Most wallpaper books are about surface design. This one looks below the surface to discover the material culture of wallpaper as it became popular in Europe and came to New France and New England. It asks important questions; Was wallpaper really only for the well-to-do? Who were the people who bought wallpaper? Who sold it? Who installed it? How much did it cost? Robert M. Kelly explores the foundations for the continuing success of wallpaper, one of the most prolific and delightful decorative materials ever invented.
"Backstory" was nominated for the annual book prize of Historic New England. It has been recommended by Print Quarterly, CHOICE (Current Reviews For Academic Libraries), Booklist (American Library Association), ARLIS (Art Libraries Societies of North America), and the Wallpaper History Society. The revised eBook edition includes 13 additional color photos.
