High Heel

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Best Fifteen Books of March 2019, Refinery29
Best Nonfiction Books of 2019, Paste Magazine

Object Lessons is a captivating series of short books that delves into the hidden lives of ordinary objects. These beautifully designed volumes explore the multifaceted nature of these objects, from their fetishization to their demonization, celebration, and outlawing. The high heel, in particular, holds a central place in the iconography of modern womanhood, symbolizing power, elegance, and femininity. However, the question remains: Are high heels truly good for us? Are they truly feminist? What does it mean for a woman (or, for that matter, a man) to choose to wear them?

High Heel is a thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between sexual identity, gender performance, and fashion. It weaves together a rich tapestry of themes, ranging from film and fairytales to foot binding and feminism. The book traverses a wide range of historical and cultural contexts, examining the high heel as a nexus of desire, struggle, sex, society, violence, and self-expression. Author Summer Brennan takes on the provocative task of examining the high heel as a means of understanding what it means to be a woman by walking in her shoes for a few hundred years.

Published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic, Object Lessons offers a thought-provoking and immersive exploration of the world of objects. Through its captivating narratives and insightful analysis, the book invites readers to reevaluate their relationship with the objects around them and to consider the deeper meanings and implications of their presence in our lives.

Weight: 172g
Dimension: 165 x 122 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501325991