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Hinch Yourself Happy: All The Best Cleaning Tips To Shine Your Sink And Soothe Your Soul
by Mrs HinchDiscover how to transform your home and your life with Mrs Hinch._______'My new cleaning goddess' Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph'The sensation' Sun_______Cleaning - aka hinching - doesn't have to be that job you dread, not when Mrs Hinch is here to show you her sparkly ways.At over 2 million followers and counting, she has taken the nation by storm with her infectiously addictive charm, clever tidying tips and passionate belief in cleaning. Mrs Hinch invites you into her home and while inside you'll discover how a spot of cleaning is the perfect way to cleanse the soul. She'll even share the story of Mr and Mrs Hinch and their 'dorgeous' boy, Henry.Inside you'll find out:- How cleaning can soothe anxiety and stress- Mrs Hinch's must-haves- Step-by-step guides to hinching your home - And so much more! With the help of her cloth family, Mrs Hinch will help you turn your house into a home. Whether you're a daily duster or looking for a monthly makeover, Hinch Yourself Happy shows you how to create not only a cleaner house, but a calmer you.If you want your kitchen to sparkle like Meghan Markle, then this is the book for you.
This Is Me: The Sunday Times No 1 Bestseller
by Mrs HinchDiscover the true story of the real Sophie Hinchliffe for the very first time in her extraordinarily candid memoirTHE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER'Gut-wrenchingly honest' Mail on Sunday________Well guys, here we are! What an absolute whirlwind of a journey this has been so far.So much has happened in the last couple of life-changing years and I'm so excited to share it with you all: my Hinchers. You have been right by my side for every step of the way and I honestly couldn't have done it without the amazing love and support from this incredible family we've built together.It's often felt like a fairy tale but it hasn't always been easy, and I'm going to let you in on the highs and the lows as well as my biggest fears and my darkest challenges. Because this book right here, is me.This is me: Soph - the wife, the mother and the person behind Mrs Hinch.So let's do this! Put your Hinch Lists to one side, get comfy and join me on the sofa with a cuppa. Welcome to my world.This is my story.________'The sensation' Sun'We're mad about Mrs Hinch' Vogue'My new cleaning goddess' Daily Telegraph'Doing for household chores what Marie Kondo did for tidying' Daily Mirror'Mrs Hinch offers a reassuring structure for the day, a vision of domestic order' Guardian
Loved Clothes Last: How the Joy of Rewearing and Repairing Your Clothes Can Be a Revolutionary Act
by Orsola de Castro'It's important that everyone with an interest in fashion reads this book so we can live on a healthier planet' Arizona Muse 'The most timely book you'll read this year' India Knight* * * * * Running out of space for the clothes you can't stop buying? Curious about how you can make a difference to the environmental challenges our planet faces? Join Orsola's care revolution and learn to make the clothes you love, last longer.This book will equip you with a myriad of ways to mend, rewear and breathe new life into your wardrobe to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle. By teaching you to scrutinise your shopping habits and make sustainable purchases, she will inspire you to buy better, care more and reduce your carbon footprint by simply making your loved clothes last longer.Following Orsola's practical tips to lavish care and attention on the clothes you already own will not only have a positive environmental impact, but will be personally rewarding too: hand wash, steam and spot clean your clothes, air dry instead of tumble drying, or revive your clothes by sewing or crocheting.Fast fashion leaves behind a trail of human and environmental exploitation. Our wardrobes don't have to be the finish line; they can be a starting point. We can all care, repair and rewear. Do you accept the challenge?* * * * *'An incredibly thoughtful, must-read guide' Kenya Hunt'A must read for anyone who wants to understand the fashion industry as an outsider and wants direction as to where we go next' Aja Barber
The Whole Vegetable
by Sophie GordonDiscover wholesome, sustainable and plant-based dishes in this essential cookbook for everyone from full-time vegans to those who just want to do their bit for the environment'Hearty, healthy, flavour-packed dishes' MAIL ON SUNDAY'A uniquely sustainable and delicious approach to modern plant-based cooking' VOGUE_________Have you ever wondered how to make your diet truly eco-conscious?In this beautiful plant-based cookbook, over 130 creative, delicious, planet-friendly recipes put vegetables at the very centre of the table. Embracing often-discarded parts such as leaves, stalks, tops, flowers, seeds and even peelings, this is cooking at its most sustainable.In The Whole Vegetable, Sophie Gordon shows us how to:- Cook with every part of every vegetable- Reduce waste in your cooking- Reinvent your leftovers- Eat with the seasonsFrom Cauliflower Carbonara, Broccoli Pesto and Chunky Pumpkin Tacos, to Cherry Breakfast Crumble, Maple-Roasted Pears and Apple & Walnut Danish Buns, The Whole Vegetable is packed with thoughtful recipes for every season.Most of all, it will ensure that nothing in your kitchen goes to waste._________'Creative, delicious, planet-friendly recipes . . . Teaches you how to put those often discarded parts of fruit and veg to good (and tasty) use' Women's Health'The Whole Vegetable heroes plant-based cookery, with recipes that also help reduce food waste in the kitchen and improve sustainable living. A worthwhile read' Good Housekeeping
