About the Author

Paul Fussell is the author of, among other works, Class and The Great War and Modern Memory, which won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award and was named by the Modern Library as one of the twentieth century's one hundred best nonfiction books. He lives in Philadelphia.

Reviews

"Full of pugnacious observations and intellectual insights . . . Paul Fussell is back, and he's feisty as ever." --Rebecca Denton Bookpage "Fussell's funny, touching insights spring from an unmistakable compassion for people's need to feel 'the comfort and vanity of belonging.'" Publishers Weekly "I love a man in uniform! . . . Fussell embroiders on why we are what we wear." --Elissa Schappell Vanity Fair "Fussell turns his sharp eye and even sharper wit to the standardized dress..." --Time Out New York "...very smart, very funny..." --Malcolm Jones Newsweek "Perfect holiday gift for anyone who wears clothes -- and one size fits all." --James A Butler The Philadelphia Inquirer --

In his cursory study of uniforms, Fussell attempts to uncover the meaning of these special, emotionally laden garments. A prolific writer, Fussell won a National Book Award for The Great War and Modern Memory, which was included on Modern Library's list of "Best 100 Nonfiction Books of the 20th Century." His latest work, however, falls short. Presenting mostly examples from the previous century, Fussell sets out to show how uniforms shape and define a person. In a chatty, informal tone, he discusses a wide range of uniforms. From Nazi military attire to "sexy" UPS garb, Fussell points out the lore and lure of these habiliments. The chapters "Blue Jeans" and "Deliverers" are more amusing and thoughtful than the rest of the work. Most chapters offer only a superficial treatment of the topic, but Fussell is a popular writer who may generate some demand. Because the book lacks both a bibliography and an index, scholars can pass. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/02.]-Donna Marie Smith, Main Lib., Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.