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Art & Culture

Culture and art is many things and at Tales you find a wide selection of art and culture books. If you enjoy a trip to the museum or an evening at the theatre this is the place for you. If you are more into architecture or a well written song, fear not you also find books about that. Lastly design and fashion is also part of our art and culture selection, so what are you waiting for? Set your inner creativity free and get inspired by some of the world’s best artists, musicians, designers or architects.
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  • Save 21%
    by Nadine Estero
    £14.99

  • Save 10%
    by Penelope Douglas
    £8.99

  • Save 21%
    by Sushma Hegde
    £14.99

    Let Your Creativity Blossom with 30 Beautiful Watercolor Projects Immerse yourself in the world of watercolor with Sushma Hegde's array of stunning botanicals. Wildflower Watercolor is the essential comprehensive guide for beginner painters to learn how to create perfect floral masterpieces. With easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, it's never been easier to master the art of watercolor painting. Inside, you will find everything you need to get started, including how to mix colors and create striking new shades, how to make various types of brushstrokes and more. With over 30 projects to choose from-wild herbs such as lavender and chamomile and gorgeous flowers such as poppies, buttercups and forget-menots- anyone can create their very own watercolor work of art. With just a brush, some paint and a little bit of water, you can take the world's floral beauty to the page.

  • Save 23%
    by Megan Hess
    £16.99

    Christian Dior: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Masteris a stunning illustrated biography of legendary designer Christian Dior from internationally renowned fashion illustrator Megan Hess. Discover the key moments of Diors fascinating life and iconic items from the fashion world that he created. Diors love of flowers, creativity, femininity and good-luck charms were woven into everything he designed, and his New Look remains iconic to this day. Elegantly enclosed by a hardback cover and ribbon, Megans beautiful illustrations follow Dior throughthree distinct chapters: the highs and lows of his early life, set against a backdrop of bohemian and wartime Paris; the couture house that he built into an empire in just ten years; and the incredible legacy he left behind for one of fashions most influential brands.Christian Dioris a celebration of a man whose life was as remarkable as the clothes that he created, brought to life on the page by the expert hand of Megan Hess.

  • Save 21%
    by Jeanne and Bastide Damas
    £13.49

    In Paris dispels the myth that there is only one type of Parisian woman, and offers a rare glimpse of the city that real Parisienneslive in - taking us into their homes, their careers, their style - and what being Parisian means to them.Profiles of twenty real-life women of Paris - artists, activists, booksellers, and filmmakers, aged fourteen to seventy, living in tiny attic studios, grand apartments, or houseboats - are accompanied by more than 100 full-colour photographs by Jeanne herself as well as tips on secret Parisian hideaways and the French art de vivre: from the five types of red wine to order depending on the occasion, and the bars to drink them in, to the best red lipsticks, and places to be kissed.Witty, elegant, and modern, In Paris reveals the secret to living like a Parisian, wherever and whoever you are.

  • Save 25%
    by Elena Craig
    £19.49

    "Gilmore Girls: The Official Cookbook features dishes from every corner of Stars Hollow and beyond, including the Dragonfly Inn, Weston's Bakery, Al's Pancake World, Luke's Diner, and Emily and Richard's dinner table. Fans will delight in recreating iconic dishes from the beloved series, such as Sookie's Risotto, Mrs. Kim's Flaxseed Muffins, Luke's Cheeseburger and Fries, and, of course, the perfect cup of coffee! This official cookbook also includes clever cooking tips from Sookie, hosting tips from Michel, etiquette tips from Emily Gilmore, and the wisdom from Lorelai and Rory for cooking fast and talking faster"--

  • Save 15%
    by Mans Mosesson
    £10.99

    The only official biography of the iconic DJ, Avicii whose death in 2018 shocked the world.

