Search results for ""Batsford""

'A friendly and approachable book on a game which can often seem quite daunting ... An excellent book, highly recommended.' – Parents in Touch 'With Sabrina as writer, no basic points are omitted … This might make an excellent present.’ – James Pratt, British Chess Magazine A brand new edition of this international chess classic, with all-new illustrations. Aimed at children aged 7 and up, this character-based book is a complete guide to chess for those starting out in the game. In straightforward, animated language, Jess and Jamie – two rough-and-tumble kids who are obsessed with chess – explain everything you need to know, from first sitting down at the board to sneaky tricks to help you beat your opponents. The book explains who the pieces are and how they move (and that we're talking about pawns, not prawns), how to reach checkmate (or, in Jess's words, 'how to kill the king'), and the concept of the opening, middlegame and endgame. It also introduces the idea of chess etiquette – and explains why sometimes no one wins and a game ends in stalemate. Friendlier and funnier than the average children's chess book, The Batsford Book of Chess for Children is an essential addition to any child's bookshelf. Chess is experiencing a new wave of popularity in schools, and it's educational too. Organisations like Chess in Schools are promoting it as the perfect way to develop analytical thinking skills, increase resilience, foster the competitive instinct – and provide a lot of fun along the way.

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1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of an iconic New York illustration, inspired by classic Batsford book covers of the 1930s and 40s.Immerse yourself in a wonderfully colourful vision of New York. This bright and brilliant illustration of a picturesque New York scene, overlooking Central Park with the iconic skyline and the Statue of Liberty in the background, is inspired by Batsford''s vintage Brian Cook book covers, first published in the 1930s and still hugely popular today.This gorgeous and colourful puzzle will provide you with hours of mindful entertainment. The box includes 1000 jigsaw pieces in a sustainable paper bag. Once completed, the jigsaw puzzle measures 70 x 50 cm.Also available in this series as jigsaw puzzles are the Brian Cook covers for The Landscape of England, The Cathedrals of England and The Spirit of London.

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A 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of an evocative Parisian scene, inspired by classic Batsford book covers of the 1930s and 40s. Immerse yourself in a wonderfully colourful vision of Paris. This nostalgic illustration of a Parisian balcony looking onto a picturesque boulevard with the Eiffel Tower in the distance, is inspired by Batsford's vintage Brian Cook book covers, first published in the 1930s and still very popular today. This gorgeous and vivid puzzle will provide you with hours of mindful entertainment. The box includes 1000 jigsaw pieces in a sustainable paper bag, plus a helpful poster for guidance. Once completed, the jigsaw puzzle measures 70 x 50cm / 27.56 x 19.69in. Also available in this series as puzzles are the Brian Cook covers for the classic Batsford books The Landscape of England, The Cathedrals of England and The Spirit of London, alongside The Spirit of New York.

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1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of an iconic London illustration from book designer and artist Brian Cook.Immerse yourself in the colourful world of Brian Cook's vision of London. This bright and brilliant vintage illustration of a busy London street scene with St Paul''s Cathedral looming in the background featured on the dust jacket of the 1935 book The Spirit of London by Paul Cohen-Portheim.Now available as a jigsaw puzzle for the first time to provide you with hours of mindful entertainment. The box includes 1000 jigsaw pieces in a sustainable paper bag. Once completed, the jigsaw puzzle measures 70 x 50 cm.The book jackets that Brian Cook designed for B. T. Batsford through the 1930s and 1940s are much-loved, timeless pieces of illustrative art and highly collectable. The Landscape of England and The Cathedrals of England, from the same popular heritage book series, are also available as jigsaw puzzles.