A Modern Way to Live: 5 Design Principles from The Modern House
by Matt GibberdFind happiness at home with five guiding principles from cultural phenomenon THE MODERN HOUSE.'A source of fascination, inspiration and fantasy' GuardianIn 2005, childhood friends Matt Gibberd and Albert Hill set out to convince people of the power of good design and its ability to influence our wellbeing. They founded The Modern House - in equal parts an estate agency, a publisher and a lifestyle brand - and went on to inspire a generation to live more thoughtfully and beautifully at home. As The Modern House grew, Matt and Albert came to realise that the most successful homes they encountered - from cleverly conceived studio flats to listed architectural masterpieces - had been designed with attention to the same timeless principles: Space, Light, Materials, Nature and Decoration.In this lavishly illustrated book, Matt tells the stories of these remarkable living spaces and their equally remarkable owners, and demonstrates how the five principles can be applied to your own space in ways both large and small. Revolutionary in its simplicity, and full of elegance, humour and joy, this book will inspire you to find happiness in the place you call home.PRAISE FOR THE MODERN HOUSE:'One of the best things in the world' GQ'The Modern House transformed our search for the perfect home' Financial Times'Nowhere has mastered the art of showing off the most desirable homes for both buyers and casual browsers alike than The Modern House' Vogue
Notes from a Small Kitchen Island: ‘I want to eat every single recipe in this book’ Nigella Lawson
by Debora RobertsonDiscover the cookbook you'll never want to live without, filled with the secrets to creating delicious home-cooked meals every single day'I am so greedily impatient for this book. I want to read it. I want to cook from it' NIGELLA LAWSON'There are wonderful tales and recipes here, and lots of wisdom. It's approachable, anchored in real life and a joy to read. I want more' DIANA HENRY'A wonderful book full of inspiring, simple and time-saving recipes. This should be an everyday book for everybody' TOM KERRIDGE_________Debora Robertson, home cook and renowned food writer, tells how, from the least promising of culinary starts, she learned to love cooking and transformed her cosy kitchen into the beating heart of her home.Through her stories and recipes, she will whisk you away to hot summers in Languedoc and balmy weeknights in London, revealing the life-changing dishes that made her. Bound together with life- and dinner-saving lessons, Debora has written the essential kitchen companion for every home cook.From the tastes of Debora's childhood to the recipes she discovered on her travels, to the food she cooks every day . . .· Leek and ham hock steamed pudding· Slow roast lamb with Durham salad· Meemaw's Texan margarita pie· The best recipe for roast chicken· Delicious plum cakeDebora will take you by the hand and tell you everything you'll ever need to know about cooking food you'll love time and time again._________ 'I want to eat every single recipe in this book - even the two for dogs!' NIGELLA LAWSON
My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place
by Meik Wiking'I love it, I love it, I love it. Just reading this makes you more content' Chris Evans'Comforting and cosy for the heart and soul' Fearne Cotton'This book will help you make your home somewhere you feel comfortable, safe and calm' Emma GunsA gorgeous guide to the Danish art of creating a cosy, happy home from the internationally bestselling author, Meik Wiking.Our homes should be a place of comfort, a place to feel safe when we shut the door. Somewhere to be ourselves, to unwind and create special memories. Inspired by Danish design and traditions, this beautiful new book from Meik Wiking shares how to turn your home into a sanctuary and live like the happiest people in the world. With simple tips based on new research from The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, this book reveals what makes a happy home tick. No matter how much space you have or what your budget is, Meik shows how you can use colour, light and space to create your happy place and celebrate cosiness the Danish way.PRE-ORDER THE NEW BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE NOW!