  • Save 27%
    - The Complete Guide Second Edition
    by Clive Hallett
    £21.99

    Dieses Buch erklärt das Verhalten und die Eigenschaften verschiedener Stoffe. Modedesign wird weitgehend davon bestimmt, wie die Stoffe funktionieren, sich bewegen, anfühlen und aussehen. Die erfolgreichsten Modedesigner*innen sind diejenigen, die ihre Materialien verstehen und ihre gestalterischen Fähigkeiten mit technischem Wissen verbinden.¿ Aktualisierte und erweiterte Ausgabe¿ Neue Kapitel über Nachhaltigkeit, Produktentwicklung, biosynthetische Fasern und Smart Textiles¿ Stärkerer Fokus auf Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit

  • Save 20%
    - Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency
    by Sarah Ichioka
    £22.49

    Proposes regenerative principles with potential to transform how we design, make and manage our buildings, infrastructure and communities

  • Save 24%
    - The Inside Story of The Real Housewives from the People Who Lived It
    by Dave Quinn
    £17.49

    THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!"I like to think of Not All Diamonds and Rosé as the ultimate reunion. I know readers will be surprised, entertained, and even shocked at what's in store." -Andy Cohen Dave Quinn's Not All Diamonds and Rosé is the definitive oral history of the hit television franchise, from its unlikely start in the gated communities of Orange County to the pop culture behemoth it has become-spanning nine cities, hundreds of cast members, and millions of fans.What is it really like to be a housewife? We all want to know, but only the women we love to watch and the people who make the show have the whole story. Well, listen in close, because they're about to tell all.Nearly all the wives, producers, and network executives, as well as Andy Cohen himself, are on the record, unfiltered and unvarnished about what it really takes to have a tagline. This is your VIP pass to the lives behind the glam squads, testimonials, and tabloid feuds.Life's not all diamonds and rosé, but the truth is so much better, isn't it?"This exhaustive oral history features dishy interviews with 185 cast and crew members behind the Bravo phenomenon. Fans will delight to read about how it all got started."-New York PostIncludes Color Photographs

  • Save 28%
    by Square Enix
    £27.49

    Final Fantasy Vii Remake: Material Ultimania is the latest masterpiece by the renowned author, Square Enix. Published in the year 2021 by the same name, Square Enix, this book has set a new benchmark in its genre. The book dives deep into the world of Final Fantasy, providing readers with an unparalleled understanding of the game's universe. Square Enix, known for their intricate storytelling and attention to detail, doesn't disappoint with this publication. The book is filled with rich content, detailed descriptions, and a plethora of information that fans of the Final Fantasy series will appreciate. Published on December 28, 2021, this book is a must-have for all gaming enthusiasts. Square Enix, the publisher, has done a commendable job in preserving the essence of the game in this book. It's a treasure trove of information that will transport you to the world of Final Fantasy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to delve deeper into the Final Fantasy universe.

  • Save 24%
    - Doc Brown's Owner's Workshop Manual
    by Bob Gale
    £17.49

  • Save 10%
    - TIK TOK MADE ME BUY IT!
    by Rhiannon Shove
    £8.99

    As a silent act of rebellion, this illustrated edition of Burn After Writing invites you to put your phone down, pick your pen up and turn sharing nothing into an art. And when you're finished, toss it, hide it, or Burn After Writing. [Previously published as Burn After Writing Teen]

  • - For Cinematographers and Directors
    by Blain Brown
    £58.99 - 164.49

  • Save 24%
    by Andreas J. Hirsch
    £18.99

    Enter a world of haunting power and dark psychedelia with this tribute to the biomechanic visions of HR Giger. The anniversary edition spans the artist's painting, sculpture, film design, iconic album covers, and unique artist's museum, with an essay by Andreas J. Hirsch, and an extensive biography based on contemporary quotes and Giger's own...