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1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of an iconic cathedral illustration from book designer and artist Brian Cook.Immerse yourself in the colourful world of Brian Cook's vision of England. This bright and brilliant vintage illustration of Gloucester cathedral featured on the dust jacket of the 1934 book The Cathedrals of England by Charles Fry.Now available as a jigsaw puzzle for the first time to provide you with hours of mindful entertainment. The box includes 1000 jigsaw pieces in a sustainable paper bag. Once completed, the jigsaw puzzle measures 70 x 50 cm.The book jackets that Brian Cook designed for B. T. Batsford through the 1930s and 1940s are much-loved, timeless pieces of illustrative art and highly collectable. The Landscape of England from the same popular heritage book series is also available as a jigsaw puzzle.

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A practical and inspirational guide to choosing, blending and spinning richly textured artisan yarn for weaving, knitting and other textile art applications. Imogen Bright Moon is a British Romani textile artist who creates richly textured, highly tactile woven textile works from yarn that she spins and blends herself. In this elegantly designed book Imogen reveals the secrets of her practice. In evocative, engagingly written text accompanied by sumptuous images of her work in her studio throughout the year, she explains: How to choose raw fibres for use in your work: the author's are ethically sourced from various ecologically responsible sources, including a rescue flock of sheep on the South Downs. How to put together different types of fibres raw sheep's wool, plant fibres such as hemp, soya and wild silk, alpaca hair and much more to create richly textured yarn. The delicate art of blending naturally occurring pigments, working with shade

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A fascinating exploration of VW, one of the most revered and enduring international car brands, with dynamic photography and insightful text that explains why we love them and why you should want to own one. With a second-to-none reputation for reliability, innovation and style, Volkswagen is one of the world''s best-loved car manufacturers. From the adorable and unforgettable Type One, otherwise known as the Beetle or Bug, which reached huge heights of popularity in the 1960s, to today''s groundbreaking hybrid and electric vehicles, good design has always been at the forefront of VW''s philosophy. This fascinating book, written by a long-time VW fanatic who is also an expert in art and design, traces the development of Volkswagen design throughout the years, examining the most exciting and stylish models not only the Beetle but the huge range of family cars, camper vans, SUVs and modern city cars the company has produced throughout the years, and not forget

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A beautifully designed instructive guide to creating luxurious, safe and effective beauty products using ingredients from nature. In this charming book you''ll discover how to prepare an abundant range of products using plants and flowers, many of which you''ll be able to find around you or grow yourself. It includes comprehensive, easy-to-follow recipes for: Rich moisturising cream with daisy extract Camomile based shampoo for glossy hair Sugar and honey body scrub Ginger oil for blemish control You will find a wealth of other delights such as body butter, hair conditioner, lip balm, deodorant, bath oil and even toothpaste. Also included is a selection of fragrance products for your home, such as a lavender and pine room spray made with vodka. Each easy-to-follow recipe gives a complete description of the product-making process so you can''t go wrong. There are handy visual guides to the plants you''ll be using,

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Calm Your Mind uses the power of art and ideas to quieten your racing mind and help you achieve a deep inner sense of stillness. This exquisite book, the second from the hugely popular online emotional wellbeing community Ravenous Butterflies, is the perfect companion for those times when you''re feeling agitated, overstimulated and troubled by daily stresses and worries. It showcases a beautiful selection of 80 tranquil yet stirring landscapes, portraits and abstracts from artists and illustrators both famous and obscure, including Augustus John, Laura Knight, Emile Claus and Nikolay Nikanorovich Dubovskoy, paired with inspiring quotations from authors such as Haruki Murakami, Rabindranath Tagore, Maya Angelou and L.M. Montgomery. The contents page is artfully divided into 18 calming journeys that suggest routes in which to navigate the book to help you cope with different emotional situations. Feeling burnt out after a hard day at work? Struggl

