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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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  • by Kellom Tomlinson
    £27.99

    Kellom Tomlinson was one of the most important figures in the history of dance in England in the early 18th century. This treatise, The Art of Dancing, completed by 1724 but due to high production costs not published until 1735, is the only substantial English work of its kind not derived from a French original. Tomlinson was one of the most prolific of the dancing masters working in England at this time, although details of his life and career are few. He was born c. 1693 and was apprenticed between 1707 and 1714 to the well-known and highly regarded dancing master Thomas Caverley. During this time he was also instructed in dancing 'in the theatrical way' by René Cherrier, a French dancer and teacher who performed frequently in London. Although there is no record of Tomlinson as a performer himself, he was associated from 1715 with the professional theatre, particularly that in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and also began at that time to establish himself as a dancing master to the nobility and gentry. In this treatise, in two parts, Tomlinson sets forth the principles of Baroque dance. The book is divided into two parts: part one contains detailed written descriptions of twenty nine steps; book two discusses the minuet, including four methods of performing the minuet step. The present facsimile reprint also includes six dances, in the Feuillet notation system, published by Tomlinson between 1715 and 1720: The Passpied Round O, The Shepherdess, The Submission, The Prince Eugene, The Address, and the Gavot (sic).

  • Save 22%
    by Matthew Hranek
    £29.49

    A covetable celebration of watches and the stories at the heart of men's obsession with them.

  • Save 14%
    - The 100 Craziest Moments from the Eurovision Song Contest
    by Geoff Tibballs
    £9.49

    YES, IT'S EUROVISION TIME AGAIN! THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE EUROVISION FAN IN YOUR LIFE!For 60 years the Eurovision Song Contest has existed in a parallel universe where a song about the construction of a hydro-electric power station is considered cutting-edge pop, where half a dozen warbling Russian grandmothers are considered Saturday night entertainment, where a tune repeating the word 'la' 138 times is considered a winner, and where Australia is considered part of Europe During those sixty years we have witnessed scandals: in 1957, Denmark's Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler enjoyed an outrageously long 13-second kiss because the stage manager forgot to say 'cut' during the live broadcast. We have witnessed national outrage: the 1976 Greek entry was a savage indictment of Turkish foreign policy in Cyprus. But most have all we have witnessed silly costumes, terrible lyrics and performers as diverse as Celine Dion and Dustin the Turkey.This book chronicles the 100 craziest moments in the history of Eurovision - the drag acts, the bad acts, the nul points heroes and the night in Luxembourg when the floor manager warned the audience not to stand up while they applauded because they might be shot by security forces. It captures some of the magic from this yearly event that continues to beguile and bemuse in equal measure.

  • by J Cooksey
    £7.99

    The vest pocket Kodak & The First World War tells the story of the first compact camera and its significance in documenting the Great War. The first half of the book sets the technology and timeline of the camera against those of the war. The second half presents a commemorative album of images taken with the camera.

  • - A Soldier's Dreams, Demons and Destination
    by George Howard Newton
    £11.99 - 21.49

  • by Johannes Christoph Moderegger
    £32.99

  • by Baldesar Castiglione
    £21.49

  • by Ruth Crawford Seeger
    £10.49

  • - Inspired by The Big Bang Theory
     
    £22.99

  • Save 20%
    by Richard B. Woodward
    £11.99 - 35.49

    Created in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation, this book reveals hundreds of the artist's instant pictures, many seen here for the first time. From self-portraits to still lives, anonymous nudes to New York high society, from Cabbage Patch dolls to portraits of Mick Jagger and Debbie Harry, these impromptu images offer a unique...

  • Save 23%
    - Graffiti Alphabets from Around the World
    by Claudia Walde
    £15.49

    A typographical sourcebook that features over 150 specially designed, original alphabets.

  • Save 24%
    - Tear, Paste, Protest
     
    £18.99

  • Save 23%
    - A Guide for Designers, Architects and Artists
    by Paul Jackson
    £15.49

    This book explains, in simple steps and non-mathematical terminology, how to create repeat patterns in a line, on the plane, as tiles and as Escher-like repeats. The book also shows how to make 'wallpaper repeats', where the elements of the pattern merge into each other, apparently seamlessly.Using letters as the basic elements, the book demonstrates how all repeat pattern-making comes out of four simple operations: translation, rotation, reflection and glide reflection. It will provide the definitive one-stop pattern-making resource for professional designers and students across disciplines, from textiles and fashion to graphic design and architecture.

  • Save 27%
    - Reflect, Journal, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses
    by Thomas Nelson
    £25.49

    The extra-wide lined margins make this NKJV Bible ideal for note taking or journaling as the reader experiences deeper engagement with God's Word.

