Search results for ""Palazzo Editions Ltd""

In a photographic career that spanned only seventeen years, Jack Robinson created an extraordinary body of work, that captured both the faces and the fashions of the 1960s - a defining period of twentieth-century popular arts. He regularly contributed "Vogue's Own Boutique" under the tutelage of Diana Vreeland, but in 1972 he suddenly abandoned his New York studio and spend the rest of his life in determined anonymity employed as a stained-glass designer in Memphis. When he died in 1997 at the age of 69, few people would have guessed that this reclusive artist had been at the centre of the glitterati in the Swinging Sixties and was acknowledged by his peers as one of the preeminent photographers in the business. This unique collection has been selected and edited by those to whom Jack entrusted his precious archive. Showcasing 150 of his most compelling portraits, with a reflective introduction by critic George Perry, and a foreword by Cybil Shepherd, this is a fitting tribute to a master photographer whose work resonates with the spirit of the time.

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James Cameron is the most successful filmmaker of all time by some margin. Which is something we tend to take for granted. The question at the heart of his story isn’t only how this came about, but what is it about Cameron that makes him such a universal storyteller? Cinema has had its godlike directors, lifting it up into new spaces, but he is their Zeus. The man who made the biggest film of all time, Titanic, then topped that by making the next biggest film of all time, Avatar. Encapsulating not only the magnitude of James Cameron as a filmmaker but the minutiae too – the incredible stories of an artist whose commitment to the medium knows few bounds. The tales behind the films are as epic as the films themselves. The astonishing making of The Abyss, much of it shot submerged in a decommissioned nuclear plant, could fill a book on its own. James Cameron: A Retrospective is an enthralling and beautifully illustrated film-by-film biography – from The Terminator to Aliens to Avatar 2 – of the most popular director in movie history.

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To millions of fans AC/DC will always be the greatest hard rock band of them all. From their formation in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC have made the most visceral and single-minded rock, and inspired generations of rock icons from Def Leppard to Guns N’ Roses and Metallica. The basic blueprint laid down in their early albums with Bon Scott – hard, no-nonsense, riff-driven rock’n’roll – has served them well with more than 200 million records sold, including the best-selling rock album of all time – Back in Black. Paul Elliott documents AC/DC’s career from backstory to their latest album, 2014’s Rock Or Bust, offering real insight into the band’s enduring success and rise to rock royalty.

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Mick Rock is the foremost rock photographer of his generation. In Exposed, he reveals his definitive collection of images, telling the story in his own words of his early career and the larger-than-life characters with whom he mixed. As well as being a retrospective of his work, it is a cultural journey through a time when rock ruled. It is a compendium of experiences, eyewitness accounts, and intimate detail, all culminating in candid incidental visual insights and time-tested iconic imagery that we all recognise today. This is a vivid and memorable account of Rock's adventures behind the camera, a colourful blend of the overt and the intimate, the beautiful and the irreverent - truly exposed.

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‘Tell everyone in Nottingham that the Outlaws rule here in Sherwood, that we rule in the king’s name ... I am Robin Hood.’ After a fierce storm, a boy of today discovers an arrowhead and a human skull, buried beneath the roots of an ancient oak tree. A skull with a legendary past: the heroic story of Robin Hood... Lost in a dark, strange forest, his father captured and his mother murdered, young Robin is rescued by a motley crew of misfits – the Outcasts. Among them he finds Marion, his most constant friend and the love of his life. And as the courageous band of warriors grows ever stronger – joined by the jovial Friar Tuck and the mighty Little John – Robin seeks to unite them all in a common aim: to bring relief and justice to the poor and to punish the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. In this magical, spine-tingling account, the heroic tale of Robin Hood is retold as never before by master storyteller Michael Morpurgo. In collaboration with the celebrated illustrator Michael Foreman, whose art soars from the page, this retelling of the classic story combines contemporary relevance with dramatic excitement from beginning to end.

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Pink is one of the most trailblazing artists of our time. Her breakthrough album, Missundaztood, was released to critical acclaim in 2001 and showcased her unique, powerhouse pop vocals, as well as her rebellious style. In the two decades since, she has remained firmly in pop’s upper echelons, despite her refusal to conform. She consistently out-sings her contemporaries with hit songs such as, “Get the Party Started,” “Just Like a Pill,” “So What,” “What About Us,” and “Beautiful Trauma,” while her willingness to speak frankly about difficult topics has made her a relatable role model. She is an outspoken animal rights activist, and has been vocal about women’s rights, LGBT rights, and her support of same-sex marriage. Away from the studio, Pink’s live shows are nothing short of phenomenal; her jaw-dropping acrobatics mark her out as a truly spectacular performer. Loved by fans and revered by the music industry, Pink continues to enjoy global success and substantial airplay. Her accolades are numerous and include, three Grammys, a Daytime Emmy Award, and seven MTV Video Music Awards—the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award among them. In 2019, she was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the Brit Awards, and in 2021 she accepted the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. Pink: Raise Your Glass is a celebration of one of pop’s longest reigning rebels. Beautifully illustrated with essential images, this book is a fitting tribute to an undeniably, remarkable pop artist.

