Book Review: Parker Duofold

David Shepherd & Dan Zazove. Parker Duofold. Surrenden Pens Limited, 2006. 362 pages. $80.00.
Reviewed by Sharon Hardwick, Copywriter, Classic Fountain Pens
With no definitive body of work out there, the history of the Parker Duofold has, until now, been relegated to individual pen enthusiast webpages and information exchange at pen shows. David Shepherd and Dan Zazove are Parker aficionado's (Shepherd wrote Parker "51" and Dan lectures extensively on the subject) so it is no surprise they were approached by the Parker Pen Company to write authoritatively on the Duofold. The collaboration between this expert threesome produced a thick, image-centric collection one expects to find on the shelves of Barnes & Noble.

The preeminent status of the Parker Pen Company within today's global fountain pen market is asserted at the beginning of the book. There is no mistaking what the authors are trying to say with a full page publicity shot of The Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher using a Parker fountain pen. This glossy photograph of England's former PM at Parker's centenary celebrations at Newhaven, England (1988) sets the tone for this book: a wealth of Duofold information presented within its social context alongside colorful eye-catching images.

It helps to have an interest in the idiosyncrasies of human nature, perhaps more than an interest in fountain pens, before picking up Parker Duofold. This book is not just for Duofold geeks or Parker fountain pen lovers. Full of interesting historical factoids related and unrelated to the Duofold, and morsels of psychological insight into the rollercoaster of success, Parker Duofold combines fountain pen science, history and human interest. (George S Parker referred to himself not as businessman or salesman but as "the writer").
Shepherd and Zazove seem to have relished in all the information they uncovered during their research. Family drama, company intrigue, and one-of-a-kind invention are respectfully expressed here.

The enormous amount of Parker Duofold information is managed in eight topical chapters: "History", "Duofold 1921-35", "Design", "Parker & Company", "Marketing" (in this chapter US and UK timelines are featured. My favorite discovery: "1922 - Women swooned over Rudolf Valentino"), "England 1941-63", "Late Duofold Part 1" and "Late Duofold Part 2". The information never feels overwhelming however. Large black-and-red text sits adjacent to engaging personal photographs, vibrant Duofold images and extracts from Kenneth Parker's journal. More than anything it seems the authors want to present the Parker Pen Company as an active participant in the US and UK's popular culture and so in the fountain pen markets.

There is so much information that it must have been difficult to put Parker Duofold into seamless chronological order. I got a little confused while reading the "Design" chapter. I had just finished "Duofold 1921-35" yet the design of the Duofold required the authors go back in time to explain invention, color, material and manufacturing technology. This break in chronology is the only minor flaw, in my opinion.

Making history vibrant and active is difficult to accomplish on paper. Shepherd and Zazove do a wonderful job at creating a work of pulsing history. Like a good television soap opera Parker Duofold can be picked up mid-chapter. Almost every page is complete in its ability to hold the reader's attention.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is inspired by a great rags-to-riches story. Shepherd and Zazove took the philosophy espoused by George S. Parker to heart when putting this book together: "Make something better and people will buy it". Whether driven by the bottom-line, or not, the authors have brought the Duofold into popular culture. If George S. Parker were still alive, I imagine he would think that a very good thing indeed.