  • Save 29%
    by Roger Deakins
    £31.99

    "The real charm of Byways isn't playing spot-the-location as Deakins dabbles between takes, but the window it opens onto his youthful eye. You can trace his drive from an early age to catch the light at its best - or wait for it - all night if necessary." - The Telegraph "...his first monograph, Byways, looks not to his revered cinematography career, but his decades-long habit of taking still photographs. Among them are breathtaking landscapes and moments of stillness, interspersed with photographs imbued with wit thanks to the playful possibilities of scale, framing and timing. It's the kind of dry humour that sits passers by in conversation with monuments and miscellaneous objects in the street, or captures a canine rendition of Cartier-Bresson's seminal image Behind The Gare Saint-Lazare. - Creative Review "Candid close-ups, wide-angle landscapes, and dynamic long exposures, his monochrome photographs display a variety of approaches and techniques, yet first and foremost, testify to the remarkably perceptive artistic gaze that has seen him nominated for an Oscar on fifteen separate occasions (winning twice). Thoughtful, poetic, and profoundly arresting, they display his distinct enigmatic sensibility, and presented for the most part with little or no information or context (index aside) form a compelling visual soliloquy that conveys with great eloquence, the profound power of the still image." The Independent Photographer "An intimate introduction to the man behind the lens" - The Times Portraits and landscapes from the cinematographer famed for his work with Sam Mendes and the Coen brothers This is the first monograph by the legendary Oscar-winning cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins, best known for his collaborations with directors such as the Coen brothers, Sam Mendes and Denis Villeneuve. It includes previously unpublished black-and-white photographs spanning five decades, from 1971 to the present. After graduating from college Deakins spent a year photographing life in rural North Devon, in South West England, on a commission for the Beaford Arts Centre; these images are gathered here for the first time and attest to a keenly ironic English sensibility, also documenting a vanished postwar Britain. A second suite of images expresses Deakins' love of the seaside. Traveling for his cinematic work has allowed Deakins to photograph landscapes all over the world; in this third group of images, that same irony remains evident.

  • by Virgil Abloh
    £12.99

    "A collection of essential quotations from the renowned fashion designer, DJ, and stylist"--

  • Save 23%
    - Techniques, Recipes, Finishing, and Firing
    by Gabriel Kline
    £16.99

  • Save 20%
    by AVANI GREGG
    £11.99

    The award-winning digital creator and actress Avani Gregg takes you behind the scenes of her incredible life. Known for her viral make-up videos, Avani Gregg is social media phenomenon. But how did a regular girl in small-town Indiana become TikToker of the Year? In this eye-opening memoir, she shares the ups and down of her remarkable life, including the back injury that forced her to retire from gymnastics and her move to Los Angeles. Spanning topics like mental health, relationships, bullying and more, this is the revealing and deeply inspiring Backstory of a girl with big dreams and how she worked to achieve them.

  • Save 31%
    by Philippe Garner
    £54.99

    Spanning more than five decades, the work of Helmut Newton (1920-2004) defies categorization. His photographic oeuvre is not only unique, but virtually unparalleled in scope, reaching millions through magazines like Vogue and Elle. Helmut Newton. Legacy showcases highlights and rediscovered images from one of the most published bodies of work...

  • Save 23%
    by Sara Caldas
    £15.49

    Finding original colour combinations that work is one of the most tricky questions in design and graphic design. Knowing how to use it creatively will maximize the impact of our designs and design ideas.

  • Save 23%
    - The Collection
    by Glyn Callingham & Graham Marsh
    £16.99

    The Cover Art of Blue Note Records is Graham Marsh and Glyn Callingham's classic collection of the finest record sleeves produced by the celebrated Blue Note record label.

  • - An Extreme Colouring and Search Challenge
    by Kerby Rosanes
    £6.99

    Enter the fantastic fantasy world of epic doodler Kerby Rosanes. Meet animals that morph from waterfalls and whirlwinds, and visit gothic-inspired palaces that reveal hordes of quirky creatures - all for you to bring to life with colouring.

