest Impression: Informative and highly enjoyable. It's already added nuance to my understanding of pockets during my main time period (1855-1865)