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A A Gill

Andrew Swanston read law at Cambridge, but was inspired to write by his lifelong interest in early modern history. His Thomas Hill novels – The King’s Spy, The King’s Exile and The King’s Return – are set against the backdrops of the English Civil War, Cromwell’s Commonwealth and the early Restoration respectively. He is also the author of Waterloo: The Bravest Man and Beautiful Star and Other Stories. His first historical thriller set during the reign of Elizabeth I – Incendium (published in paperback as The Incendium Plot) – introduced readers to the academic, lawyer and intelligencer Dr Christopher Radcliff, whose adventures continue in Chaos. Andrew Swanston lives in Surrey.

A D Swanston

A E Langsford

A G Hopkins

A. J. BAIME is the New York Times best-selling author of The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War and Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans. Both books are in development for major motion pictures. Baime is a longtime regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Popular Science, and Men’s Journal. He lives in Granite Bay, California. Visit him at facebook.com/ajbaime and trumanbook.com.

A J Baime

A J Jacobs

A J P Taylor

Anthony James Pollard is a British medieval historian, specialising in the fifteenth century and in particular the Wars of the Roses. A leading authority in the field, he is profesor emeritus of Teesside University. His books include North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses, Richard III and the Princes in theTower, Imagining Robin Hood: the Late Medieval Stories in Historical Context and Warwick the kingmaker: Politics, Power and Fame.

A J Pollard

A J Rochester

A K Benjamin is a clinical neuropsychologist and the author of Let Me Not Be Mad: A Story of Unravelling Minds.

A K Benjamin

A. L. Berridge read English at Oxford, and taught for ten years before moving into television, where her production credits range from period drama and thrillers to long-running soaps. She has written two previous novels, Top Ten besteller Honour and the Sword and In the Name of the King. Into the Valley of Death is her third novel.

A L Berridge

Alison Gaylin's first job was as a reporter for a celebrity tabloid, which sparked a lifelong interest in writing about people committing despicable acts. More than a decade later, she wrote and published her Edgar-nominated first novel, HIDE YOUR EYES. 
 
She's since published nine more books, including the USA Today and international bestselling Brenna Spector suspense series, which has been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Thriller awards and won the Shamus award. 
 
She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughter, cat and dog.

A L Gaylin

A Maxwell-Hyslop

A McArthur

A P Wavell

A.S. Webb is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of Chaos, the first instalment of The Dark Pantheon Trilogy. She is inspired by stories rooted in history and mythology, that push the boundaries of imagination and urge us to reflect on what it means to be human.

A S Webb

A. A. Dhand is the author of six previous novels, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger Award. His DI Harry Virdee novels are currently being adapted for TV by the BBC. He was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired all his novels. For more information about A. A. Dhand and his books, follow him on X @aadhand, and on Instagram @aa_dhand.

A. A. Dhand

A. A. Gill

A. A. Milne

A. Anatoli

A. B. Poranek grew up sharing her time between Ontario, Canada and rural Poland, and eventually completed a veterinary degree at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. A lover of mythology and history, she enjoys exploring both in her writing. Her debut novel, Where the Dark Stands Still, an instant New York Times bestseller, is an ode to Poland's folktales, while A Treachery of Swans transports readers to a world inspired by 17th century France.

A. B. Poranek

A. Bradley

Professor A. C. Grayling is Principal of the New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University, London, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy, history, science and current affairs. For several years he wrote columns for the Guardian newspaper and The Times and was the chairman of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.

A. C. Grayling

A.D. Miller is the author of Snowdrops, The Earl of Petticoat Lane and The Faithful Couple. Snowdrops was a bestseller and was shortlisted for many prizes including the Man Booker and the CWA Gold Dagger. It was translated into 25 languages. As Moscow Correspondent of The Economist A.D. Miller has travelled across the former Soviet Union and covered the Orange Revolution in Ukraine; he is now the magazine’s Culture Editor based in London. 
 
admillerbooks.com

A. D. Miller

A. E. Ellis

A. E. W. Mason

A. Humphreys

A. Igoni Barrett was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 1979 and lives in Lagos. He is a winner of the 2005 BBC World Service short story competition, the recipient of a Chinua Achebe Center Fellowship, a Norman Mailer Center Fellowship, and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency. His short story collection, Love is Power, or Something Like That, was published in 2013. In 2014 he was named on the Africa39 list of sub-Saharan African writers under 40. Blackass is his first novel.

A. Igoni Barrett

The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

A. J. A. Symons

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Malabrigo

Discover 17 stunning knitting patterns that celebrate the joy of wool, from treasured yarn brand Malabrigo.This collection features Malabrigo’s most-loved patterns from the last 20 years, along with new designs that that are sure to become fan-favourites. You’ll find timeless staple knits with intriguing textures and techniques, including shawls, sweaters, hats, mitts, socks and cardigans. With beautiful photography from Uruguay, you’ll be inspired to cast on immediately.Malabrigo’s luxuriously soft hand-dyed yarn makes these projects special – these are knits that you will cherish for a lifetime.

