Vintage Jewelry Resource Book With A Twist - Madeleine Albright's Pins

Yesterday's blog discussed the fabulous exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design for Madeleine Albright's wonderful collection of brooches and pins. As mentioned in the blog post, Ms. Albright also has a new book out called Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box which also gives a look at the 200 brooches as well as outlining the stories behind them.

I am always interested in new books which deal with vintage jewelry, so I was particularly interested in this book, since so many of her brooches are vintage.

The book is a fascinating story and discussion about how one woman's personal jewelry collection was used to make diplomatic history. The book explores the use of the brooch as a means of personal expression, and in the case of Ms. Albright, as a diplomatic expression. It features galleries of stunning photographs of the jewelry and gives new insight into the personality of Secretary Albright, who was secretary of state during the Clinton administration.

I found this exerpt from the book particularly charming:

Before long, and without intending it, I found that jewelry had become part of my personal diplomatic arsenal. Former president George H. W. Bush had been known for saying "Read my lips." I began urging colleagues and reporters to "Read my pins."

Madeleine Albright is currently hosting a series of book signing events and discussions of her book around the country. She will be at Barnes and Noble book store in Bethseda, MD this Saturday, October 3 to discuss and sign the book. The Cambridge, MA Harvard Book store is also hosting a unique luncheon with Ms. Albright on Friday, October 2 (tickets only - $90), discussion and book signing. (A complimentary copy of the book is included with your ticket.)

Be sure to check your local media outlets for more events like this. Her exhibition at MAD in NY will be going on until January 31, 2010, so I expect there to be many more book signings and events like the luncheon.

Read my pins features more than 200 photographs as well as lively stories about jewelry, global politics, and the career of one of the world's most respected and fascinating public servants and diplomats. It is available at leading book retailers and many online book websites, including Amazon.com.