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This poetry anthology provides a bright and cheery way to start your day, with one joyful poem for every morning of the year. Whether you wake up to the chirping of birds or stumble out the door in a last minute rush, it''s important to take some time for yourself in the mornings to boost your mood. Before stepping into the day, prepare yourself with a jolly poem. You could allow the poem that has been selected for that date to soothe you, to excite you, to motivate you: whatever your needs, have a meditative morning moment with a happy poem to set yourself up for a successful day. With one happy poem for every single day of the year, keep this book by your bedside for a serotonin boost upon waking, on the kitchen counter for a pick-me-up while your coffee brews, or in your rucksack for a moment of (rare) commuting joy. With a delightful illustration for every month and a vast range of poems, it''ll be easy to find something that sparks joy within you. From t

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A magnificent colouring book from the well-loved Maggie Magoo design house inspired by the world of astrology. This beautiful book brings you many wonderful decorative designs to colour. It contains six different illustrations of each sign of the zodiac, in varying adorable design styles, so you can build up a glorious collection of colourful astrological imagery. And to finish, there are some general celestial images suns, moons, stars to complement the individual star signs. Once coloured, the pictures make ideal framed prints for the home colour and frame your family's star signs, or one for a baby's nursery. Or you could colour the entire zodiac! The designs can also be used as creative templates for collage, embroidery or appliqué. Whether you''re a cautious Virgo, a colourful Leo or a moody Scorpio, this gorgeous colouring collection will have you reaching for your pens and pencils to add a touch of colour to the whole range of star signs, in

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An inspirational and practical resource for any artist interested in going beyond the figurative and moving into abstract.

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Take the trip of a lifetime through poetry, journalism, historical fact, and science fiction with this daily anthology of travel writing. Travelling''s never been easier. Wherever you are, find yourself somewhere else with the newest anthology in the Batsford Bedside Companion series. Journey through different eras, continents and points of view, with one entry for each day of the year. Whether you''re in need of inspiration, you want to manifest your dream trip, or you just need a break, climb aboard and let some of the best travel writers of all time whisk you away to intriguing new lands. This collection is perfect for anyone who loves to travel, explore, and learn. Travel from Middle America to Peru with Bill Bryson, Jack Kerouac, and Michael Bond. See what the world has to offer, from Venetian Regattas to Iranian hospitality. Discover how others have moved through the world, from cities on foot with Lauren Elkin to countryside bi

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An exciting larger edition of a beautifully illustrated celebration of our favourite farmyard animals. This beautiful new edition ofThe Farmyard Setis bigger in size,ensuring a closer look at the world''s favourite farm animals. Readers ofThe Country SetandFlying the Nestshould dust down their wellingtons once again and come and meetThe Farmyard Set. This handsome and lavishly illustrated gift book features 50 of farming''s best-loved creatures, brought to life by award-winning artist Hannah Dale. Among them are old favourites, such as the Jersey cow and the Gloucester Old Spot, the Indian Runner duck and the Shetland pony, known for their charm and striking appearance. Alongside each illustration, Hannah Dale provides detailed descriptions and fascinating facts that help us learn more about the character and background of each beloved animal.

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Learn how to create beautiful, modern flower wreaths, not just for Advent and Christmas but throughout the year. Decorate your front door, walls and dining tables, and even your head with flower wreaths. Organised around the seasons of the year, this book has 40 flower projects for all occasions, from the first longing for spring and budding greenery via summer light and harvest time to Christmas and winter rest. All wreaths have clear step-by-step instructions in text and pictures. There are facts about which materials are suitable and sustainable for the different seasons, including which you can pick yourself from nature or your garden. Written by florist, photographer and writer Malin Björkholm, whose wreaths and flower arrangements have become famous on Instagram due to their simplicity and use of natural materials. Projects in this book include an enchanting bright yellow mimosa flower wreath for spring, a traditional midsummer Swedish flower crown, a s

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A fascinating collection of some of the most significant, interesting and groundbreaking letters ever written.

