Against the background of Laura Ashley's life - from her birth in South Wales in 1925 to her sudden death in 1985 - Martin Wood tells the story of the iconic brand she and her husband, Bernard, created. Beginning with the textiles they designed and printed at home in their three-room flat in the 1950s, Wood looks at how, when they began designing and selling dresses, blouses and other clothes, and launched a range of household textiles and furnishings, `Laura Ashley style' became a phenomenon. The story is richly illustrated with more than 200 photographs and drawings, many never previously published, from the company's archives and the Ashley family's private records. From reviews of Nancy Lancaster 'Excellent . . . the best title on taste and design published this year' Financial Times 'Of all the books on houses and gardens . . . this one takes the cake' Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, Spectator 'A rare treat, fluently written and superbly illustrated Daily Telegraph The book as a whole is a delight and kept me interested for hours. Martin Wood is an established textile and interior designer. His books on influential figures in the history of design include Nancy Lancaster, John Fowler, Laura Ashley and Sister Parish, all published by Frances Lincoln.