Timeless Knits

Classic Knitting Patterns from the Heart of Uruguay

Patrick Williams

A trailblazing British interiors practice that has become THE name in authentic period design. 
 
The House Rules charts the evolution of Patrick Williams' design studio Berdoulat, and is a stunning visual exploration of his practice and meticulous approach to working with period buildings. From a 14th-century court house, to a Regency manor, through to a newly built extension to an Arts & Crafts home, Patrick Williams showcases sensitive period restorations that combine artisan techniques and heritage aesthetics with modern, sustainable sensibilities to create timeless historic interiors.

The House Rules

Quadrille

‘I’m Charli XCX. I make music for myself, not for anybody else.’ 
 
Embrace the world of pop visionary Charli XCX in a stunning collection of the ‘Apple’ singer’s most beloved and certainly most iconic moments of her career so far. Charting her early days making mix tapes in her bedroom to her defining an entire summer with the album BRAT, you’ll learn all there is to know about the ‘party 4 u’ singer’s boundary-pushing performances at festivals like Coachella, her unapologetic style and that remix with fellow pop queen, Lorde. 
 
Bursting with 50 striking images paired with detailed insights into her life, this ‘Fancy’ performer has truly won the world over with her chart-topping anthems, honest lyrics and unforgettable world tours – and she’s not going anywhere. ICONIC: Charli XCX proves her status as one of the most exciting new artists of her generation.

ICONIC: Charli XCX

The Making of a Legend in 50 Images

‘When you know your worth, you know what you want and what you don’t want.’ 
 
Dive headfirst into the world of ultimate pop sensation Dua Lipa in a vibrant celebration of the ‘Levitating’ icon’s most incredible moments to date. From her early beginnings in Kosovo to her first job working in a nightclub, you’ll learn all there is to know about the ‘Hotter Than Hell’ singer’s journey to stratospheric fame and global popularity, including her sold-out stadium shows, festival performances and internet-breaking fashion moments. 
 
Packed with 50 gorgeous images accompanied by insights into her life, join the ‘Houdini’ megastar on a visual journey of her life so far. With husky vocals and slick dance moves, there’s no doubt this ‘New Rules’ performer is an unstoppable force in the music industry, making waves with her bold lyrics, on-point style and radical optimism. ICONIC: Dua proves her status as one of the most exciting new artists of her generation.

ICONIC: Dua

Anna Tromop

Discover how to draw with ink in just 15 minutes a day with 15-minute Art Pen & Ink. 
 
From whimsical woodlands to fantastical flora and fauna, Anna Tromop encourages you to explore the magic of ink through fifty 15-minute drawings. Each relaxed project is accompanied by simple step-by-step instructions and all can be completed in six steps or less. All you need is a pen! 
 
With a guide to outlining and shading, as well as traceable templates and practice pages, this book proves that ink drawing is for everyone – no matter your skill level or age. 
 
So: get ink-spired and tap into your creativity for just a few minutes every day.

15-Minute Art Pen & Ink

Learn to Draw with Pen and Ink in Six Steps or Less

Lorna Scobie

365 Days of Art in Colour is a celebratory collection of daily art prompts that will help readers embrace using colour in their art, whatever their skill level. 
 
Lorna Scobie encourages readers to look at colour afresh and not be afraid to use it boldly and playfully, as it can bring so much creative joy. Each activity falls into one of four useful categories: learn, play, observe and feel, designed to cater to whatever creative mood may strike! The book also includes simple information on colour theory and different art materials, including pens, paints and pastels to help readers make the most of any activity. 
 
365 Days of Art in Colour will help readers free their creativity and discover how colour can make a splash in their work wherever they are on their artistic journey.

365 Days of Art in Colour

Creative Art Prompts for Every Day of the Year

Stephen Crafti

An architect generally works to a client’s brief when designing a new home or renovating an existing dwelling. However, the opportunity for an architect or a designer to create their own home, without the constraints of a client, must certainly be at the top of their wish list. 
 
Featuring twenty architects from around the world, The Architect's House will truly inspire those contemplating building a new home or renovating an older style of residence to take on the adventurous spirit. At a time when people are being cautious, both in terms of finances and ideas, they will find inspiration to go beyond the prosaic or not simply to chase the idea of a home with only resale value in mind. 
 
The properties featured here are diverse – from apartments through to large detached homes surrounded by hectares of native forest. However, what ‘stitches’ them together is the architects’ determination to create homes that perfectly suit the way they choose to live, both in the present and in the future. And because the projects don’t follow trends but beautifully capture the ‘voice’ of the owners, they remain timeless.

