Wax museums demystified saints and monarchs [audio 13min @14:10]

Host Laurie Taylor talks to Kate Berridge about her new book Waxing Mythical: The Life & Legend of Madame Tussaud, published by John Murray. Exhibitions of wax effigies in 18th century Paris were the first opportunity for many members of the public to study likenesses of the monarchy and other powerful figures in detail. This set in motion the process by which royalty became regarded increasingly as 'normal' people and celebrities became the new objects of admiration. Kate Berridge describes Marie Tussaud's extraordinary life of self-promotion and explains why, in the image-saturated 21st century, waxworks still remain popular.