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Is life getting on top of you? Do you dream of being stranded on an island just for some alone time? Are you currently standing on a chair, screaming, ‘Enough is enough!’? I get it. Your diary is full and your brain is racing. The hectic world we live in demands so much of you, it can be exhausting to keep up. You crave spa days and holidays to recharge but, while they offer short-term respite, they don’t give you the long-term rejuvenation you really need. Well, come down off that chair, open up this book, and feel your stress float away. To achieve complete rest, we need to develop eight different rest habits. Packed with simple activities, backed by science and personal experiences, calmism takes a fresh look at the eight essential habits for rest and offers a menu of easy-fit options to give you the variety that’s key to wellbeing. With just a few minutes’ attention each day, you can cultivate positive, daily habits that stick, to help you feel ultimately revitalised. Welcome to calmism – a restful way to take control of your energy and find that tranquil island within.

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The art of its architectural details. With the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Moderne, the city of Paris heralded in the New Era. Paris was the cradle of Art Deco, a style that emerged in the 1920s as a reaction to the sinuous tentacles of Art Nouveau in the early 1900s, and an alternative to the Machine Age imagery emerging from Germany and the Soviet Union. The Exposition des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels was intended to revive the French luxury trades and it popularized a jazzy style of decoration that drew on many sources and expressed the spirit of the age. The Expo later gave its name to Art Deco which achieved some of its most refined and exuberant manifestations in Paris, while rapidly spreading across the world, from London to Los Angeles. Born into the Art Deco Age, author/photographer Arnold Schwartzman has savoured his many visits to Paris, and is now eager to share with the reader his journey through the boulevards of La Ville Lumiere.

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Guns N' Roses emerged from Los Angeles in the 1980s with a reputation for hard-hitting music and a riotous rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle that earned them the title of “The Most Dangerous Band in the World.” Their first album, 1987’s Appetite For Destruction, took the music industry by storm, becoming the biggest selling debut in the history of American music. Since then, rock writer Paul Elliott has interviewed the band many times, and he brings real insight to this updated exploration of the group; its music; its success; its struggles. With more than 200 stunning colour photographs from the band’s 40-year career, this comprehensive biography is the complete, incredible story of one of the hardest-rocking bands in music history.

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As one of the world’s best-selling musicians, Lady Gaga has set the musical bar high. Since her debut album, The Fame (2008), she has sold more than 124 million records and scooped numerous awards, including twelve Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, and eighteen MTV Music Video Awards. Yet she is much more than a musician. At the helm of the Haus of Gaga—a close-knit circle of behind-the-scenes creatives—Lady Gaga is a performance artist like no other; her forward-thinking fashions and innovations mark her out as the ultimate maverick. Recently, she has reinvented herself as an accomplished jazz performer, dueting with legendary singer Tony Bennett on Cheek to Cheek (2014) and Love For Sale (2021), while also proving herself a consummate actor with lead roles in A Star Is Born (2018) and House of Gucci (2021). And with her advocacy for LGBT rights and active championing of kindness via the Born This Way Foundation, co-founded with her mother Cynthia Germanotta in 2011, it’s clear to see why her fans adore her. Lady Gaga: Applause is a celebration of a true artist of our time. Illustrated throughout with stunning photography and complementary fashion segments, this comprehensive history follows Lady Gaga’s ever-evolving and often unpredictable career, and is testament to her many talents. A must for Little Monsters everywhere.

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Blondie were the most successful rock act to emerge from New York's seminal and anarchic downtown punk scene of the mid-70s. Their beautiful and multi-talented lead singer, Debbie Harry, became the most photogenic and photographed rock performer of all time. Picture This is a startling and energetic record of the band that spawned power pop at the peak of their success. It explores in depth, both visually and verbally, the unique natural charm and charisma of Debbie's Punk Marilyn Monroe persona in its prime, and her successful reinvention of that persona for Blondie's glorious comeback of recent years. Mick Rock provides a vivid, memorable account of his larger-than-life adventures behind the camera. Revealing, like no other book, just what made Debbie Harry and Blondie so distinctive, this album is a delight for any fan of rock culture imagery, and an exciting tribute to America's pre-eminent pop/punk band.

