British Blonde: Women, Desire and the Image in Post-War Britain

A vivid account of the atmosphere and culture of postwar Britain, explored through the image of the British Blonde

In the 1950s, American glamour swept into a war—torn Britain as part of a broader transatlantic exchange of culture and commodities. But in this process, the American ideal of the blonde became uniquely British—Marilyn Monroe transformed into Diana Dors.

British Blonde examines postwar Britain through the changing ideals of femininity that reflected the nation’s evolving conce...