The Architect's House

Inside the homes of 20 architects from around the world

Micah Clasper-Torch

Discover a fresh take on a traditional craft in this ultimate introduction to the art of constructing stylish wearables from punch needle. 
 
This modern, practical guide features 15 fashion-forward projects aimed at both beginner and intermediate makers. The rich history of this little-known craft is uplifted alongside new techniques as Micah Clasper-Torch demystifies the contemporary application of the art of Punch Needle to make a collection of accessories and wearables. All the designs are bold and beautiful, playing with texture and colour to add instant style to any wardrobe. 
 
Packed with stunning lifestyle and fashion photography, Micah will show you how to make designs to treasure by focusing on previously unexplored construction and finishing techniques. The projects include shopper tote, decorative collar, tied crop top, waistcoat and more. 
 
Punch Needle Fashion showcases the design process and captures the essence of this accessible and versatile craft. 
The accessories include: Handwarmer Muff, Corset Belt, Bucket Hat 
 
The bags include: Clutch Purse, Flat Purse, Carryall Handbag 
 
The garments include: Crop Top, Vest with Side Ties, Vest with Darts

Punch Needle Fashion

15 Punch Needle Projects for Crafting Accessories and Wearables

Gemma Koomen

Drawing inspiration from the natural world that surrounds us, Painting Nature contains 20 projects that will help you to discover how to find your seasonal style, use colour and paint what you see. 
 
Packed with tips and tricks, this book features practical projects from the starting sketch to building up your scene and that all-important final flourish – learn how to pick up a paint brush and paint nature through the seasons. The themes include fauna and flora, animals and window scenes. 
 
Featuring clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations, Gemma will gently guide budding beginners, or intermediate-level artists to pick up a brush to paint their way through the seasons. Painting Nature offers a springboard to unleashing your creativity, reigniting a love of art as you refine your technique 
 Projects Include: 
 
SPRING – Spring wreath, Spring flowers, Painting readymade wooden eggs, Spring window sceneSUMMER – Summer flowers, Midsummer moon, Shells and seaweed, Sea viewsAUTUMN – Mini mushroom matchbox, Autumn leaves, nuts and seeds, Autumn fruits sketchbook, Autumn window sceneWINTER – Winter wreath, Snowflakes, Fox in the moonlight, Winter window scene

Painting Nature

Techniques, Tutorials and Projects

Tammy Johal

Learn how to sew a collection of 20 stylish garments with this beginner-friendly guide for the modern dressmaker. 
 
Tammy Johal of Tammy Handmade covers all the essentials from choosing the right fabric, reading and using patterns to the stitches needed to complete the designs in this book. Featuring 15 unique designs with 5 variations in UK Women's sizes 6–32, Tammy specialises in uncomplicated, simple shapes that you will love to wear throughout the year. 
 
The patterns are easy to sew in a couple of hours, allowing beginners to make something they really love. They all have a slip-on style, meaning there won’t be any need for tricky fastenings – making this book beginner-friendly and easy to use. 
 
Including digital PDF patterns with clear step-by-step instructions that guide you through sewing each garment easily. Whether you’ve picked up a sewing machine before or are starting from scratch, this book will get you sewing garments you’ll love in no time. 
 
Garments include: 
– Maxi Skirt 
– Shirred Dress & Top 
– Camisole Top & Dress 
– Button-back Top 
– Halter-neck Dress & Top 
– Tie-front Top 
– Cut-out Dress 
– Stretch Midi Skirt 
– Button-front Dress

Sew Simple

A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing 20 Chic Projects

The Great British Sewing Bee

Caroline Akselson

Learn how to design and make your own patterns and sew with confidence from the team behind The Great British Sewing Bee. 
 
Pattern Drafting will show you how to draft patterns so you can make clothes that suit your style and fit you perfectly, with expert tips from the world of couture and costume making. 
 
Starting with the basics, this illustrated, practical guide demystifies key terminology and shows you how to measure yourself accurately and all the essential kit you’ll need. Discover how to draft and adapt pattern blocks; download the PDF patterns for a basic bodice, trouser, skirt and one-piece sleeve to get started and put your new skills to the test. The possibilities are endless as you discover how to make garments from scratch, identify and solve common fit issues and embrace the joy of stitching your own clothes. 
 
An indispensable reference for skilled sewers, Pattern Drafting teaches you the art of creating dressmaking patterns with ease.

