Trees: From Root to Leaf – A Financial Times Book of the Year by Paul Smith and Robert Macfarlane
A landmark publication that captures the beautiful richness of every aspect of trees and their importance for science, culture and the future of humankind.
Trees feed us, shelter us, inspire us and heal us. In a world facing the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and a pressing climate emergency, the importance of these primeval beings in shaping our future is hard to understate.
Generously illustrated and organized according to tree lifecycle – from seeds, leaves and form to wood, flowers and fruit – this book celebrates the great diversity and beauty of the 60,000 tree species that inhabit our planet. Exquisite details are rendered by surprising photography and infographics: intricate bark and leaf patterns, intertwined ecosystems, colourful flower displays, archaic wooden wheels and timber houses. Integral to science, art and culture, fundamental and fragile, dependent and depended on, the vitality of trees is revealed like never before.
Henry Poole & Co.: The First Tailor of Savile Row by James Sherwood and Andy Barnham
Known as the founding tailor of Savile Row, Henry Poole & Co. has been dressing the world’s most important men and women for over two centuries. Their craft of bespoke tailoring has been meticulously documented through the generations in a complete set of ledgers.
Telling the story of Poole’s most colourful characters in six chapters, this fascinating account distills Sherwood’s research into sixty iconic customers, men and women. Each client is profiled with details of their signature garment and connections with Poole’s. From artists and writers, such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Wilkie Collins, to financiers J. P. Morgan and Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, this book offers a unique window into an establishment at the very heart of 19th- and 20th-century public life.
Illustrated with historic portraits and atmospheric photography of the premises as they are today, this intimate glimpse into the private lives of some of history’s most influential figures is essential reading for anyone interested Savile Row, the relationship between power and being well-dressed, and the evolution of style.
Forever Paris: A Guide to the Timeless Soul of the City by Marin Montagut
Marin Montagut’s charming guide takes readers inside more than 475 shops, museums, neighbourhoods, gardens, restaurants, and cafés that exude the enchanting essence of Paris.
To discover every beguiling corner of Paris like a local, follow Marin Montagut to his favourite places; in operation for thirty years or more, these addresses define what makes the city so captivating. His adorable watercolours, accompanied by drawings from antique mercantile stock lists, bring each location to life. Reminiscent of a golden-age-of-travel guide, this book features gilt edging, foil stamping, a leatherette cover, marbled endpapers, a ribbon page marker, and maps.
Step inside these time-honoured establishments to be tempted by sundry souvenirs and gifts, handcrafted by local artisans— lithograph prints, letterpress stationery, custom umbrellas, couture fans, and classic toys. Stroll flea markets to source period decor, sturdy workwear, or artist’s palettes. Stock up on culinary provisions, from copper kitchenware to specialty pieces, wine, chocolate, candy, and pastries. Visit unique galleries and artists’ studios, a museum of fairground arts, a hunting museum, or the residence of a Second Empire courtesan. See the city’s monuments from a new perspective on a boat cruise along the Seine, meander through hidden squares and neighbourhoods that hold the secrets of Paris’s historical past, or stop to smell the flowers in botanical gardens. This exquisite tome celebrates the most soulful and authentic places in Paris, and will be treasured by visitors and armchair travelers alike for years to come.