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The third volume of Arnold Schwartzman’s photographic trilogy explores the world’s most sensuous architecture of the 1890s and 1900s. The author has selected from his vast archive of photographs that he has captured during the past fifty years, to present a stunning collection of over 350 images from the South Pacific to the cusp of Asia, from South America to Europe, from Spain to Hungary and beyond of the architectural style known as Art Nouveau. Following the publications of Art Deco City and Arts & Crafts, Schwartzman turns back the clock to the fin de siècle, a romantic time when the Art Nouveau style burgeoned and flourished. This movement was known by several other names, among which were Jugendstil, Secession and Liberty. Its origins stem from the Arts and Crafts Movement (Schwartzman’s second volume of this series) of Great Britain’s William Morris. Rennie Mackintosh, and architects including Guimard and Lavoretti in Paris, Horta and van de Velde in Brussels, Wagner and Hoffmann in Vienna, Gaudi in Barcelona and Tiffany in New York, each contributing their own unique interpretation of the style. Remarkably many of their structures have survived the destructive havoc of two World Wars. The reader can turn page after page of this diversified collection of images extolling the globe’s rich heritage from the Belle Epoque.

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The Art Deco style gained prominence at the 1925 Paris Exposition, after which each nation seemed to adapt its own distinct architectural style. Less florid than the French or that of the United States, Great Britain s buildings reflected the country s imperial status. From the imposing style of the Savoy Hotel, through the ornate detail of the West End theatres, to Art Deco factories like the Hoover Building, they also demonstrated Britain s love of detail. Remarkably, many of London's Art Deco buildings still survive their once grime-covered indigenous Portland stone now mostly scrubbed clean, beautifully displaying their many sculptural details. This richly illustrated book offers a fascinating and detailed look at the Art Deco style from building design to decorative detail.

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One day, humans will travel to Mars… This book tells you everything you would need to know about a trip to the red planet. From essential preparations for your journey, through to the local climate and landscape, things to do, places to visit and the background, culture and natural history of the latest ‘must-visit’ destination for mankind. Activities for your holiday could include anything from sandboarding to hiking up Olympus Mons and from glacier ice trekking to a visit to the magnificent oxygen factories of the Tharsis Bulge. Also included are special features such as lists of ‘What Not To Miss’, ‘Top Ten Favourite Excursions’, and ‘What To Do On a 2-Day Visit or a 7-Day Visit.’ In the next few years, the dream of a journey to Mars may become a reality… Get ready ahead of the rush with this invaluable guide.

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What if we could tunnel to the centre of the Earth? This book tells you everything you would need to know about a trip to the planet’s core, with the proposed journey to be made using an ingenious Centre-Pod drilling vehicle. Starting with your first entry through the earth’s mantle, at a boundary in the tectonic plates, you’ll travel on through the geological layers to reach the twin layers of the earth’s core. Activities for your holiday could include anything from exploring a volcano to hunting for diamonds under the cratons, and from discovering what it’s like at the hypocentre of an earthquake to riding up a mantle plume on your return journey. Also included are special features such as lists of ‘What Not To Miss At The Earth’s Core’, ‘Top Ten Favourite Excursions’, and ‘The Centre of the Earth in Popular Culture’.

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This is a big story. The Coppolas are one of the great American filmmaking dynasties, a classic example of an immigrant family who have thrived in America — the parallels with the Corleones of The Godfather are there for all to see, albeit without the organised crime. Centred on two extraordinary filmmaking generations: father and daughter Francis Ford Coppola and Sofia Coppola, each in different ways has defined their times. And of course, their stories are intimately entwined. But the story will encompass so much more than the careers of two directors. There will be subplots extending out across the Coppola clan to include Nicolas Cage, Talia Shire, Roman Coppola, Jack Schwartzman and lesser-known scions like Marc and Christopher Coppola. It is also the case that the respective stories of Francis and Sofia offer a fascinating insight into the changing face of Hollywood and American culture from the seventies until now. It is also a book about America, a land of opportunity and the template on which the Coppolas can forge their art.

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Still making sensational live appearances on the international concert circuit, the Who have been rivalled only by the Rolling Stones as an enduring rock phenomenon for over half a century. From their early days as the Detours, they were at the vanguard of the UK mod movement in the mid-1960s, in 1965 striking gold as the Who with “Can’t Explain”, followed by “My Generation” which became a true anthem of its time. Through the triumphs of Pete Townshend’s ambitious creations in Tommy and Quadrophenia, to the tragedy of the passing of drummer Keith Moon and bass player Jon Entwistle, the book follows the group’s tumultuous history via incisive text, archive reviews and interviews, and a track-by-track summary of all the Who’s studio and live albums. Sumptuously illustrated with a wealth of colour and black-and-white photography, plus album art and other graphic ephemera, The Who: Much Too Much is a must-have celebration of one of the key names in rock music history.