The Great British Sewing Bee: Pattern Drafting

A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Dressmaking Patterns From Scratch

Tash Bradley

The ultimate guide to using colour in your home by a leading interiors expert.&#160; 
 
 As Director of Interior Design at the Lick paint brand and a colour psychologist, Tash Bradley wants you to feel like she&#39;s sitting at your kitchen table guiding you to choose the colours that will both represent your style and have a positive impact on your space, whether you rent or own. Packed with practical tips&#160;and techniques, from colour theory and colour schemes to creating a flow from room to room, colour drenching, feature walls and painted ceilings, this is the ultimate guide to decorating in style.&#160;&#160; 
 &#160; 
 Including case studies of some of Tash&rsquo;s favourite decorating projects, you can see her theory in practice, giving you a deeper understanding of how to make the right colour and styling choices. When it comes to designing a home, it&#39;s really important that you choose colours that you connect with;&#160;Master the Art of Colour&#160;will enable you to be creative and have fun, and give you the power to transform your home your way! 
 &#160;

Master The Art Of Colour

Practical Advice from the Room Renovations Expert

The Great Pottery Throwdown

The Great Pottery Throw Down is the official tie-in to the popular Channel 4 show. 
 
The Great Pottery Throw Down book is a practical and beautiful guide to creating in clay at home. Accompanying budding potters on their creative journey, this book teaches the basics of both handbuilding and throwing techniques before taking you through 20 projects inspired by the show&#39;s challenges. The projects are aimed to build on your skills as you work through them starting with an egg cup or mug and working up to a jug or teapot. 
 
 Covering a range of topics from setting up your space and choosing the right clay to the basics of using a wheel and the three core hand-building techniques (slab building, coiling and pinching) &ndash; this is an essential guide to pottery. The projects include spoon rest, vase, dinner plate, nesting bowls, plant pot, teacup, animal figurine, salad bowl and more. Once you have mastered the basics, finesse your creations with expert tips on decorating, glazing and firing your projects. 
 
 Discover the joy of the iconic Great&#160;Pottery Throw Down in your own home and open yourself up to a world of ceramic possibility. 
 &#160;

The Great Pottery Throw Down

20 Projects to Create at Home

Lilly Maetzig

Thrown is a beginner&#39;s guide to making ceramics using a pottery wheel. 
 
 Beginning with the basics, this book will teach you how to create a collection of 20 stylish homewares from construction to completion with a professional finish including decoration, glazing and firing techniques. From dinner plates, pasta bowls, coffee mugs to decorative vases, a rippled lampshade and more, each project is minimal in design but with thoughtful details, making it the ideal for first time crafters. 
 
Complete with stunning lifestyle photography and clear step-by-step instructions to inspire your handmade journey, Thrown is the ultimate modern guide to this addictive, tactile craft.

Thrown

A Modern Potter's Guide to Working with Clay on the Wheel

Banjo Beale

A Place in Scotland is a collation of interior spaces that represent a rejuvenated Scottish vernacular that has emerged over the past twenty years. 
 
 Something is happening in Scotland &ndash; a new confidence &ndash; and inspirational voices are redefining what &#39;Scottish style&#39; really is. Banjo and Alexander see this manifesting in homes and public spaces alike. Spanning the breadth of Scotland, they have picked places that tell a story, highlight sustainable design and represent a considered style that can be recreated at home. 
 
 Including thirty different spaces, from a masterfully restored Scottish castle and the Gleneagles hotel to a World War 2 control tower in the Scottish Highlands and a brightly coloured tenement apartment in Glasgow, A Place in Scotland is a celebration of clever and contemporary design. All these beautifully photographed places will not only give you interiors inspiration, but take you on a stunning journey through Scotland.

A Place In Scotland

Beautiful Scottish Interiors

Harris Reed

In Fluid, revolutionary fashion designer Harris Reed introduces the world to a new era in fluid fashion. At the centre of Harris Reed&rsquo;s sartorial journey has always been his desire to change the way people express their identities through clothing. Fluidity&rsquo;s essence is adaptable, evolutionary, and dynamic, and Harris&rsquo;s work constantly disrupts the divide between men&#39;s and women&#39;s clothing. His pieces have been worn by Harry Styles, Adele, Sam Smith, Iman, and Beyonc&eacute;&mdash;and with each piece he has generated an instantly iconic cultural moment, pushing conversations about gender expression into the mainstream. Fluid examines historical antecedents of fluidity, questions old power structures, and urges people to find their authentic selves in this new avenue of fashion. With stunning photography, resplendent fashion, and illustrations of Harris&#39;s design process, Fluid takes readers beyond the idea of clothes as mere garments, reasoning that clothes are a nexus of art, philosophy, and history that can be used to help shape our culture and challenge understandings of gender. With this book, Harris Reed affirms that fluid is the future of fashion.

