In 1992, the avant-garde critic Susan Sontag surprised her peers by penning ahistorical romantic novel. The Volcano Lover is set in the royal court of 18th century Naples, where the love triangle unfolds between Emma Hamilton, her husband the British consul Sir William Hamilton, and Horatio Nelson.

Erdem’s collection for Spring Summer 2021 visits Emma Hamilton at the court of Naples. She is a character of great gumption, who started life as the daughter of a Cheshire blacksmith and rose to become a powerful political player. In the shadow of the volcano, she is a force to be reckoned with. Unrelenting in the face of adversity, she carved opportunity out of misfortune, purpose from insecurity, passion from chaos.