The Veg Box: 10 Vegetables, 10 Ways
by Stephen Flynn David FlynnDavid and Stephen Flynn, a.k.a the Happy Pear twins, are back with their simplest cookbook yet!The perfect collection for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking to eat more plant-based recipes - 'This book is awesome' Chris EvansAUBERGINE - BEETROOT - BROCCOLI - CABBAGE - CARROT - CAULIFLOWER - COURGETTE - LEEK - MUSHROOMS - POTATOESTen vegetables, ten ways, The Veg Box makes cooking veg easier and tastier than ever before! This vibrant book is packed with over 100 new recipes that use just ten ingredients or less and showcase the delicious and diverse ways you can enjoy each vegetable.Take carrots for example. Learn how to transform this simple produce into:Carrot and Sesame BurgersRoasted Carrot TagineChewy Flapjacks with Carrot and PistachioOr how about courgettes? Watch them become:Easy One-Pan Courgette PizzaCourgette Crepes with Spinach and RicottaCourgette and Lemon Loaf Cake with a Lemon Curd Building tips on eating more sustainably into family-friendly meals, quick weeknight dinners and sweet treats, this is healthy eating for our planet, our bodies and our tastebuds.'Proper good food, less waste and very simple, delicious plant-based recipes' Joe Wicks'Super practical and full of great recipes for eating more plants and reducing food waste' Fearne Cotton 'The lads have done it again! A great concept and a beautiful book to help us all cook more delicious veg' BOSH!'A delicious celebration of plants and all that they have to offer' Megan Rossi 'Their recipes are fantastic and you will love this book' Dr Rupy Aujla 'Delicious, sustainable meals everyone will enjoy' Dr Gemma Newman
Grow: How nature can restore balance in a busy world
by Joe SuggJoin YouTube star Joe Sugg on a journey to fixing your relationship with the online world by letting nature in - the life-changing companion we all NEED after the past few years . . .For so long, we've all been drowning in an endless stream of online content.NOW is the time to fix that - repair our relationship with tech, learn to check into nature, and improve our mental wellbeing.As one of the UK's first and biggest YouTube stars, Joe Sugg knows this struggle all too well.And now he has the solution: we need to bring nature inside.In GROW, he will guide you through creative and practical ways to digitally detox wherever you live, without throwing away your tech, featuring . . .· Simple ways to reduce your screen time· A beginner's guide to gardening - inside and out· Wildflowers and insects to look out for in nature· The benefits of houseplants - and how not to kill them· Personal stories from Joe's own journey· Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations Grow immerses us in a truly restorative journey that shows ways to balance our time online with the outdoors, and grow happier, healthier and calmer by doing so.
Chicken Boy: My Life With Hens
by Arthur ParkinsonA captivating, beautifully illustrated memoir of a life in nature, and a testament to the mutual rewards and delights of keeping chickens, by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Flower Yard'I am a toddler the first time I meet a chicken, and we are equal in size and height. The hen has tiny eyelashes, a strawberry-jam face and a voice of purring clucks. I sense a happy spirit of inquisitiveness and smile in fascination. From that moment on, I will always love the company of chickens. I have found my tribe'Most of us want a dog, or a cat, or a pony when we are young - for Arthur Parkinson, it was always hens. Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, the other kids in the playground called him 'Chicken Boy'. But the quiet fulfilment of keeping hens became his sanctuary, a tonic for mental and physical health, a connection with his family and the natural world. From the local allotments and his nan's back garden, to Chatsworth and an unlikely friendship with the late Duchess of Devonshire, a famous hen-keeper, Chicken Boy tells the story of the love and satisfaction to be found in caring for living things.Illustrated with Arthur's own characterful watercolours and photographs of his 'girls', and laden with practical hen-keeping tips, gardening advice and introductions to common, rare and pure breeds, Chicken Boy is a one-of-a-kind memoir of a life in nature.