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Radiohead are not like other bands. For over three decades they have charted a singular course. As their music has become more beautiful, more strange and more uncompromising, the band who make it have become more popular, evolving from the indie clubs of Britain to stadia across the globe, while selling over 30 million albums. And they have done it their way. Their line-up has remained unchanged since they met at school, but these five very different characters have always remained united in their quest to keep pushing boundaries. They have changed musical direction almost as many times as they have made albums and the band who seemed destined to be one-hit-wonders when “Creep” was a global hit in the early-‘90s, evolved into trailblazers who have embraced rock, dance, electronica, classical music and pop without sacrificing what makes them special. Radiohead are proof that selling records need not mean selling out and Life In A Glasshouse is their story.

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At once a pop culture icon, cult figure and film industry outsider, master filmmaker David Lynch and his work defy easy definition. Dredged from his subconscious mind, Lynch’s work is primed to act on our own hidden desires and fears, combining heightened, contradictory emotions into something familiar but inscrutable. For over 45 years, Lynch's works have enthralled, mystified, and provoked viewers. What is arguably most remarkable about his career is that for a filmmaker so resolutely true to his own ideals and the tides of his imagination — the forces that have provided such distinctive work — he has remained so popular. This is also a portrait of an enchanting presence: eminently reasonable yet driven, boyishly shy yet a towering force on set, an interviewee of rare clarity who never gives the game away. Lynch is quirky, there is no doubt about that, but it takes an ironclad determination to get any film made, let alone films so uniquely his own. Lynch’s genius is in the way he draws so deeply on classic movie traditions: the noir, the love story, the road movie and the murder mystery. Within these conventions, his films delve into the subjective consciousness of his characters to reveal both the depraved darkness and luminous spirituality of human nature. From his experimental shorts of the 1960s to feature films like Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive — not forgetting the award-winning TV series Twin Peaks — David Lynch has pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. He is a true artist in a realm of pretenders — an American great — who can take his place alongside Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol or Steven Spielberg.

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If you read this book and absorb its contents, once you have secured a site and stocked up with the minimum necessary equipment, you will be able to serve your first cup of coffee within seven days. It won’t be easy – it may even be the hardest working week of your life – but it is certainly doable. I know, because I have done it myself. The book even includes a seven-day countdown to opening, with tips on cost-effective short cuts and an invaluable list of key pitfalls to avoid. This is a complete practical guide and manual to opening a modern coffee shop, covering every aspect with detailed, step-by-step advice on subjects from the essential how to brew good coffee to how to design and fit out a venue that suits your aims, whatever your budget. There is much more to running a successful coffee shop than pouring a good coffee. You’ll learn how to strike a balance between take-aways and sit-down business; how to promote your coffee shop, importantly via social media; how to attract and retain the best staff; how to interact with customers and build the regular clientele which is the lifeblood of any café; and how to balance the needs of freelancers looking for a place to work while also creating a lively, friendly atmosphere and generating turnover. You will be shown how to profitably expand your food offering to serve alongside the coffee – you’d be amazed at what you can achieve with a single toastie machine – and learn the advantages of a commercial dishwasher, along with much, much more. All this invaluable practical information is leavened with the story of my personal experience as a student funding my living expenses through part-time jobs in hospitality, gradually training on the job as a barista, before finally founding my own one-man coffee shop in Copenhagen – with a minimal budget but plenty of sheer enthusiasm. Less than four years later, my two bustling Darcy’s Kaffes are busy seven days a week on prominent streets in Copenhagen, my branded tuk-tuk operates as a mobile events coffee bar, and I employ eighteen staff. This book tells the story of how I did it, and shows you how you can do it, too.

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The right to protest is hard fought and even harder to win. Yet it is the bedrock of any thriving democracy. When we stand together, our voices and opinions are heard by those in power. Protest has toppled governments and made laws. It has cost lives and it has changed lives. In this book we look at six main areas of protest and explaining the reasons behind the protest issue, how it has been protested in the past and how these issues are being protested by children today. It will cover the international Women’s Marches, #Black Lives Matter, the #Enough is Enough campaign and the work of CND and Greenpeace, illustrated with a mix of poster art and photography. In association with Amnesty International, with a foreword by Chris Riddell.

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“I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two.” In a quest to discover his inner self, celebrated physician Dr Henry Jekyll, uncovers a monster. At first he attempts to conceal this but gradually Hyde becomes stronger and stronger, dominating Jekyll and ultimately destroying them both. First published to immediate acclaim in 1886, this mesmerising thriller is a terrifying study of the lightness and darkness living inside every human soul.