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Poems to celebrate autumn. A companion volume to the successful winter and spring titles, this anthology of poems is as sweet as pumpkin spice and warming as a roaring log fire. With one poem for every autumn evening, it''s the perfect literary companion as the days begin to shorten. Whether you keep it on your nightstand for some evening reading, or in your bag for when you come across the perfect cosy coffee shop, this collection of poems is bound to make you feel ready for big scarves and crunchy leaves. With classics from Katherine Mansfield, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Shelley, William Blake, William Morris and more, you won''t be sad that summer''s over: you''ll be celebrating because autumn has begun. This beautiful and collectable anthology of poems derives from the popularA Poem for Every Night of the Yearand features poems about every aspect of autumnal nature.

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'Totally addictive.'' Alice Loxton, The Daily Telegraph ''An intriguing, highly snackable guide to women's experiences.'' Independent ''A modern classic.'' Alison Weir, author and historian ''The sort of book you return to again and again.'' Tracy Borman, author and historian A captivating collection of daily extracts from women''s diaries, looking back over four centuries to discover how women''s experience of men and children, sex and shopping, work and the natural world has changed down the years. And, of course, how it hasn''t. Organised around the calendar year, in this engaging anthology you'll find Lady Anne Clifford in the seventeenth century and Loran Hurnscot in the twentieth both stoically recording the demands of an unreasonable husband; Joan Wyndham and Anne Frank, at much the same time, but in wildly different settings, describing their first expe

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A fascinating journey into the secret life of insects, with QR codes linked to videos that bring every creature to life. Just as birds have yearly rhythms, so do bees, beetles, butterflies and other insects. Wildlife experts Dominic Couzens and Gail Ashton discover 52 minibeasts from around the world. They tell the story of what is happening week-by-week in the insect world, in our own backyards, window boxes and in hidden corners of our homes. From the daily grind of the house spider building a new web each morning, to the vast appetites of ladybirds, which can devour hundreds of aphids a day, and the glory of the Stag beetle''s maiden flight. We delve into the world of the lethal Sydney funnelweb spider in Australian gardens, the migratory mission of the Monarch butterfly in America and the life of the backdoor scorpions in South Africa. In among the seasonal behaviour, the authors have woven history and folklore. These brilliant stories are complemen

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Discover how to combine leaves and flowers to create stunning collaged artworks. Leading flower artist Jennie Ashmore brings the art of pressing leaves and flowers to life in this glorious guide and showcase of her work. Through simple instructions, step-by-step demonstrations and beautiful illustrations, she shows how to collect, place, press and embellish a variety of natural materials to create unique works of art that convey a strong sense of time and place. Following the success of her previous book, The Art of Pressed Flowers and Leaves, Jennie continues to push the boundaries of this classic and newly revitalized craft. She provides a focus on a wider range of plants, often locally sourced. Other groundbreaking techniques include how to design with different shapes like squares, circles and diamonds, capturing seasonal colour, painting interesting backgrounds and experimenting with rubbings, hand-made paper, collagraph printing and plant-extract

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International Grandmaster Andrew Soltis brings you a foolproof guide to choosing your best next chess move, every time. There are more than 20 moves you can choose from an average position, yet Chess Masters regularly manage to select the best moves and they do it faster, more confidently and with less calculation than other players. This practical guide, in a fully revised and updated edition of a Batsford chess classic, explains the tricks, techniques and shortcuts Masters employ to find the best way forward, at every stage of a game. Drawing on the wisdom of some of the greatest chess players of all time, with analysis from over 180 games, it covers: Employing specific cues to identify good moves. Streamlining analysis of the consequences of moves. Using both objective and highly subjective criteria to find the right move from any position. This invaluable book provides a fascinating insight into the way Chess Masters think, an

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A compact collection of 100 supremely jolly poems to cheer you up wherever you are. We can all benefit from a portable little nugget of happiness to soothe our weary souls in moments of stress, sadness and hardship.100 Happy Poems gives you exactly that: 100 specially selected and sublimely happy poems to turn to in times of need, from cosy fireside idylls to exhilaratingoutdoor adventures, encounters with the beauty of nature, interactions with our fellow humans, and moments of quiet reflection. This little bit of happiness is always on hand, and it includesuplifting words from some of the greatest poets ever to put pen to paper, from Emily Brontë wandering on the moors and Paul Laurence Dunbar welcoming his beloved to Katherine Mansfield reliving a childhood moment, Wendy Cope sharing an orange, and Algernon Charles Swinburne chatting to his cat. Quirkily and colourfully designed, this wonderful book is the perfect way to lift your spirits in t

