Other books that might interest you

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  Austin Osman Spare - The Life...

  Phil Baker, Alan Moore

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  London has harbored many curious characters, but few more curious than the artist and visionary Austin Osman Spare (1886–1956). 
   
   
   
  A controversial enfant terrible of the Edwardian art world, the young Spare was hailed as a genius and a new Aubrey Beardsley, while George Bernard Shaw reportedly said "Spare's medicine is too strong for the average man." 
   
   
    
  But Spare was never made for worldly success and he went underground, falling out of the gallery system to live in poverty and obscurity south of the river. Absorbed in occultism and sorcery, voyaging into inner dimensions, and surrounding himself with cats and familiar spirits, he continued to produce extraordinary art while developing a magical philosophy of pleasure, obsession, and the subjective nature of reality. 
   
   
    
  Today Spare is both forgotten and famous, a cult figure whose modest life has been much mythologized since his death. This groundbreaking biographical study offers wide-ranging insights into Spare's art, mind, and world, reconnecting him with the art history that ignored him and exploring his parallel London; a bygone place of pub pianists, wealthy alchemists, and monstrous owls.

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  Tropical Temptation - A Sizzling...

  Rosa Star

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  A hot summer, a charming Brazilian au pair, and a forbidden passion: In Tropical Temptation, Rosa Star delves into a thrilling love story full of humor and heart. When Hanna, a mother of two, is abandoned by her husband, the charismatic Paulo from Brazil brings a breath of fresh air into her life. He not only wins the hearts of her children, but also herswith samba-hot moments that get under her skin. But can this affair last, or will Hanna's path lead her back to her old love? A romantic, cheeky novel for anyone who dreams of tropical longing and second chances. Spicy romance, ages 18 and up.

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  Most Famous Silent Film Actors...

  Editors Charles River

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  Only a select few actors become international stars in their time, but none had as unique a career as Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was the first true film star, and he managed to do so even when films were still silent. He has been honored with too many awards to count, and the fact that his name remains instantly recognizable nearly a century after his first film is a testament to his influence. Chaplin is known for the singular blend of pathos and humor evinced by his films, and it is not uncommon for audiences to laugh and cry at alternate points of a Chaplin film, a trait that continues to endear audiences even to this day. 
  In the 1920s, the burgeoning movie industry was starting to come into its own, and alongside actor and director Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton was at the peak of Hollywood. It’s no surprise that Keaton was so effective in silent films, because he had been practicing comedy in his family’s vaudeville acts as “The Little Boy Who Can’t Be Damaged”, becoming a popular performer by the age of 5. Indeed, his physical form of comedy, which initially involved having his father throwing him around the stage, translated well onto the screen, and some of his slapstick and other comic gags remain legendary even today, in part because Keaton practiced his own stunts.  
  Everything about Rudolph Valentino, from his body to the characters he played, was exotic. His career may have been abbreviated by his premature death at the age of 31, but Valentino popularized the (somewhat racist) stereotype of the “Latin lover” in Hollywood, and even his name was markedly more out of the ordinary than those of other actors. In an era dominated by hyper-masculine actors like Douglas Fairbanks, or comedians such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, Valentino had a more ethnic and mysterious appeal, and he was lusted after by women to a degree that remains unsurpassed in the industry.

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  Art History Decoded From Cave to...

  Roberto Russo

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  Ancient images can feel distant—formal, silent, as if speaking an unknown language. And yet, they were designed to communicate with absolute clarity. 
  Why is the pharaoh always larger? Why do figures appear flat, shown in strict profile? Why do certain symbols repeat with such insistence? Why do temples, tombs, and palaces take the shapes they do? 
  These aren't accidents. They're choices—visual strategies born from what these cultures valued most: power, order, memory, the divine. 
  This book turns ancient art into a readable language. 
  You'll learn simple, practical tools to "read" any artwork—by noticing patterns like hierarchy, repetition, color, and framing, and by connecting those choices to the stories they were meant to tell. Each work becomes a narrative: of kings who needed to appear eternal, of gods who demanded visibility, of societies that encoded their entire worldview into stone and pigment. 
  The journey is chronological, from prehistoric caves to the Bronze Age worlds of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Crete, and Mycenae. Every chapter focuses on key works and monuments, training your eye through clear explanations and a repeatable method. 
  By the end of this volume, you won't have memorized dates and names. You'll have acquired a method—a way of looking that transforms any image, ancient or modern, into a text you can read. 
  This skill matters more than ever. In a world flooded with images—from social media to advertising and news—learning ancient visual codes sharpens how we decode what we see today.

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  How to appreciate music

  Gustav Kobbé

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  How to Appreciate Music by Gustav Kobbé is a foundational and eloquently written guide for both novice listeners and seasoned enthusiasts who wish to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of classical music. Published in the early 20th century by one of America's most authoritative music critics, this book bridges the gap between technical knowledge and emotional resonance in music appreciation. Divided into three sections—Pianoforte, Orchestral, and Vocal Music—Kobbé guides the reader through the historical evolution of Western music, from the contrapuntal masterpieces of Bach to the emotionally charged compositions of Chopin, Schumann, and Liszt, offering vivid portraits of their artistic contributions. He explains not only how to listen, but what to listen for, enriching the concertgoing experience with insight into forms such as the sonata, the fugue, the symphony, and chamber music. Kobbé also brings alive the emotional and technical elements of orchestral and vocal performance, including opera, oratorio, and modern symphonic compositions, such as those by Richard Strauss. He even shares personal anecdotes—like being on tour with Paderewski—to humanize the towering figures of music history. This book is a timeless educational tool that fosters a deeper, more informed appreciation of music as both an intellectual and emotional art form. Ideal for music students, educators, and general readers.

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  Beryl

  Joanna Quinn

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  This book documents the behind-the-scenes work that went into the animation of the award-winning short film Affairs of the Art by Beryl Productions. It includes a range of sketches, storyboards, final artwork and commentary from director Joanna Quinn and writer Les Mills.

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