  • by Vera Seaton
    £20.49

  • - Study score
    by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    £75.99

  • - A Colorful Book for Bengali Kids
    by Aruna K Hatti
    £15.49

  • - A Tribute to Chris Cornell
    by The Fans and Friends of Chris Cornell
    £37.49

    Thank You is a tribute to music legend Chris Cornell, written in the words of his international family of fans. Poems, reminiscences, letters, expressions of love and grief, the overwhelming theme is one of gratitude - to the singer, the songwriter, the man. The individual pieces join together to form a unique tapestry demonstrating the profound influence Chris has had on so many lives around the world. Raw, candid emotion and words written from the heart create beauty out of collective grief. This is a tribute, a love letter, and a legacy combined.

  • - Including Stories from the Poolroom
    by Michael P MacDonald
    £13.49

  • Save 30%
    - The Complete Fashion Collections
    by Louise Rytter & Jo Ellison
    £41.99

    Louis Vuitton Catwalk, a stunning masterpiece by Jo Ellison, is a must-have for fashion enthusiasts and book collectors alike. Published in 2018 by Thames & Hudson Ltd, this book offers an exclusive look into the world of high fashion. The book delves into the rich history and exquisite craftsmanship of the Louis Vuitton brand. It provides an unparalleled exploration of the brand's remarkable journey from its inception to its current status as a global fashion powerhouse. The author, Jo Ellison, brilliantly captures the essence of Louis Vuitton's iconic style, making this book a captivating read. This book is a testament to the timeless elegance and innovation that Louis Vuitton represents. Whether you're a fashion aficionado or simply appreciate well-written books, Louis Vuitton Catwalk is a worthy addition to your collection.

  • - Black Mountain College 1933-1957
    by Helen Molesworth
    £60.99

    A dynamic new look at the legendary college that was a major incubator of the arts in midcentury America

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    - Krautrock and the Building of Modern Germany
    by David (Associate Editor) Stubbs
    £11.99

    the endless winding of Autobahns.Faust, Neu!, Cluster, Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Duul II, Can, Kraftwerk -- the influence of these groups' ruminative, expansive compositions upon Western popular music is incalculable.

  • - The World's Most Extraordinary Places on and Beyond the Seashore
    by Sebastiaan Bedaux
    £45.49

    The 20 best Instagram accounts and blogs show you their paradise on earth, with the focus on the most idyllic beaches, azure seas, both above and below the water surface.

  • Save 10%
    by Clarence Ellis
    £8.99

    Understanding the humble pebble makes a trip to the beach, lake-side or river bank simply that little bit more fascinating. A handy illustrated guide to identifying pebbles is included on the reverse of this book jacket

  • Save 17%
    - Sew 12 Beautiful Bags and 12 Matching Purses
    by Debbie Shore
    £9.99

    Sew 12 gorgeous bags and 12 matching purses with this stylish, easy-to-use book

  • Save 20%
    - A Career Guide for Writers
    by Chris Foxon
    £11.99

    This straightforward and accessible book discusses the opportunities and pitfalls of life as a playwright. Whether you're an aspiring writer wondering how to break into the industry, or a working playwright looking to land bigger commissions, this is your insider road map to navigating the world of professional theatre.

  • Save 11%
    - Shifting Hollywood Terrain
    by Joi Carr
    £37.49 - 67.49

    This book explores John Singleton's cinematic voice and helps explicate his propensity for the folk elements in his work (the oral tradition and lore).

  • Save 29%
    by Simon Wood
    £35.49

    The first and only publication of its kind, Sneaker Freaker has been at the forefront of the global sneaker scene for nearly two decades. With over 650 redesigned pages, fresh photography, insane historical detail, and otaku-level minutiae, this monster anthology combines the magazine's finest and content created exclusively for TASCHEN into...

  • Save 20%
    - mini format
    by Phaidon Editors
    £23.99

    The bestselling visual biography of one of the twentieth century's most innovative, influential artists

  • - Adapting the Sublime
    by Elisa Pezzotta
    £26.49 - 81.49

    Although Stanley Kubrick adapted novels and short stories, his films deviate in notable ways from the source material. In particular, since 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), his films seem to definitively exploit all cinematic techniques, embodying a compelling visual and aural experience. But, as author Elisa Pezzotta contends, it is for these reasons that his cinema becomes the supreme embodiment of the sublime, fruitful encounter between the two arts and, simultaneously, of their independence. Stanley Kubrick's last six adaptations-2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange (1971), Barry Lyndon (1975), The Shining (1980), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Eyes Wide Shut (1999)-are characterized by certain structural and stylistic patterns. These features help to draw conclusions about the role of Kubrick in the history of cinema, about his role as an adapter, and, more generally, about the art of cinematic adaptations. The structural and stylistic patterns that characterize Kubrick adaptations seem to criticize scientific reasoning, causality, and traditional semantics. In the history of cinema, Kubrick can be considered a modernist auteur. In particular, he can be regarded as an heir of the modernist avant-garde of the 1920s. However, author Elisa Pezzotta concludes that, unlike his predecessors, Kubrick creates a cinema not only centered on the ontology of the medium, but on the staging of sublime, new experiences.

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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