BELIEVE it or not, the Daily Mirror began life as "the first daily newspaper in the world produced for and by gentlewomen".

That was back in 1903, and the editor's room was later described as being like a woman's boudoir, with dainty wall mirrors, chintz curtains and Queen Anne chairs.

This ambitious publishing venture was clearly ahead of its time - ahead even of votes for women - and it proved "an unmitigated disaster" in the words of its founder Alfred Harmsworth.

"Women can't write and don't want to read," he unjustifiably concluded in those pre-PC days.

Nevertheless, he resolved to do something with the title. The Daily Mirror was placed in the hands of Hamilton Fyfe, the small army of female journalists was replaced and suddenly "pipe smoke and cynical laughter" filled the editor's room.

So began the story of the newspaper that became The Mirror that we know today. Its birth is the starting point for Chris Horrie's "Tabloid Nation".

It tells the stories of the colourful characters that were behind the growth of the Daily Mirror - and goes on to examine the current state of tabloid national newspapers.

It's all very readable - even if you are not a media studies student.

Tabloid Nation by Chris Horrie (Published by Andre Deutsch, £17.99)