Foraging: The fun and easy guide to the great outdoors
by Stella and De Luca MulandieeFrom the writers behind the extraordinary Knowledge to Forage comes an incredible guide to the great outdoors . . .Welcome to the world of foraging.Have you ever been on a long (and probably boring) walk through woods or fields, or even the streets around where you live?If you have, then all around you are undiscovered secrets. A whole world of nature and plants and flowers just waiting to be found.In this amazing book, we'll tell you all about how you can become an expert in foraging - which is a way to find incredible food, medicines and even soaps in the natural world around you.After reading this book, you'll be able to:- Find the best berries and plants for making yummy foods- Learn about the incredible stories hidden in the flowers and plants and trees you see every day (and some you might never have spotted).- Impress your friends with your incredible knowledge of the natural world - and help them protect it!With handy tips and colourful illustrations, Family Foraging is a comprehensive guide to nature and foraging, which will allow children to explore the great outdoors with friends and families.*Includes a full and comprehensive safety guide*
A Castle in Spain
by Matthew Parris'Stands apart... This Englishman's castle might have started as a dream, but it has ended up being an extraordinary reality' Sunday TimesWalking in the Pyrenees one spring morning Matthew Parris stumbled upon a magnificent ruined mansion standing on the edge of a line of huge cliffs. Later he was to discover that parts of the house dated back to the 14th century though it had not been completed until 1559; and that it had survived two massive earthquakes before falling into disrepair in the early 1960s. A few years later, seduced by 'one of those foolish challenges that grip us in middle life', Parris bought the house, L'Avenc, and set about restoring it to its full glory. This delightful book chronicles it all: the original discovery, the attempts to discover its history, and then the long effortful years trying to bring it back to life in the face of scepticism from family, friends and Spanish neighbours. The original edition of A Castle in Spain was published in 2005 when the renovations were a work in progress; this new edition triumphantly records all that has happened since.
Life in the Garden
by Penelope Lively'Rich and unusual, a book to treasure. Few recent gardening books come anywhere close to its style, intelligence and depth. Moves between Lively's own horticultural life and a broad history of gardening' Observer'Wonderful. A manifesto of horticultural delight' Literary Review'Beautiful. Perfect for literary garden lovers' Good Housekeeping'Exquisite and original' Daily Telegraph 'Enchanting. Reading this book is like walking with a wise, humorous guide through a series of garden rooms . . . and finding that vistas suddenly open out, on to history, fashion, politics, reflections on time and the taming of nature' Tablet'A perfect bedside book. In part it's a memoir of the gardens in Lively's life, starting with the exotic Egyptian garden of her childhood and continuing up to her small present-day garden in a north London square' Sunday Express'A gentle survey of the garden's place in Western culture, which morphs into a personal meditation on time, memory and a life well lived' i'Scholarly bedtime reading' The Times, Books of the Year
Stuff Happens!: Manage your clutter, clear your head & discover what's really important
by Emma GleesonLife is messy, and sometimes so is your space.As a reformed hoarder turned professional declutterer, Emma Gleeson knows how easy it is to be overwhelmed by stuff. Stuff Happens! is her life-changing guide to getting a handle on your stuff and reclaiming your peace of mind.Stuff Happens! is brimful of practical advice on . . .