Britannia and Eve, 1926-1957
Formed in 1929 following a merger between Eve: The Lady’s Pictorial and Britannia (established in 1926 and 1928, respectively), Britannia and Eve was one of various “sister” titles owned by The Illustrated London News (ILN). From its formation, this new magazine marketed itself to a predominantly female readership, and especially to wealthy and conservative women. Throughout its existence, it maintained a particular emphasis on fashion, beauty, and the home, whilst also featuring contributions from some of the most influential female artists and writers of the time. This collection contains over 38,000 images from more than 360 issues of Britannia and Eve and its predecessors Eve: The Lady’s Pictorial and Britannia, published between June 1926 and January 1957.
Unlike other ILN-owned periodicals, Britannia and Eve appeared monthly and, as a result, it was considerably longer than many of its “sister” publications, with each issue often comprising more than 100 pages. Over time, it became especially well known for the artistry of its illustrations, and for its wide-ranging coverage. For example, it printed articles and stories by esteemed writer Laura Troubridge, whose famous Book of Etiquette remained, for decades, a core text for young upper-class Britons; Joanna Cannan, popular author of both children’s fiction and detective novels; and diarist, politician, and arts patron Violet Bonham Carter. Given its popularity, eclecticism, and far-reaching influence, Britannia and Eve provides critical insights into the history of fashion, gender history, and the history of British print culture.
“The spectacularising influence of the fashion world [inserted] the feminine into the public spaces of modernity.”
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Despite being the product of a merger between a women’s and a men’s lifestyle magazine, respectively, Britannia and Eve appealed mainly to a female readership. Nevertheless, male contributors featured prominently in the publication which, as a result, sheds light on the evolving roles of both women and men in British society, and the impact of women’s increasing independence on traditional understandings of gender.
Though Britannia and Eve provided detailed articles on a range of topics, including the home, lifestyle advice, and current affairs, fashion remained its primary focus. It not only kept its readers up-to-date with the latest fashion trends (including information about how much specific items cost and where one could purchase them), but it also reported on the ongoing rivalry between the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, such as Dior, Balmain, and Fath.
Britannia and Eve is particularly notable for its impressive artwork. Pauline Baynes (celebrated for her illustrations of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia), Eric Fraser (illustrator for both Radio Times and editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings), and Fortunino Matania (best known as a war artist, who also worked for both the ILN and The Sphere), are just some of the many talented artists who contributed to the magazine over the years.
Like other publications owned by the ILN, Britannia and Eve can help historians to reconstruct the experiences of Britain’s civilian population during the Second World War. For instance, whilst it reported on the latest developments in the conflict, it also provided readers with wartime lifestyle advice, reflected the increasing incorporation of women into the country’s workforce, and drew attention to the welfare of children.
As historians Cheryl Buckley and Hazel Clark argue, “women’s magazines such as Britannia and Eve were commercial enterprises that fed off [a] desire for more information about stars and their fashions”. As a result, adverts featured heavily in the magazine, and were carefully curated to appeal to a middle- and upper-class audience. Notably, the publication advertised many brands that still exist today, such as Schweppes, Boots, Rowntree’s, Kodak, and Debenhams.