Fluid

A Fashion Revolution

Sophia Webster

"A vibrant, inspiring celebration of fashion, family and passion. I love this colourful celebration of all things shoes." &ndash; Fearne Cotton"I really enjoyed the personal insights into what makes Sophia so unique and wonderful. A brilliantly bold, colourful delight, just like Sophia&#39;s shoes" &ndash;&#160;Alesha Dixon"Beautiful and motivational. A rare insight into what it&#39;s like to walk in Sophia&#39;s heels and build an empire in the fashion world." &ndash; Laura Whitmore &#160; Artist. Entrepreneur. Mum. Bosslady. Leading British shoe designer Sophia Webster is known for her sense of fun, playful and feminine touches &ndash; but less well known is the story behind the shoes, and how Sophia juggled a fledgling business with a young family, turning her love of drawing into a renowned brand. Charting her early days as a young creative, through her inspirations (from the Spice Girls to Grayson Perry) and on to how her designs are brought to life, Oh My Gosh, I Love Your Shoes! shines a spotlight on Sophia&rsquo;s boundless imagination and enthusiasm for her craft. Sophia reflects on how her early life experiences set her up to face the challenges of establishing a fashion brand and the benefits of quick thinking and infinite determination when navigating the daily trials of business ownership. Her story is told through 365 sketches of her favourite designs, each evoking their own memories of this fascinating and colourful journey. Celebrating a decade of head-turning heels, Oh My Gosh, I Love Your Shoes! is an inspiring, uplifting showcase of Sophia&rsquo;s remarkable shoes, inspiration and expertise. Gathering together the stories and learnings behind Sophia&rsquo;s most cherished designs, it&rsquo;s also a celebration of the many famous feet who have worn Sophia&rsquo;s shoes on red carpets all over the world &ndash; from Taylor Swift to Beyonc&eacute;, Gwen Stefani and Michelle Obama.

Oh My Gosh, I Love Your Shoes!

A Decade of Head-Turning Heels

Pirjo Iivonen

Tiina Kaarela

Annika Konttaniemi

Niina Laitinen

Icelandic patternwork has always been popular in the knitting world and now so more than ever!Icelandic Knits features 8 trending Finnish knitwear designers and featuring their own interpretations of the famous lopapeysa jumper. The designs include a mix of the more traditional as well as some designs with a modern twist, such as addition of a hood or creating a cardigan instead of a jumper. There are also instructions for hand-dyeing the yarn to personalise your look.Including a collection of 18 sweater designs for women, men and children. The instructions are presented with clear diagrams and stunning photographs showcasing the stunning landscapes of Lapland that will make you yearn for the cosy jumpers and Nordic Noir.

Icelandic Knits

18 Timeless Lopapeysa Sweater Designs

Tim Hayward

&#39;Hayward, one of the... best food writers alive, every page a different blade, glintingly pictured and lovingly described. Kitchen porn but not sinister: A cook&rsquo;s gotta chop, a cook&rsquo;s gotta mince.&#39; &ndash; Simon Schama in New York Times&#39;Both essential and informative, useful information and sheer blade porn. Tim Hayward explores the world of knives with enthusiasm and authority.&#39; &ndash; Anthony Bourdain&#39;This is possibly the coolest book I have ever seen. Glorious in content, geeky in text and engaging in photography. This is every cook&#39;s must-have reference book! I love it.&#39; &ndash; Tom Kerridge&#39;Tim Hayward is the most serious cookery writer I know. Whatever he says, I will listen. Whatever he writes, I will buy.&#39; &ndash; Len Deighton&#39;A gleaming, razor-sharp paean to the chef s greatest weapon in Knife by Tim Hayward. Both eloquent and encyclopaedic, Knife is the ultimate book of blades&#39;&#39; &ndash; Tom Parker Bowles, Mail on SundayKnife is a love-letter to this essential culinary tool &ndash; its form, history and creation. The knife can be the most functional utensil or the most exquisite piece of design &ndash; avid collectors pay jaw-dropping sums for a piece of Japanese hand-crafted steel, made according to traditions that date back thousands of years.Through interviews with knife-makers, chefs and collectors, acclaimed food writer Tim Hayward explores how the relationship between cook and blade has shaped the both the knife itself, and the ways we prepare and eat food all over the world. From Damascus blades to Chinese cleavers and sushi knives, at the heart of Knife is a fascinating guide to 40 different types of knife, each with its own unique story, detailed description and stunning photographs.Lavishly illustrated and designed, and as cool, personal and desirable as the most intricately crafted deba, Knife opens up the world of this most covetable of culinary implements.