  • Save 15%
    by Anonymous
    £10.99

  • Save 23%
    - A Photographic Journey Through Skateboarding in the 1990s
    by Pete Thompson
    £36.99

    The photographs, quotes, and anecdotal text in '93 til captures a time in skateboarding when making a livable income as a professional skater was a luxury and public understanding of skateboarding was at an all-time low.

  • Save 27%
    - The Definitive Illustrated Story
    by DK
    £21.99

    Helps you discover the history, plots and stars of musical theatre and movie musicals. This book covers from origins in dance halls and vaudeville, to the record-breaking West End musicals and spectacular Broadway shows. It is suitable for all the musical fans.

  • Save 27%
    - A colour reference system from the natural world
    by Patrick Baty
    £25.49

    The first-ever visual expansion of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours, featuring over 800 illustration references from the natural world.

  • Save 16%
    by Phaidon Editors
    £14.99

    Discover more than 500 of the most innovative, influential, and enduring products from the last five centuries in this fully revised and expanded edition of Phaidon's much-loved companion to the best of design

  • Save 12%
    - Building Density for Everyday Life
    by David Sim
    £26.49

    A visual and clear guide to building better density to create happier, more livable cities. With foreword by Jan Gehl.

  • Save 20%
    by Charlotte Cotton
    £11.99

    Provides an introduction to contemporary art photography, identifying its important features and themes and celebrating its exciting pluralism through an overview of its most important and innovative practitioners.

Culture
What defines culture you might ask? The answer is culture is what defines you. It is what makes us humans human and differentiate us from all other species on the planet. Art and culture is what we share with others, whether it is so called high culture or pop culture. High culture is typically associated with the ‘finer’, classical art forms such as opera, classical music, visual art, ballet and plays. Works that often have a certain age and artistic acknowledgement begin it, but fine culture is also sometimes seen as “high-brow” and not something everyone can understand and that’s sad, because culture and cultural books are for everyone no matter the kind. On the other end of the spectrum we have pop culture that typically is associated with more modern, popular and mainstream forms of culture. It can be pop music, cartoons or big blockbuster movies. We have cultural books from each side of the spectrum, but the best thing is that a change between the two concepts is coming and people are more open about mixing high culture and pop culture, because they are not that different at all. The most important thing about culture is that it connects us and is part of who we are. It can create communities and friendships, but also let us reflect upon ourselves. You can get wiser on that topic in some of our selection’s culture books. 

Art
In our selection you find some of the finest art books featuring some of the greatest artists in history and now. Art is a very important part of our culture. In art you have the possibility of getting engrossed in a wonderful painting, a provocative sculpture, a brilliant play or a beautiful ballet. 
In art you can get lost in the most wonderful stories and themes and identify yourself with someone who doesn’t necessarily look and act like you. By experiencing that you improve your ability of empathy. At the same time you can learn about yourself through art and art books especially when it comes to feelings that can be difficult to describe. In art the themes and problematics are universal and that’s why we feel recognized when experiencing a play, listening to a symphony, studying a great painting or reading a good art book. The art books are best enjoyed in a relaxed setting giving the art room to speak. 
Another beautiful thing about art is that it needs interpretation. When a person meets a well painted painting, a classical sculpture, or a provocative installation it makes us reflect about what it means, and what the art will tell us about society, life or yourself. Everyone can get something different out of a good artwork, because it speaks directly to you and functions as a dialog, where you will have to finish the sentence with your interpretation taking our own life and experiences into the artwork.
We also have a lot of artist books. One of the most talented and popular artists right now are the world famous Dane Vilhelm Hammershøi. Hammershøi has a very significant way of painting giving voice to the melankolic side of the world and of us humans. The painter is famous for his artworks of especially white doors in his apartment in Copenhagen. In the paintings Hammershøi plays with light and shadow in a brilliant way giving room to both sides, which also could be seen as a reflection of life that contains both. The motive also makes the art watcher wonder what is on the other side of the doors or corridors making them compose a continuation of the painting. You can read about Hammershøi in an European context in the artist book Hammershoi and Europe

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