· what to keep and what to chuck (responsibly)· how to shop (especially if you struggle with a fast fashion habit)· how to organize (however tiny your space)Stuff Happens! is packed with clever room-by-room pointers and ingenious tips and hacks.Not only that, it will change your relationship with stuff forever. By putting you, rather than some dream of minimalism, at the heart of the process Emma explains that it's natural to have stuff and easier than you think to stop it getting out of control.Filled with aha moments from Emma's and her clients' lives, and fantastic tools for making lasting change, Stuff Happens! will transform both your space and your headspace - so that you can focus on what's really important._______________'Genius! Stunning and thought-provoking' Laura de Barra, author of Gaff Goddess'So well thought out, practical and personal' Emer McLysaght'Simply brilliant. I find myself returning to it again and again' Hilary Fannin 'Fab! As a total hoarder and un-organiser, Stuff Happens! is what the doctor ordered' James Kavanagh 'Not just practical, I loved how brilliantly Emma explained the psychology behind so many common problems we all have in dealing with our stuff' Daniella Moyles, author of Jump
Lorenzo De' Medici At Home: The Inventory Of The Palazzo Medici In 1492 (PDF)
by Richard StaplefordLorenzo il Magnifico de' Medici was the head of the ruling political party at the apogee of the golden age of Quattrocento Florence. Born in 1449, his life was shaped by privilege and responsibility, and his deeds as a statesman were legendary even while he lived. At his death he was master of the largest and most famous private palace in Florence, a building crammed full of the household goods of four generations of Medici as well as the most extraordinary collections of art, antiquities, books, jewelry, coins, cameos, and rare vases in private hands. His heirs undertook an inventory of the estate, a usual procedure following the demise of an important head of family. An anonymous clerk, pen and paper in hand, walked through the palace from room to room, counting and recording the barrels of wine and the water urns; opening cabinets and chests; unfolding and examining clothes, fabrics, and tapestries; describing the paintings he saw on the walls; and unlocking jewel boxes and weighing and evaluating coins, medals, necklaces, brooches, rings, and cameos. The original document he produced has been lost, but a copy was made by another clerk in 1512. Richard Stapleford's critical translation of this document offers the reader a window onto the world of the Medici family, their palace, and the material culture that surrounded them.
The People's Gardener
by Jim ButtressWith an introduction by Alan Titchmarsh, The People's Gardener is an inspiring memoir by top gardening judge Jim Buttress, that will amuse and enthral gardeners everywhere.As a judge at the RHS, Jim Buttress presides over the country's favourite flower shows, including Chelsea and Hampton Court. He also judged the Britain in Bloom competition for over twenty-five years, and was watched by millions on the BBC's The Big Allotment Challenge. But how did this practical gardener from Purley go on to have one of the most impressive careers in British horticulture?In this warm and funny memoir, Jim takes us from his boyhood obsession with Percy Thrower to his ten-year stint as Superintendent of the Central Royal Parks. Here, his day-to-day duties could include anything from having a drink and a chat with the Queen Mother to working out how to water some elephants who'd taken up residence in Hyde Park.Jim also reveals what it's like to exhibit, and to win gold, at the Chelsea Flower Show, and shares his many adventures as a judge; from the joy of awarding medals to grateful winners to the shock of being threatened with a punch on the nose from the odd irate loser. Packed with brilliant characters, this book will delight everyone who shares Jim's love of gardening.
The Company of Trees: A Year in a Lifetime’s Quest
by Thomas Pakenham'The master. Puts all other modern tree-writers in the shade' John Lewis-Stempel, author of MeadowlandThomas Pakenham is an indefatigable champion of trees. In The Company of Trees he recounts his personal quest to establish a large arboretum on the family estate, Tullynally in Ireland; his forays to other tree-filled parks and plantations; his often hazardous seed-hunting expeditions; and his efforts to preserve magnificent old trees and historic woodlands.Whether writing about the terrible storms breaking the backs of hundred-year-old trees or a fire in the peat bog on Tullynally which threatens to spread to the main commercial spruce-woods, his fear of climate change and disease, or the sturdy young saplings giving him hope for the future, his book is never less than enthralling.