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One of the most prolific and commercially successful artists in modern pop music, Elton John has won six Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards and sold more than 300 million records during a career spanning over half a century: his "Candle in the Wind 1997" remains the bestselling single of all time. Just in time for his farewell world tour, this lavish, unofficial retrospective commemorates Elton’s incredible life and career. Fully illustrated throughout, it contains more than 235 images, including rare and previously unpublished photographs. The book covers everything from his childhood as a piano prodigy to his early days playing West End gigs and his fortuitous meeting—and subsequent enduring partnership—with lyricist Bernie Taupin; it goes back to the song that started it all, "Your Song," and charts Elton’s meteoric rise to stardom, his challenges along the way, and his tireless work for many charities, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This is a wonderful photographic keepsake for all Elton John fans.

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When Black Beauty was born one sweet spring day, he could not have imagined the life ahead of him. Following his mother's advice to always try his best, he enjoys the adventures of country and city life, makes new friends and suffers from the cruelty and greed of his human masters. Beauty faces each challenge with bravery and kindness, and then a chance encounter with an old friend brings him the greatest joy of all. Anna Sewell's spirited story of the life of a horse has captivated generations of readers and Beauty's 19th Century world is gorgeously brought to life by Christian Birmingham's vibrant artwork.

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From the ashes of Nirvana, Dave Grohl rose as a one-man band with a self-titled album: The Foo Fighters. Now, 25 years on, and with a rock solid outfit that includes Nate Mendel (bass), Taylor Hawkins (drums), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Pat Smear (rhythm guitar) and latest addition, Rami Jaffee (keyboards) - The Foo Fighters are revelling in the success of their ninth studio album, Concrete and Gold. Paying homage to the band's enduring longevity, The Foo Fighters: The Band that Dave Made is a comprehensive look at a career that boasts six, million-selling albums, eleven Grammies and hit stadium rock anthems such as "Learn to Fly", "Best of You" and "Everlong". Fully Illustrated, this handsome biography from acclaimed rock writer, Stevie Chick, is a fitting tribute to a band born out of the "nicest guy in rock's" single-minded vision and now one of the planet's biggest rock groups.

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In 15th century France, a young peasant girl faces an overwhelming task: to save her beloved France from tyrants and restore the rightful king to the throne. To free her country Joan must leave behind everyone she has ever loved, apart from her faithful sparrow, Belami. But with huge bravery and fierce determination, she follows her calling and is finally granted permission to ride fearlessly into battle, leading the French army against the enemy. Many years later, a lonely girl called Eloise has a very special dream about her heroine, Joan of Arc. In this moving account by master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, Joan of Arc’s extraordinary story is brought to life as never before. In collaboration with the celebrated illustrator Michael Foreman, whose art soars from the page, this true tale of a young girl whose courage and perseverance won her a place as the bravest woman in history combines contemporary relevance with dramatic excitement from beginning to end.

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Since she stepped onstage unannounced at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, Joan Baez has occupied a singular place in popular music. Within three years, she had recorded three best-selling albums and had embarked on a tour of southern US campuses, playing to integrated audiences in an era of segregation. When Time magazine chronicled the folk revival in November 1962, her portrait was on the cover. Her voice was “as lustrous and rich as old gold.” She has mentored generations of singer-songwriters, most famously Bob Dylan. But Joan Baez has always been much more than simply a singer. Even before she stood on the podium beside Dr Martin Luther King at the March on Washington, her voice was raised in sorrow and anger as well as in song. The causes for which she has campaigned are legion and it’s no surprise that she was chosen to open Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985. In 1993, amid the siege of Bosnia, she donned a flak jacket to sing for the citizens of Sarajevo offering, as so many times before and since, “an act of love, sharing, witness and music”. Now approaching 80, Baez has stepped down from the stage following a worldwide farewell tour and a final Grammy-nominated album. The Last Leaf is a celebration of a timeless figure whose music and influence will endure long after her voice is silenced. The Discography is by Grammy-nominated music historian Arthur Levy. Joan Baez is the recipient of the 2020 Woody Guthrie Prize.

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There’s no template for making it as a globally successful pop group. Some of the ingredients remain constant and beyond the music, there’s a mix’n’match selection of premature death, drugs, drink, destroyed friendships, lukewarm solo projects and bungled finances. The saga of Joy Division and New Order has all those clichés, yet both groups defined their times and overturned their musical landscape. First, there was Joy Division. Their music reflected both the barren urban landscape of their native Manchester in the late 1970s and singer Ian Curtis’s heart of darkness. They remain forever set in aspic, not merely – if “merely” is the right word – by the suicide of their extraordinary and extraordinarily volatile singer, but by two albums as close to perfection as music can come. From the ashes of Joy Division rose New Order, who recruited a keyboardist because of – rather than in spite of – the fact she couldn’t play. On the cusp of the British dance music boom, with what seemed like remarkable prescience, they invested in The Haçienda, a club in their native Manchester. In its pomp, the queues were around the block, but its debts would sink their heroically hopeless record label, Factory. If Joy Division were sublime musical darkness, New Order were bathed in sunlight and their globally popular music bridged the chasm between indie and dance and inspired a generation. Having conquered the world while maintaining their credibility, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and imploded in a tsunami of recrimination, while still making fabulous music to this day. You couldn’t make it up: there’s no need to.