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This collection of over 75 simple and delicious recipes is perfect for students, anyone moving out of home for the first time, or just wanting to take their cooking skills to the next level. Whether you're a student, moving into your first flat, or just wanting to improve your cooking skills, this is the only cookbook you'll need to create simple, quick and reliable recipes. This cookbook includes over 75 timeless classics, the majority of which can be made within an hour. Recipes include: Sausage rolls Chilli con carne One pan roast dinner Ratatouille Shepherd's pie Cheesecake Jam tarts Apple, blueberry and cinnamon muffins The Independent Cookis an easy-to-follow guide, which covers all the basic techniques you need to know to set you up for life. The recipes are tasty and straightforward, with QR codes linking to videos of key techniques, which will walk you through how to separate an egg

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A brand new edition of this beautiful gift book celebrating 50 of our favourite pet dogs. Each entry is lovingly illustrated in Hannah Dale''s inimitable, quirky style. The only thing better than dogs? More dogs! Updated in an exciting largerformat, This new edition of A Dog''s Life ensuresa closer look at the world''s best friend. This beautiful gift book features over 50 dogs painted by Hannah Dale in her uniquely quirky, characterful style. From the faithful Labrador and the bouncy Cocker Spaniel to the loveable Old English Sheepdog and French Bulldog, all our favourite dog breeds are delightfully brought to life by this award-winning artist. Each portrait is accompanied by insightful and entertaining text from Hannah, who is a trained zoologist as well as an artist. A wonderful reference and beautiful gift book for all dog lovers.

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Learn the art of Himmeli in this captivating book in which traditional Finnish craft and modern design intertwine to create stunning geometric mobiles from rye straw.

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Published in collaborationwith the National Churches Trust, this fascinating book is a sumptuous and authoritative photographic history of churches in England, as told through the objects inside them. Arranged chronologically from the Roman era to the present day, it covers a huge range of church objects including ornate fonts, beautiful stained glass windows, carved bench ends and rood screens, precious silverware and even church organs, and each piece has a fascinating story to tell. Within these pages, you''ll discover: The Hinton St Mary mosaic in Dorset, created in the early 4th century AD and showing the first depiction of Jesus Christ in Britain. The full Norman repertoire of abstract geometrical forms displayed in the Tower Arch, St John's Church, Northampton. The Becket pilgrims represented in glowing medieval stained glass in Canterbury Cathedral. Exquisitely carved misericords showing scenes from spiritual life through the yea

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Master painting lively figures and private portraits, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations. Bestselling artist and author Hazel Soan explains how to create beautiful and engaging paintings of strangers and loved ones, with handy hints and work-in-progress paintings throughout. Learn how to overcome shyness or anxiety about painting people in private and in public. Capture their energy and see beyond their likeness through angles, movement, tone and detail. Understand how to make them comfortable with poses, a timeframe and support. Learn about clothing, proportion, measuring and scene-setting. This is the only book you need for painting people and portraits. This extensive guide is ideal for all painters, new or experienced.