Knife

The Culture, Craft and Cult of the Cook's Knife

Andrew Marr

In A Short Book About Painting, writer and broadcaster Andrew Marr tackles the subjects of inspiration, creativity, politics, beauty and form. How does the artist make good work? What constitutes &ldquo;good&rdquo;? How important is technique &ndash;&#160;and the imagination? 
 &#160; 
 Following a serious stroke in 2013 that left him partially paralysed, Marr struggled with the physical rigours of painting using oils. This led to his wrestling with some of the very fundamental questions about painting as an art form in itself &shy; and to interrogate himself daily about brushstrokes, colour balance, line and texture. Using his own work in progress as examples of failures, and examples of techniques from classical artists right up to the present day, Marr examines how the painter can improve and learn from his or her mistakes. 
 &#160; 
 Marr&rsquo;s provocative, political and instructive book is not just an essential resource for all amateur painters, it is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the creative process and the limits of human artistic achievement. 
 &#160;

A Short Book About Painting

&#39;Hayward is one of the... best food writers alive.&#39; &ndash; Simon Schama in The New York TimesThe kitchen is the heart of the home &ndash; it&#39;s where we spend leisure time as a family, where we feed ourselves and where we entertain our friends. The average western family spends more money on the kitchen than they do on a car or a holiday.We fill our kitchens with objects and tools that reflect our needs, tastes and desires. There is nowhere else in daily domestic life where design impinges quite as much as in the kitchen.Every item in the kitchen has its own story. Through 70 familiar objects, The Modern Kitchen maps the progress and development of this functional yet also wildly aspirational space. Why do the casserole dish and the wooden salad bowl exert such a cultural hold over us? Has the accumulation of electrical appliances led us to cook and eat differently?As well as studying the individual objects that have had such a huge impact on the way we live now, The Modern Kitchen examines kitchen design, economics and social history through a series of essays. Embodying notions about class, gender, wealth and health, the home kitchen, its layout, set-up and contents, remains a neat illustration of our beliefs, tastes, aesthetics and aspirations &ndash; the portrait of our domestic lives.

The Modern Kitchen

Objects That Changed the Way We Cook, Eat and Live

Luke Leitch

Ben Evans

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are the most successful design partnership in fashion history.Since they burst on to the scene in Milan in the eighties, their multi-million-dollar women&#39;s line, menswear, underwear, shoes jewellery and swimwear empire has become one of the dominating forces in Italian &ndash; and world &ndash; fashion. Every year, the opulent and dramatic presentations, in ever-more spectacular locations, of their successful 21st-century haute couture line Alta Moda are rapturously received by the fashion press.Their hot-blooded, theatrical style is inspired by the Sicily of Visconti&#39;s 1963 film&#160;The Leopard, by Catholic&#160;imagery and by the Italian screen sirens like Sophia Loren and Monica Bellucci who wear the designs captured here by Vogue&rsquo;s stable of photographers: curvaceous dresses, spectacularly colourful coats, Swarovski-crystal-embroidered corsets, tulle ball-gowns hand painted with beautiful floral images, baroque brocades and lashings of leopard-print.The Dolce and Gabbana woman &ndash; characterised, according to Vogue, as having &lsquo;a life that reaches beyond, complete with fantasy, turmoil and always a story&rsquo;&ndash; is sensual but proper: actress Isabella Rosselini describes &lsquo;The first piece of theirs I wore was a white shirt, very chaste, but cut to make my breasts look as if they were bursting out of it,&rsquo; while Madonna, more prosaically, simply says: &lsquo;I like their designs because they make clothes for a womanly body.&rsquo;

Vogue on: Dolce & Gabbana

Chloe Fox

Fashion&rsquo;s leading shoemaker, Manolo Blahnik is one of the handful of designers whose name is synonymous with their product.His success has lasted from setting up as a shoe designer in a Chelsea boutique in the 1970s to the present day, with American Vogue&rsquo;s Anna Wintour declaring &lsquo;The truth is, I wear no other shoes except his&rsquo;.Blahnik has collaborated with many leading fashion designers &ndash; from Ossie Clark at the start of his career and John Galliano at Dior at its height &ndash; but Blahnik&rsquo;s greatest achievement is to have made footwear, previously subservient to the overall concept of a look, the most important of all accessories.His many covers and features in the pages of Vogue reveal that wearing a pair of &lsquo;Manolos&rsquo; is to be utterly transformed; in Blahnik&rsquo;s dreamy, handmade creations, a woman can reinvent her personality. She is a Lolita in his Mary-Janes and a red carpet diva in his satin mules. Or as Madonna once put it, with characteristic bluntness: &lsquo;His shoes are wonderful, and they last longer than sex.&rsquo;

Vogue on: Manolo Blahnik

Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni

This book reveals how Calvin Klein created a fashion brand that made understated, all-American glamour his own &ndash; at the same time as building a vast billion-dollar empire that includes everything from pants and jeans to perfume and pillows.&#160;A master of minimalism, Klein&rsquo;s clothes have been beautifully documented in the pages of Vogue over the years by the world&rsquo;s starriest photographers, including Terry Donovan, Herb Ritts, Snowdon and Nick Knight. While Vogue also reflected the public&rsquo;s fascination with his film-star handsomeness, glamorous marriage and divorces, bi-sexuality, drama and stints in rehab, the magazine understood that Calvin Klein&rsquo;s success lay in the very opposite of excess: &lsquo;His clothes simply offered women practical elegance and cool, understated chic&rsquo;.In the early 1970s, he introduced his trademark jeans, which he elevated to designer status by cutting them tight and branding his name on the back pocket. Suggestive ads (with the nubile, 15-year-old Brooke Shields cooing &lsquo;You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.&rsquo;) created a designer jean frenzy among consumers. In 1993, he also made sexy male underwear mainstream with an equally seductive campaign featuring the beefcake charms of the young Mark Wahlberg.&#160;This is the ultimate handbook to an American icon.