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Today, over half a century later, great films are measured by those of the 70s. Has there been a more impactful 10-year period? For the first time, cinema reflected life and society, presenting both on the big screen with a compelling and penetrating truth. Directors became household names, often overnight, and films routinely broke box office records. With censorship relaxed, the subject matter could include alienation, descents into madness, drug addiction, dysfunctional relationships, promiscuity, alcoholism, PTSD, and any big news story of the day. Audiences gladly absorbed this new, shocking reality; in fact, they avoided films that candy-coated the truth. Musicals evolved, westerns all but died for several years, science fiction and fantasy made an incredible resurgence, and horror dominated the box office along with disaster films. But by and large, films about social issues were the best draw. This book celebrates the cinema of the 70s. What a decade!

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Over half a century since they exploded inevitably onto New York’s underground music and art scenes, the legacy and mythology of The Velvet Underground continues to resonate and grow, as new generations embrace their enigmatic command of the darkest strain of alternative cool. Lou Reed, John Cale, Nico, Sterling Morrison and Moe Tucker, with the naïve encouragement of Andy Warhol, created a world of music, words and scenes which blew up the notion of the peace-and-love sixties and tapped into a nocturnal milieu of art, literature, drugs, sex and decadence. Their albums survive as caustic classics, among the most influential records ever made. Not only did author Chris Roberts interview the late Lou Reed three times, he was also once told, “Move – you are sitting on my coat” by the unmistakable voice of Nico, backstage at a gig. Here he recounts and celebrates the fascinating, multi-faceted story of perhaps the most mysterious and unique rock band ever to exist. A complex, contrary, clashing set of characters who came together to start fires while drawing down darkness, The Velvets’ legend will forever run run run.

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Amidst the chaos that was the Sex Pistols, it’s often forgotten just what a powerful band they were, and what great records they made. The Sex Pistols were no ordinary group. Their story might be short, and not without its casualties, but their legacy is undoubted; one listen to their ferocious, raw rock and roll will soon tell you that. No British band since the Beatles has done as much to shape the nation. Musically, the Pistols’ impact was enormous and continues to resonate; they didn’t just kick down doors; they trashed the music industry’s house. For a band who (really) only released one album and four incandescent singles – “Anarchy in the U.K.,” “God Save the Queen,” “Pretty Vacant” and “Holidays in the Sun” – they gave birth to a sea of imitators and inspired a DIY aesthetic still alive today. Not bad for a band that ‘couldn’t play.’ Despite claims from New York, the Sex Pistols were the true originators of punk; no one else had their attitude, balls, or honesty – as inspired by anger and poverty, as art and poetry. There was the Sex Pistols and there was the rest. The Sex Pistols ARE punk; the rest are ‘punk rock.’

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Holy Motherforking Shirtballs! The madly popular sitcom The Good Place, has propelled ethics and moral philosophy into the 21st century mainstream. The story of Eleanor Shellstrop, who has accidentally been sent to the Good Place after her death, continually challenges us to ask what makes for a ‘good person’? Taking inspiration from the show, this is a guide to ‘doing the right thing’. Using thought experiments, from the trolley problem to the balloon debate, as well as modern dilemmas like the etiquette of texting and ‘selfie’ culture (you’re going to the Bad Place), here is (nearly) everything you need to know about being in your own ‘good place’ in life.

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A return to Camelot This is the second volume of Arnold Schwartzman’s trilogy on the architecture of the late 19th and early 20th Century, in which he focuses on a group of British craftsmen who decided to turn their backs on the mass production of the Industrial Revolution to form a ‘Round Table’ in order to establish a means of returning to hand-crafted products. William Morris, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and in America, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Greene and Greene were among these like-minded artisans who wished in essence to create a movement which embodied a vision and style that returned to the Golden Age of craftsmanship.