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A stylish celebration of some of the greatest buildings in Britain, from the 20th century and beyond, by the country's leading organisation for the protection of 20th century architecture. This fascinating book showcases 100 standout buildings from 1914 onwards, representing the broad variety of 20th century British architecture.The structures celebrated in this book include the Royal Festival Hall, the Hepworth Gallery, Preston Bus Station, Battersea Power Station, the Barbican Estate, the Aquatics Centre and many more. The glorious photography in 100 20th Century Buildings is accompanied by insightful text from a range of expert architectural writers and enthusiasts including Alan Powers, Owen Hatherley and Rowan Moore, along with several longer essays on different aspects of the 20th-century built environment: the late Gavin Stamp on the inter-war decades, the much missed Elain Harwood on post-war architecture and Timothy Brittain-Catlin on postmode

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Introducing a beautiful new range of notebooks adorned with stunning illustrations and photographs from our rich archives. All exquisitely finished and cloth bound with woodfree paper, large pocket at the back and elastic closure. These iconic images were originally commissioned for Batsford book jackets in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Brian Cook's heightened use of colour encapsulates classic scenes of glorious countryside of old England and his work has become highly collectable. The Beauty of Britain was first published by B.T. Batsford in 1935, with an introduction by J.B. Priestley. The dust jacket illustration by Brian Cook was part of the innovative Pilgrim's Library series published by Batsford throughout the 1930s. Perfect for lovers of vintage book jackets!

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The illustrations of Brian Cook from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s have become iconic. His heightened use of colour, in a flat colour poster style, is much imitated, but never surpassed. His jacket covers for the Batsford series of books that celebrated British life are now very collectable. This collection of his best work is a beautiful publication that should be enjoyed not only by collectors but all lovers of good design and illustration. Brian Cook describes his working processes, the then-new printing process that allowed him to pioneer his characteristic bold colours, and the design principles and practical methods of his craft. A stunning book for designers.

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"Pack soup, cheese and a copy of How To See Nature by the Bard of Wenlock Edge and Guardian diarist."John Vidal With a title taken from the 1940 Batsford book, this is nature writing for the modern reader. Evans weaves historical, cultural and literary references into his writing, ranging from TS Eliot to Bridget Riley, from Hieronymus Bosch to Napoleon. It is a book both for those that live in the country and those that don't, but experience nature every day through brownfield edge lands, transport corridors, urban greenspace, industrialised agriculture and fragments of ancient countryside. The essays include the The Weedling Wild, on the wildlife of the wasteland: ragwort, rosebay willowherb, giant hogweed and the cinnabar moth; Gardens of Light, about the creatures to be found under moonlight: pipistrelle bats, lacewings and orb-weaver spider; The Flow, with tales from the riverbank, estuaries and seas, including kingfisher, minnow, otter and heron. The Commons looks at meadowland with a human footprint, with the Adonis blue butterfly, horseshoe vetch, skylark, black knapweed and the six-belted clearwing moth. The author also looks at the wildlife returned to Britain, such as wild boar and polecats, and finds nature in and around landscapes as varied as a domestic garden or a wild moor. The book ends with an alphabetical bestiary, an idiosyncratic selection of British wildlife based on the author's personal encounters.

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1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of an iconic landscape illustration from book designer and artist Brian Cook.Lose yourself in the rolling hills based loosely on the headlands of Great and Little Hangman, North Devon. This inviting scene, available as a jigsaw puzzle for the first time, featured on the dust jacket of the 1933 book Landscape of England by Charles Bradley Ford. The illustration was also exhibited at the Arts Council Exhibition Landscapes in Britain 18501950' at the Hayward Gallery in 1983.The box includes 1000 jigsaw pieces in a sustainable paper bag. Once completed, the jigsaw puzzle measures 70 x 50 cm.The book jackets that Brian Cook designed for B. T. Batsford through the 1930s and 1940s are much-loved, timeless pieces of illustrative art and highly collectable. The Cathedrals of England from the same popular heritage book series is also available as a jigsaw puzzle.

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A new edition of Batsford’s classic 1930s guide to England’s cathedrals, with foreword by Simon Jenkins. This classic guide from 1934 gives a brief account and pictorial review of every Church of England cathedral in England that existed at the time. Simply and concisely written to be read by anyone with an interest in the subject, the book features cathedrals from the mighty York Minster, Durham and Canterbury through St Albans to Ripon and Southwark. The full list of cathedrals covered are: Bristol, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, Lincoln, London, Norwich, Oxford, Peterborough, Ripon, Rochester, St Albans, Salisbury, Southwark, Southwell, Wells, Winchester, Worcester, York. Also the Parish church cathedrals of Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford, Chelmsford, Coventry (pre-war building), Derby, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Portsmouth, St Edmundsbury, Sheffield and Wakefield.