Vogue on: Calvin Klein

Carolyn Asome

&#39;I like looking at things from a different angle and questioning what is expected.&#39; &ndash; Jean Paul GaultierThis book tracks the stellar career of maverick designer Jean Paul Gaultier from his first show in Paris in 1976, when he challenged the current ideals of beauty and promoted a style of fashion which embraced ethnic diversity and models of all shapes and sizes.Seen as an enfant terrible when he first burst on to the fashion scene, his titillating, provocative designs embrace corset dresses, conical bustiers, biker jackets paired with ballet tutus and skirts for men, along with classic fashion staples such as beautifully cut smoking jackets and trench coats. By the turn of this century he had put Madonna in corsets for her Blonde Ambition tour, dressed celebrities for the red carpet and moved seamlessly between mainstream popular culture (co-hosting the outr&eacute; British TV show Eurotrash and designing award-winning film costumes for Luc Besson and Pedro Almodovar) while also launching his own seriously successful haute couture label &ndash; an addition to a burgeoning empire of ready-to-wear, perfume and kidswear.With stunning images captured in the pages of Vogue by photographers like Mario Testino and Lord Snowdon, Vogue on: Jean Paul Gaultier shows how his avant-garde fashion creations and cutting-edge designs revealed Gaultier&rsquo;s unerring instinct for how women want to dress.

Vogue on: Jean Paul Gaultier

'Hayward, one of the... best food writers alive, every page a different blade, glintingly pictured and lovingly described. Kitchen porn but not sinister: A cook’s gotta chop, a cook’s gotta mince.' – Simon Schama in New York Times 
 
'Both essential and informative, useful information and sheer blade porn. Tim Hayward explores the world of knives with enthusiasm and authority.' – Anthony Bourdain 
 
'This is possibly the coolest book I have ever seen. Glorious in content, geeky in text and engaging in photography. This is every cook's must-have reference book! I love it.' – Tom Kerridge 
 
'Tim Hayward is the most serious cookery writer I know. Whatever he says, I will listen. Whatever he writes, I will buy.' – Len Deighton 
 
'A gleaming, razor-sharp paean to the chef s greatest weapon in Knife by Tim Hayward. Both eloquent and encyclopaedic, Knife is the ultimate book of blades'' – Tom Parker Bowles, Mail on Sunday 
 
Knife is a love-letter to this essential culinary tool – its form, history and creation. The knife can be the most functional utensil or the most exquisite piece of design – avid collectors pay jaw-dropping sums for a piece of Japanese hand-crafted steel, made according to traditions that date back thousands of years. 
 
Through interviews with knife-makers, chefs and collectors, acclaimed food writer Tim Hayward explores how the relationship between cook and blade has shaped the both the knife itself, and the ways we prepare and eat food all over the world. From Damascus blades to Chinese cleavers and sushi knives, at the heart of Knife is a fascinating guide to 40 different types of knife, each with its own unique story, detailed description and stunning photographs. 
 
Lavishly illustrated and designed, and as cool, personal and desirable as the most intricately crafted deba, Knife opens up the world of this most covetable of culinary implements.

The Culture, Craft and Cult of Cook's Knife

Jane Field-Lewis

Richard Maxted

Inspired by classic illustrated botanical volumes, this is a modern celebration of wild, garden and exotic flowers. A single photographic image captures the intricate detail, form, texture and colour of each flower. The hauntingly beautiful photographs - as beautiful as the most captivating still-life painting - pay respect to classic Victorian botanical illustrations but they are paired, for a younger audience, with succinct, quirky text about the culture and historical interest of each variety of plant. Every example is the most perfect representation of a flower and, thanks to its composition and detail, it will trigger in everyone a fresh desire to look around and feel enriched by the beauty in our world - in our gardens, window boxes, flower shops and parks. Broken down into chapters based on floral characteristics or symbolism, this is a stunning gift book that taps into the growing interest in the natural world around us - its flora and fauna - and the associated benefits on our wellbeing, and the powerful pursuit of quiet, mindful activities. Whether for dipping into, or poring over, these pages will bring pleasure to anyone who loves the beauty of flowers, art, design, contemplation or reading.