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Winston Smith is a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in the nation of Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes, even his own home, the Party watches him through telescreens; everywhere he looks he sees the face of the Party’s seemingly omniscient leader, Big Brother. The Party controls everything in Oceania, even the people’s history and language. Now, the Party is forcing the use of an invented language called Newspeak which will prevent political insurgency by eliminating all words related to it. Even thinking rebellious thoughts is illegal. Such thoughtcrime is, in fact, the worst of all crimes. But a seed of dissent grows in Winston – one that will bring him into direct conflict with the Party, and with devastating consequences. Rarely has one book ever been so rich in political and social criticism as 1984. Originally published in 1949, this new graphic novel edition of the dystopian classic, powerfully illustrated by Matyáš Namai, reveals Winston’s fight against the Party in all its horror and futility. “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

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In association with Amnesty International, with a foreword by Anish Kapoor. Against an increasingly polarizing political backdrop, The Art of Protest takes a visual journey through over a hundred years of social protest. From the early twentieth century suffragettes through to the 1960s and 1970s – considered by many the heyday of uprisings – and contemporary, social media-driven demonstrations of dissent, this illustrative history features iconic posters from world-renowned artists, including notable posters from the archives of Amnesty International, as well as more spontaneous ephemera from short-lived print collectives and street activists. With a foreword from celebrated artist and activist, Anish Kapoor, The Art of Protest showcases more than 100 posters. It covers key campaigns such as women's liberation, nuclear disarmament, the civil rights movement, climate change, AIDS activism, and Black Lives Matter, revealing artists who have pushed boundaries, given voice to the marginalised, and railed against those who seek to deny people their rights to peace and equality.

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A compendium of tips, techniques and examples designed to brush up your knowledge on the key areas of your game, so that, wherever you play – kitchen, local group or club – you will be more likely to succeed. Eschewing most conventions, everyday bidding problems are solved logically and clearly, declarer play techniques, from the ubiquitous 3NT to tricky little part-scores, are broken down into the crucial areas for consideration, and defensive decisions are made easier by knowing exactly the target for which you are striving. For forty years, Paul has lectured live and online and, along with his easy-to-follow guidance, The Joy of Bridge shares a selection of his infamously entertaining stories and hands. Paul’s aim is always to encourage bridge players, at any level, to stop trying to remember what to do, but simply to think instead so that solutions to problems become readily apparent and play becomes easier.

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A book reviewer once described Arnold Schwartzman as “a trufflehound with a Nikon”, praising his passion and inquisitive eye. In Miami Art Deco, Schwartzman's sixth photographic book on Art Deco architecture, he turns his lens on the tropical sun-bleached facades of Miami Beach’s pastel palaces. Following the devastating Miami hurricane of 1926, a square-mile of Miami Beach was redeveloped in the 1920s, 30s and 40s and the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District (known as the Art Deco area) now encompasses over eight hundred buildings and is the largest concentration of art deco architecture in the world. Schwartzman's stunning photography captures many of these unique buildings, from the hotels and nightclubs of Ocean Drive to the Miami Post Office, all heavily influenced by the sea and nautical life. This book of Deco delights should prove to be a delicious sundowner for the connoisseur of the Art Deco style.

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Refugees is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war and persecution and asks, Why here? Why my country? It is a feeling many people share. It is one of fear and suspicion. But when you read the text the opposite way, a new voice emerges. It says, ‘Why not make them welcome? Why not share the things we have?’ The world is undergoing a period of mass human migration. Whether this is caused by war, persecution or economics, the people we see on the news in those camps are waiting – waiting to live their lives. There are two sides to every debate. There are two sides to a wall. This story shows both sides of the issue with skill and the illustrations depict the issue in a magic realism style, powerful but never frightening, and will promote a deeper discussion on this topic with an older child.

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After winning 1974’s Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Waterloo,” ABBA catapulted to fame, capturing hearts across the globe with their melodic and ever-so-catchy pop songs. Formed in Stockholm, in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, ABBA became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide with classic hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight),” “SOS,” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” After their split in 1982, it seemed the ABBA story was all but over. But the 1990s ushered in a new wave of ABBA appreciation, and their music found favor again in modern popular culture. A host of ABBA-themed entertainment followed, including stage musical Mamma Mia! (1999), two box-office hit movies Mamma Mia! The Movie (2008), and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), and in 2013 the opening of ABBA The Museum, in Stockholm. In 2021, after a forty-year hiatus, the band released a new album Voyage, and announced an accompanying concert featuring their digital avatars, dubbed “ABBAtars.” Now celebrating their fiftieth year, ABBA are one of the great tales of pop music. From their humble beginnings in post-war Sweden to global superstardom, ABBA at 50 charts the remarkable story of this Swedish quartet. Beautifully illustrated with essential images, this book examines the group’s enduring legacy and much-loved musical repertoire of perfectly crafted pop. A must for all ABBA fans.

