The Quality of Love: Twin Sisters at the Heart of the Century

When her mother Celia Paget died, Ariane Bankes inherited a battered trunk stuffed with letters and diaries belonging to Celia and her twin Mamaine. The Quality of Love weaves the story of these captivating and unusually beautiful identical twins who overcame a meagre education to take 1930s London society by storm and move among Europes foremost intellectuals during the twentieth century's most dramatic decades.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Publisher: Duckworth Books

When her mother, Celia Paget, passed away, Ariane Bankes inherited a battered trunk filled with letters and diaries belonging to Celia and her twin, Mamaine. This correspondence chronicled the remarkable lives of the Paget sisters and their friends and lovers, including Arthur Koestler, Albert Camus, Sartre, and de Beauvoir, as well as George Orwell.

From this vast archive, The Quality of Love weaves the story of these captivating and unusually beautiful identical twins who overcame a meager education to take 1930s London society by storm and move among Europe's foremost intellectuals during the most dramatic decades of the twentieth century. Above all, it is a sparkling portrait of the deep connection between two spirited sisters.

Celia and Mamaine Paget were born in 1904 in London, England. Despite their privileged upbringing, they were both determined to make their own way in the world. Celia was a talented artist, while Mamaine was a passionate writer. They were close friends with a group of intellectuals and artists, including Arthur Koestler, Albert Camus, Sartre, and de Beauvoir, who were known for their radical ideas and political activism.

The sisters' lives took a dramatic turn when World War II broke out. Celia volunteered as a nurse in the British Red Cross, while Mamaine joined the French Resistance. They faced many challenges and dangers, but their courage and determination never wavered. They worked tirelessly to help those in need and to spread the message of peace and freedom.

After the war, the sisters returned to London and continued to live their lives to the fullest. They became involved in political activism and social causes, and they were known for their wit and intelligence. They also continued to write and paint, and their work was celebrated by critics and collectors alike.

In 1962, Celia passed away at the age of 58, but Mamaine continued to live for many years. She passed away in 1990 at the age of 86, but her legacy lives on. The Quality of Love is a testament to the remarkable lives of the Paget sisters and their friends and lovers, and it is a beautiful portrait of the deep connection between two spirited sisters.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 150 x 223 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780715654989