Designing Modern America: Broadway to Main Street
by Professor Christopher InnesFrom the 1920s through the 1950s, two individuals, Joseph Urban and Norman Bel Geddes, did more, by far, to create the image of "America” and make it synonymous with modernity than any of their contemporaries. Urban and Bel Geddes were leading Broadway stage designers and directors who turned their prodigious talents to other projects, becoming mavericks first in industrial design and then in commercial design, fashion, architecture, and more. The two men gave shape to the most quintessential symbols of the modern American lifestyle, including movies, cars, department stores, and nightclubs, along with private homes, kitchens, stoves, fridges, magazines, and numerous household furnishings.Illustrated with more than 130 photographs of their influential designs, this book tells the engrossing story of Urban and Bel Geddes. Christopher Innes shows how these two men with a background in theater lent dramatic flair to everything they designed and how this theatricality gave the distinctive modernity they created such wide appeal. If the American lifestyle has been much imitated across the globe over the past fifty years, says Innes, it is due in large measure to the designs of Urban and Bel Geddes. Together they were responsible for creating what has been called the "Golden Age” of American culture.
From Ornament To Object (PDF): Genealogies Of Architectural Modernism
by Alina PayneIn the late 19th century, a centuries-old preference for highly ornamented architecture gave way to a budding Modernism of clean lines and unadorned surfaces. At the same moment, everyday objects―cups, saucers, chairs, and tables―began to receive critical attention. Alina Payne addresses this shift, arguing for a new understanding of the genealogy of architectural modernism: rather than the well-known story in which an absorption of technology and mass production created a radical aesthetic that broke decisively with the past, Payne argues for a more gradual shift, as the eloquence of architectural ornamentation was taken on by objects of daily use. As she demonstrates, the work of Adolf Loos and Le Corbusier should be seen as the culmination of a conversation about ornament dating as far back as the Renaissance. Payne looks beyond the usual suspects of philosophy and science to establish theoretical catalysts for the shift from ornament to object in the varied fields of anthropology and ethnology; art history and the museum; and archaeology and psychology.
Hitler at Home
by Despina StratigakosAdolf Hitler’s makeover from rabble-rouser to statesman coincided with a series of dramatic home renovations he undertook during the mid-1930s. This provocative book exposes the dictator’s preoccupation with his private persona, which was shaped by the aesthetic and ideological management of his domestic architecture. Hitler’s bachelor life stirred rumors, and the Nazi regime relied on the dictator’s three dwellings—the Old Chancellery in Berlin, his apartment in Munich, and the Berghof, his mountain home on the Obersalzberg—to foster the myth of the Führer as a morally upstanding and refined man. Author Despina Stratigakos also reveals the previously untold story of Hitler’s interior designer, Gerdy Troost, through newly discovered archival sources. At the height of the Third Reich, media outlets around the world showcased Hitler’s homes to audiences eager for behind-the-scenes stories. After the war, fascination with Hitler’s domestic life continued as soldiers and journalists searched his dwellings for insights into his psychology. The book’s rich illustrations, many previously unpublished, offer readers a rare glimpse into the decisions involved in the making of Hitler’s homes and into the sheer power of the propaganda that influenced how the world saw him.
Tastemaker: Elizabeth Gordon, House Beautiful, and the Postwar American Home
by Monica PenickA riveting and superbly illustrated account of the enigmatic House Beautiful editor’s profound influence on mid-century American taste From 1941 to 1964, House Beautiful magazine’s crusading editor-in-chief Elizabeth Gordon introduced and promoted her vision of “good design” and “better living” to an extensive middle-class American readership. Her innovative magazine-sponsored initiatives, including House Beautiful’s Pace Setter House Program and the Climate Control Project, popularized a “livable” and decidedly American version of postwar modern architecture. Gordon’s devotion to what she called the American Style attracted the attention of Frank Lloyd Wright, who became her ally and collaborator. Gordon’s editorial programs reshaped ideas about American living and, by extension, what consumers bought, what designers made, and what manufacturers brought to market. This incisive assessment of Gordon’s influence as an editor, critic, and arbiter of domestic taste reflects more broadly on the cultures of consumption and identity in postwar America. Nearly 200 images are featured, including work by Ezra Stoller, Maynard Parker, and Julius Shulman. This important book champions an often-neglected source—the consumer magazine—as a key tool for deepening our understanding of mid-century architecture and design.