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There is magic and mystery surrounding the vale of Sleepy Hollow. It is home to a host of ghostly sounds and goblin spectres, none more infamous than the Headless Horseman. This figure rides out in the witching hour of night. If one is not careful, a traveller can lose everything in one evening – their wits, their heart, their head… The foolish school teacher, Ichabod Crane, is besotted with the lovely Katrina Van Tassel. Surely there can be nothing to stand in the way of his designs on her fortune. Sadly for him, imagination is a dangerous thing in Sleepy Hollow, and Katrina is in the sights of another who claims to have bettered the Horseman in a race. Which suitor will succeed and which is destined to become part of Sleepy Hollow’s legend forevermore?

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The Cure’s story is a fantastical pop fable, but their trajectory has not been one of unbroken success. Along the way, their uneven, uneasy pop odyssey has taken in fierce intra-band tensions and fall-outs, numerous line-up changes and even a bitter court case that saw original group members feuding over payments and ownership of the band’s name. There has been alcoholism, substance abuse and countless long, dark nights of the soul, many of which have been translated into luscious dark-rock symphonies. From gawky teenage art-punks in Crawley to gnomic, venerable rock royalty with 30 million record sales to their name, their journey has been a scarcely believable, vivid pop hallucination. A Perfect Dream is the tall tale of a truly unique British band. It’s the story of The Cure.

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They were such devout futurists that they even came from a New Town. Emerging from the unlikely locale of Basildon at the dawn of the Eighties, the unassuming Depeche Mode became pioneers of British electro-pop. Surviving the abrupt early departure of band founder and chief songwriter Vince Clarke, they quickly gathered a fervent cult following before powering into the mainstream. Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher and Alan Wilder took their dark, venal songs of sex, religion, obsession and death to the world’s arenas and stadiums. Over four decades, Depeche Mode have seduced millions from Moscow to Montevideo. Yet it has never been an easy ride. Along the way there have been crippling bouts of self-doubt, depression, intra-band fighting, alcohol abuse… and the catastrophic heroin addiction that almost killed the charismatic yet vulnerable Gahan. From the band’s earliest stirrings in Essex to the eve of their 40th anniversary, Faith and Devotion is a tale of triumph from adversity: the extraordinary history of a unique global synth-rock phenomenon. It’s the story of Depeche Mode.

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It wasn’t just clothes and hair that changed as the 1960s progressed – social awareness crept into youth culture and music ceased to be simply about dancing. A counter-culture gradually emerged, and rock 'n' roll was its defining feature. Pop music broadened beyond the traditional guitar-bass-drum format and started to experiment with new sounds. Musicianship reached unsurpassable levels, and for a brief, glorious time, genuinely experimental music coincided with the popular taste. The explosion of imagination and ambition that characterised the psychedelic movement of the late 1960s stretched the possibilities of the pop song to their limits. Never before or since were so many classic albums made in such a short time. Psychedelia is the most colourful, detailed and authoritative guide to these albums ever published. One hundred of them are evaluated here, using contemporary reviews, rare photographs and interviews, accompanied by a plethora of iconic images and reproductions of cover artwork.

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Many of our best-loved heritage roses are named after women and in this charming book, Ann Chapman explores the lives and stories behind the evocative names. We may be familiar with Mary Queen of Scots, Amy Robsart and Jeanne d'Arc, but who were Adelaide d'Orleans, Nancy Steen and Nur Mahal? Among the 35 women described here are serene queens, duchesses and aristocrats, courageous heroines and pioneers, as well as the passionate gardeners who contributed much to the cultivation and preservation of the roses named for each one. Each biography is beautifully illustrated with a portrait of the women and a sumptuous photograph of her rose by the acclaimed French naturalist photographer Paul Starosta. Women in my Rose Garden will make a perfect gift, not only for rosarians and gardeners, but for all those with a love of history, romance and adventure.

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No one believed that he could make it there and back again alive, so when a boy sets out to hike across the sea bed at low tide to an island not too far offshore, he is determined to prove a point. A short doze in the sunshine on the island and a fast-moving fog, however, leaves him in dire straits. Trapped on a sandbank, he fears for his life as the sea closes in all around him. He is a strong swimmer, but the sea current is certain to drag him down into its depths. The last thing that he remembers in the cold, dark water is hoping that Heaven will be warm, dry and bright. Then he awakens in a bed covered with animal skins, a roaring fire burning in a grate that is framed by walls of stone. He is in a grand hall and sitting by the fire is an old man with his dog. The old man is the legendary warrior King Arthur, and as he recovers by the fire, the boy hears the most magnificent stories of heroic knights and deeds of great chivalry, but also bewitchment, evil and betrayal at the king’s court in Camelot. Michael Morpurgo’s captivating and imaginative retelling of the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is accompanied by the stunning illustrations created by Michael Foreman. Together they succeed in presenting the well-known legends in a way that is both captivating to read and a delight to the eye.

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