Antiquarian, archaeologist, vulcanologist, and envoy to the British Embassy in Naples, Sir William Hamilton (1731-1803) was a leading European figure of his time. Though the romance between his wife Lady Emma Hamilton and Horatio …

Photographs have a strange and powerful way of shaping the way we see the world. The most successful images enter our collective consciousness, defining eras, making history, or simply touching something so fundamentally human and…

Photographer, teacher, and sociologist Lewis W. Hine (1874-1940) shaped our consciousness of American working life in the early 20th century like no other. Combining his training as an educator with his humanist concerns, Hine was…

If you take even the slightest interest in the design of your toothbrush, the history behind your washing machine, or the evolution of the telephone, you'll take an even greater interest in this completely updated edition of Indus…

Clothes define people. A person's attire, whether it's a sari, kimono, or business suit, is an essential code to his or her culture, class, personality, even faith. Founded in 1978, the Kyoto Costume Institute recognizes the impor…

Alex Steinweiss (1917-2011) invented the album cover as we know it. In 1940, as Columbia Records' young new art director, he pitched an idea: why not replace the standard plain brown wrapper with an eye-catching illustration? The …

"Hairstyles: Ancient to Present" is not only the most comprehensive survey of hairstyles ever published, it is also a visual celebration of this remarkably inventive cultural phenomenon from ancient Greek tresses and 18th century …

50 years ago, people used 35 mm cameras like we use smartphones in the age of Instagram. They photographed what they ate, their holidays, and family reunions. Imagining what prompted a stranger to press the shutter decades ago is …

The life of Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) was full of complexity and contradictions. As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church; toward the end of his life he devoted himself completely …

Manet called him "the greatest painter of all." Picasso was so inspired by his masterpiece Las Meninas that he painted 44 variations of it. Francis Bacon painted a study of his portrait of Pope Innocent X. Monet and Renoir, Corot …

First published in 1963, James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time stabbed at the heart of America's so-called "Negro problem." As remarkable for its masterful prose as for its frank and personal account of the black experience in the Un…

Very few artists can claim such lasting and worldwide fame and importance as Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). The nickname il divino ("the divine one") has been applied to him since the 1530s right through to today: his achiev…

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Literally meaning "pictures of the floating world," ukiyo-e was a particular genre of art that flourished between the 17th and 19th centurie…

South of the border, rich colors and woven textiles form a unique design aesthetic, crafted by the union of local Aztec and Mayan cultures and Spanish influences. Bold pigments and vivid patterns come together in simple and rustic…

Under the burning Tuscan sun roll marvelous hills, vineyards, and olive groves-all postcard-perfect landscapes nestling centuries-old towns, rural villas, and contadino farmhouses. We've tracked down the best examples of such have…

When it emerged in the 1950s, the Pop Art movement presented a challenge to fine art with its incorporation of images from television, newspapers, and advertising. Artists used humor, provocation, and garish gestures to help disso…

'A matchless compound of hug, tonic and kiss' Stephen Fry on William Sieghart's bestselling Poetry Pharmacy The Poetry Pharmacy is one of the bestselling (and most giftable) poetry anthologies of recent decades. Now, after huge de…

'Every poem in this book is a marvel. Taken all together they make up a work of almost miraculous depth and beauty' Sally Rooney 'A poetry debut fit to compare with Seamus Heaney. This wonderful long poem is up there with the grea…

The Zip N' Close Brush Set represents our mid range in brush quality, these brushes are excellent value for money, and are ideal for the Hobbiest, Student and indeed Artist. The packaging has been made out of a very robust soft pl…

The extremism nobody talks about. And how it affects us all Imagine a world in which a vast network of incels and other misogynists are able to operate, virtually undetected. These extremists commit deliberate terrorist acts again…

"Typically wide-ranging, informative, and illuminating....a lovely book" Peter Frankopan When did globalization begin? Most observers have settled on 1492, the year Columbus discovered America. But as celebrated Yale professor Val…

A beautiful soft, heavyweight coating fabric that is available in 2 colourways. Softcoat has the look and feel of a wool coating but is more easy care and is washable! Prices and quantity shown are per half metre. Include 2 in the…

This stretch jersey knit is very soft, contains a fluid drape, and comes complete with a 4-way stretch ideal for bodycon garments. Use this sleek patterned jersey for draped t-shirts, fitted tops, cosy dresses, and more! Prices an…

A beautifully soft and drapey brocade feauturing an embroidered, large-scale floral pattern on a crepe-like white weave. Would work well for dresses and skirts, or more tailored items. Prices and quantity shown are per half metre.…

Brocades are brilliant for a multitude of reasons. Not only do they feature a visually compelling design, but they also tend to involve a textural element bringing that design to life. This particular fabric features a textured ab…

Step back in time with this vintage-inspired lace brocade. A guipure floral lace effect curls around a champagne background. We see bodices and circle skirts paired with lustrous satins. Opaque, a lining may be added for comfort. …

An inspiring story set in the first century AD about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings. Ana is born in Galilee at a time when women are seen as possessio…

The Sheep-pig is one of Dick King-Smith's most famous tales. It shot to further fame when the film adaptation, Babe, was released in 1995. 'Why can't I learn to be a Sheep-Pig?'When Babe, the little orphaned piglet, is won at a fa…

Dive into the world of The Secret Explorers and learn about ocean life in this action-packed first instalment in a brand-new fiction series. Meet The Secret Explorers! This group of brilliant kids come together from all four corne…

The 13-Storey Treehouse is the first book in Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton's wacky treehouse adventures, where the laugh-out-loud story is told through a combination of text and fantastic cartoon-style illustrations. Andy and Te…