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A new edition of a classic Batsford title from the 1930s. London is brought to life through its people, buildings and history in this classic book, first published in 1935. The Spirit of London presents a wonderful snapshot of our capital before World War II and a charming insight into urban life in the 1930s. Paul Cohen-Portheim was an Austrian traveller and writer who was interned in the UK during World War I. His enforced stay made him fall in love with England and in particular, London. This is his take on the irrepressible city. Chapters include: Towns Within, Town Streets and their Life, Green London, London Amusements and Night Life, Traditional London, London and the British and London and the Foreigner. The book features Brian Cook’s iconic illustration of Ludgate Circus and St Paul’s on the cover. Add in the charm of the authentic voice of a 1930s Londoner, this book should be enjoyed by all Londoners and London enthusiasts.

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In 1940 Doreen Wallace, prolific novelist, academic, social campaigner and farmer, wrote a book for Batsford on vegetable growing, as part of the publisher's iconic Home Front Handbook series. With its chatty, readable writing style and its beautiful Brian Cook cover, the book became a wartime classic, invaluable for everyone growing fruit and vegetables at home to help the war effort. This reissue of that important book retains all the appeal of the original. As well as being a great read, it contains a wealth of information that is still useful for vegetable gardeners today. It tells you what fruit and vegetables to grow and when, how and why, how to keep down weeds and pests, explores 'The Vexed Question of Small Fruit', gives tips on arrangement and rotation of crops, and even touches on the subject of keeping hens and pigs in your garden. Full of sensible practical advice mixed with whimsical musings and a great deal of charm, this book would make a perfect gift for any gardener.

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Chess is the art that expresses the science of logic. Mikhail Botvinnik Grandmaster Neil McDonald explains every single move made by White and Black in 30 striking tactical or strategical games played over the last quarter century. These games have been carefully chosen for their consistent logical thread, thereby providing the reader with prime instruction in the art of conceiving appropriate plans and attacks and carrying them out to their natural conclusion. Watching games unfold in this way will be both an education and inspiration to readers who can then try to play in the same purposeful way in their own games – with a corresponding increase in their playing strength.

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Following on from the hugely successful Big Book of Fashion Illustration, the Big Book of Contemporary Illustration covers the broadest range of illustration today from digital drawing, pixelated pictures, Photoshop fantasies to the traditional techniques of sketching and painting from over 160 international artists. With close to 1000 illustrations, the categories covered range from the technical, architectural through nature, people to fantasy, fashion and pop culture. This is an essential sourcebook for any creative professional or student and all those who appreciate the world's best illustration.

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An adorable collection of the sweetest baby animals you’ve ever seen, brought to exquisitely detailed life by well-loved animal artist Hannah Dale, creator of Wrendale Designs. This beautiful gift book, first published in 2015 but now reissued in a larger size to give even more prominence to the gorgeous illustrations, features over 50 British baby animals that are just starting out in life, painted in the author’s quirky, inimitable style. From the playful fox cub to the tiny fluffy duckling, from the prettiest baby seal to a wobbly thoroughbred foal, everyone’s favourite mini creatures are charmingly brought to life by this award-winning artist - you'll squeal with delight at their cuteness! Each animal portrait is accompanied by informative and entertaining text that will teach you more about how these little creatures will make their way in the world. This truly lovely book is the perfect gift package for nature lovers of any age.