Nature by Design: The Practice of Biophilic Design
by Stephen R. KellertBiophilia is the theory that people possess an inherent affinity for nature, which developed during the long course of human evolution. In recent years, studies have revealed that this inclination continues to be a vital component to human health and wellbeing. Given the pace and scale of construction today with its adversarial, dominative relationship with nature, the integration of nature with the built environment is one of the greatest challenges of our time. In this sweeping examination, Stephen Kellert describes the basic principles, practices, and options for successfully implementing biophilic design. He shows us what is—and isn’t—good biophilic design using examples of workplaces, healthcare facilities, schools, commercial centers, religious structures, and hospitality settings. This book will to appeal to architects, designers, engineers, scholars of human evolutionary biology, and—with more than one hundred striking images of designs—anyone interested in nature†‘inspired spaces.
The Story of the Country House: A History of Places and People
by Clive AsletThe fascinating story of the evolution of the country house in Britain, from its Roman precursors to the presentThe Story of the Country House is an authoritative and vivid account of the British country house, exploring how they have evolved with the changing political and economic landscape. Clive Aslet reveals the captivating stories behind individual houses, their architects, and occupants, and paints a vivid picture of the wider context in which the country house in Britain flourished and subsequently fell into decline before enjoying a renaissance in the twenty-first century. The genesis, style, and purpose of architectural masterpieces such as Hardwick Hall, Hatfield House, and Chatsworth are explored, alongside the numerous country houses lost to war and economic decline. We also meet a cavalcade of characters, owners with all their dynastic obsessions and diverse sources of wealth, and architects such as Inigo Jones, Sir John Vanbrugh, Robert Adam, Sir John Soane and A.W.N. Pugin, who dazzled or in some cases outraged their contemporaries. The Story of the Country House takes a fresh look at this enduringly popular building type, exploring why it continues to hold such fascination for us today.
High Life: Condo Living in the Suburban Century
by Matthew LasnerThe first comprehensive architectural and cultural history of condominium and cooperative housing in twentieth-century America. Today, one in five homeowners in American cities and suburbs lives in a multifamily home rather than a single-family house. As the American dream evolves, precipitated by rising real estate prices and a renewed interest in urban living, many predict that condos will become the predominant form of housing in the twenty-first century. In this unprecedented study, Matthew Gordon Lasner explores the history of co-owned multifamily housing in the United States, from New York City’s first co-op, in 1881, to contemporary condominium and townhouse complexes coast to coast. Lasner explains the complicated social, economic, and political factors that have increased demand for this way of living, situating the trend within the larger housing market and broad shifts in residential architecture and family life. He contrasts the prevalence and popularity of condos, townhouses, and other privately governed communities with their ambiguous economic, legal, and social standing, as well as their striking absence from urban and architectural history.
The Throne of the Great Mogul in Dresden: The Ultimate Artwork of the Baroque
by Dror WahrmanA masterful deciphering of an extraordinary art object, illuminating some of the biggest questions of the eighteenth century The Throne of the Great Mogul (1701–8) is a unique work of European decorative art: an intricate miniature of the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb depicted during the emperor’s birthday celebrations. It was created by the jeweler Johann Melchior Dinglinger in Dresden and purchased by the Saxon prince Augustus the Strong for an enormous sum. Constructed like a theatrical set made of gold, silver, thousands of gemstones, and amazing enamel work, it consists of 164 pieces that together tell a detailed story. Why did Dinglinger invest so much time and effort in making this piece? Why did Augustus, in the midst of a political and financial crisis, purchase it? And why did the jeweler secrete in it messages wholly unrelated to the prince or to the Great Mogul? In answering these questions, Dror Wahrman, while shifting scales from microhistory to global history, opens a window onto major historical themes of the period: the nature of European absolutism, the princely politics of the Holy Roman Empire, the changing meaning of art in the West, the surprising emergence of a cross-continental lexicon of rulership shared across the Eastern Hemisphere, and the enactment in jewels and gold of quirky contemporary theories about the global history of religion.