Anthology of Flowers

Drusilla Beyfus

&#39;Valentissimo! Viva Valentino!&#39; exclaimed Vogue, lauding the achievements of the first Italian dress designer to take on the Paris fashion world and achieve haute couture status.Drawing on Vogue&#39;s archive of imagery and text, as well as the author&#39;s exclusive interview with the designer, this book analyses Valentino&#39;s exceptional fusion of Latinate sensuality and Parisian precision. It shows how his inventive colour sense and use of opulent fabrics derived from Italian classical painting, and how his trust in and promotion of Italy&#39;s craftsmen and women is evident in his use of featherweight materials, handmade embroidery, beading and pleating.Valentino&#39;s early love of costumes worn by stars of the Italian and American film industry influenced his designs, and he attracted a superstar clientele, including Hollywood celebrities from Elizabeth Taylor to Gwyneth Paltrow, European royalty, and society figures such as Jaqueline Kennedy - who wore him in mourning, and in remarriage, at her wedding to Aristotle Onassis.Valentino is unique: the exquisite quality of his dressmaking and the femininity, glamour and allure of his seasonal collections are matchless; exceptionally in his field, he is known by his first name only; and he holds a record as the founder of a house who remained in creative control of it for 45 years.

Vogue on: Valentino Garavani

A tortured genius and one of most influential designers of the twentieth century, Yves Saint Laurent was responsible for revolutionising the way women dressed and viewed themselves.During a wildly creative career stretching from 1958 to 2002 Saint Laurent established a reputation for accessible, flawlessly cut clothes. He became an overnight sensation in 1958, aged 21, when he showed his &#39;Trapeze&#39; collection, his first for the House of Christian Dior, following the master&#39;s death.Four years later, Saint Laurent opened his own couture house and within a few seasons was hailed by Vogue&#39;s Diana Vreeland as &#39;the pied piper of fashion&#39;. Viewed as a master colourist and admired for his choice of sultry fabrics, his great gift was creating lasting styles - described by Vogue as &#39;stockpiles of essentials in times of famine&#39; - that flattered all shapes and sizes. As well as designing wardrobe classics like the &#39;Le Smoking&#39; tuxedo for women, the Safari jacket, the trench and the pea coat, and introducing trousers into haute couture, he also dressed international style icons such as Catherine Deneuve, Marella Agnelli and Lauren Bacall.With his nose for the zeitgeist, Saint Laurent recognised the global power of street fashion and launched Rive Gauche, his ready-to-wear boutique line in 1966. Christened &#39;The Saint&#39; by Vogue, every element of his fashion empire, which included exhilarating couture collections, exquisite accessories and sought-after perfumes, was captured by Vogue&#39;s writers and leading photographers like Richard Avedon, David Bailey and Norman Parkinson.

Vogue on: Yves Saint Laurent

Charlotte Sinclair

Gianni Versace created a fashion house that, as British Vogue declared, defined late twentieth-century glamour, invented the supermodel and sanctioned in the public consciousness a supremely self-assured feminine sexuality.&#39;His debut line in 1978 was instantly successful; in the Eighties, his extravagant designs and his vision of powerful women defined the era, and culminated in the Nineties with the supermodel phenomenon - his designs worn by those glamazons who featured on every Vogue cover. Vogue on: Gianni Versace explores how his childhood spent in his mother&#39;s dressmaker&#39;s shops, his Italian hometown of Reggio Calabria, and his family, particularly his younger sister, Donatella, influenced not only the designer he became - the insistent sensuality, vivid colours, classical motifs, clashing prints and daring cuts - but also the way he constructed his business: family first. The book reveals how the more brazen elements of his design - the jewelled embroidery, the bondage straps, the safety-pin gowns - were predicated on supremely skilled tailoring, deft use of materials and innovative techniques. Alongside are Vogue&#39;s eye-witness accounts of the Versace lifestyle - the palazzos and parties, the art, the celebrity friends. Vogue on: Gianni Versace is a celebration of a designer and a house that, in only 19 years, came to dominate the catwalk and the red carpet.

Vogue on: Gianni Versace

The year is 1Q84. This is the real world, there is no doubt about that. But in this world, there are two moons in the sky. Discover the 1Q84 Trilogy by Haruki Murakami.

1Q84

365 Days of Art

A BBC Christmas

A Black Book Thriller

A Box Full of Murders

A Cal Leandros Novel

A Christmas Mystery

The intelligent and capable police commissioner Guido Brunetti confronts crime in and around his home town of Venice.

A Commissario Brunetti Mystery

A DC Smith / Kings Lake Investigation Series

A Daisy Story

Chronicling the lives of over three hundred characters, unrivalled for its scope and humour, this is a unique evocation of life in twentieth-century England.

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