In Paperback
28 September 2026
The Firing
Eleanor Coade and Her Remarkable Stone
Eleanor Coade (1733-1821) was a British sculptor and businesswoman whose artificial stone was used by every leading architect of her day. Coade stone can still be found throughout London – from Bloomsbury to Buckingham Palace – across the UK, and around the world.
Eleanor wants to sculpt, but family bankruptcy forces her into work. She becomes a linen draper – a trade open to women. Trapped in the role of family provider, she finds inspiration in the statuary and stonework of Georgian London. When she buys a failing artificial stone manufactory, she hopes to transform its fortunes. But, as an unmarried woman, can she succeed in the patriarchal worlds of art and business? And what of her dreams of marriage and children?
Gripping and immersive, The Firing is a rags to riches story of talent, determination, creativity and friendship.
‘Shiban is a brilliant writer. In this dramatic treatment of Coade’s story, her meticulously researched source material is handled with considerable clarity and skill. With an Austenian flavour to the writing – deftly achieved without pretension or artifice – the reader is transported into Coade’s world of Georgian high society, dust-filled workshops, and bustling London streets. It is insightful, compelling, and at times deeply moving. Shiban’s enthusiasm for her source material, reflected in Coade’s irrepressible enthusiasm for her own craft, shines through the prose. It is an infectious enthusiasm of the very best kind, which makes for a thoroughly compelling – and highly recommended – read.’
John Foster, BBC Antiques Roadshow Expert