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A beautiful collection of poems to nourish, inspire and change the women who read them.This transformative collection of poems by female poets through the ages sing to us across the centuries. These poems span the worlds of desire, love and friendship, of responsibility, hardship and care, of family and friends and lovers. Their words empower us with strength and courage, fill us with verve and spirit, and inspire creativity and imagination.Contemporary voices of Fiona Benson and Jane Yeh join the evocative imagery of Christina Rossetti, Anna Akhmatova and Emily Dickinson. Even the haunting voices of ancient Sappho, Venmaniputti and Li Qingzhao touch today's generation. Here are poems written by women, with women's lives in mind. As Gertrude Stein writes, 'such a sweet singing' is in the poetry that comes to us clear and lovely from out of the dark. Read these poems aloud. Remember them. Share them.

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A cloudspotter's interactive journal. Our interest in clouds is more profound than we ever thought. Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society and author of A Cloud A Day has been spreading the word via social media and hugely popular TED talks, and the response has been revelatory. Following on from his very successful A Cloud A Day book, he wants readers to take time each day to look at the shifting skies. To take a moment, as he says. Then, using the prompts and space in the journal, record the cloud, weather, and importantly their thoughts on that day. It is the perfect mindful occupation. To help readers understand the clouds they are looking at, the book includes a hugely useful pin wheel device – a cloud selector – at the back of the journal. The device allows the reader to visually match the cloud they see in the sky with the cloud in the selector device, which has all the information about that particular cloud they need. From the cloudlets of the altocumulus clouds to the rarer Lacunosus cloud (holes surrounded by fringes of cloud). In amongst the prompts and spaces are stunning images of clouds with bits of poetry, science and folklore. It is the ideal interactive journal for those interested in clouds and the weather but also for those looking for the perfect way to spend 10 minutes of the day to reconnect with nature and the passing of the seasons. Praise for A Cloud A Day: '[This] charming little volume reminds us that self-care is as available as a glance out the window, no matter your age or infirmities' The New York Times ‘A confident celebration of our ever-changing skies... I defy anyone who reads it not to start taking furtive peeks out the window.’ Robert Leigh-Pemberton, Daily Telegraph

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A fascinating insight into Britain’s industrial past as evidenced by its buildings, richly illustrated with intricate line drawings. Industrial Britain goes far beyond the mills and machine houses of the Industrial Revolution to give an engaging insight into Britain’s industrial heritage. It looks at the power stations and monumental bridges of Britain, including the buildings and engineering projects associated with the distribution of manufactured goods – docks, canals, railways and warehouses. The gasworks Temples of mass production The mill Warehouse and manufactory Dock and harbour buildings Water power and water storage Waterways: canals and rivers The railway age Breweries and oast houses Markets and exchanges The twentieth century: industry on greenfield sites It’s a story of industrial development, but also a story of its ultimate decline. As manufacturing has been increasingly replaced by services, new uses have been found for at least some of the country’s great industrial buildings. Not least as containers for art and heritage, such as the Bankside Power Station (Tate Modern) and Salts Mill. Other buildings featured are still used as originally intended today, such as Smithfield Market in London and the Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham. Illustrated throughout with over 200 original line drawings, Industrial Britain is a celebration of industrial architecture and its enduring legacy.

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An International Master's instructive guide to essential tactical strategies and positions in chess. A comprehensive book from the Swedish International Master Thomas Engqvist for understanding the most important tactical chess positions in the opening of a game, the middle game and the endgame. It cuts to the chase on the most useful tactical positions at each stage of the game. Knowing the positions is one thing but this experienced coach shows you how to create them, even out of nothing, in the spirit of Tal and Alekhine. It covers other important facets of tactical play, including calculation (how to calculate with the help of stepping stones), attacking play such as defence and counter attack, and even psychological tactics. Each numbered position can be seen as a test-yourself quiz (with answers given below the diagrams) to help cement tactical understanding. Since it's advisable to revise the positions from time to time, this book can be your life-long companion, enabling you to dramatically increase your tactical chess understanding. The perfect guide for players who want to reach a higher level but don't have time to spend hours every week on less productive study.

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