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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 23%
    by V. E. Schwab
    £15.49

    The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Special Edition 'Illustrated Anniversary' is a mesmerising piece of literature penned by the acclaimed author, V. E. Schwab. Published in 2022 by Bloomsbury UK, this book transcends the barriers of genre to offer readers an immersive experience. It's a captivating blend of fantasy and historical fiction that will transport you to a world beyond your imagination. With Schwab's masterful storytelling and unique perspective, the book serves as a testament to her prowess as a writer. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is not just a book; it's an adventure that unfolds with every turn of the page. This special edition is enhanced with illustrations that bring the story to life, making it a collector's item for book lovers. Don't miss out on this literary masterpiece from Bloomsbury UK.

  • Save 21%
    by Sarah J. Maas
    £14.99

  • Save 27%
    by Julien Bitoun
    £21.99

    The complete story of the Gibson Les Paul.Produced in collaboration with Gibson, this is the ultimate history of rock's greatest guitar - with unprecedented access to behind-the-scenes stories and unseen photography.- The greatest Les Paul models - Stunning photography, including never-before-seen images - Detailed technical information - Iconic Les Paul players, songs, albums and concerts - Other treasures from the Gibson vaultsCelebrating 70 years of a music icon, this is an ode to a magical guitar and the music made with it.

  • Save 20%
    by Sebastian Mallaby
    £11.99

    From an award-winning financial historian comes the gripping, character-driven story of venture capital and the world it madeInnovations rarely come from "experts." Jeff Bezos was not a bookseller; Elon Musk was not in the auto industry. When it comes to innovation, a legendary venture capitalist told Sebastian Mallaby, the future cannot be predicted, it can only be discovered. Most attempts at discovery fail, but a few succeed at such a scale that they more than make up for everything else. That extreme ratio of success and failure is the power law that drives venture capital, Silicon Valley, the tech sector, and, by extension, the world.Drawing on unprecedented access to the most celebrated venture capitalists of all time, award-winning financial historian Sebastian Mallaby tells the story of this strange tribe of financiers who have funded the world's most successful companies, from Google to SpaceX to Alibaba. With a riveting blend of storytelling and analysis, The Power Law makes sense of the seeming randomness of success in venture capital, an industry that relies, for good and ill, on gut instinct and personality rather than spreadsheets and data. We learn the unvarnished truth about some of the most iconic triumphs and infamous disasters in the history of tech, from the comedy of errors that was the birth of Apple to the venture funding that fostered hubris at WeWork and Uber to the industry's notorious lack of women and ethnic minorities.Now the power law echoes around the world: it has transformed China's digital economy beyond recognition, and London is one of the top cities for venture capital investment. By taking us so deeply into the VCs' game, The Power Law helps us think about our own future through their eyes.

  • Save 30%
    by John Baxter
    £39.99

    Title: The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder,Author: John Baxter,Publication Year: 2023-03-07,Publisher: Penguin LCC US,Language: eng

  • Save 10%
    by Sierra Simone
    £8.99

    From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Sierra Simone comes her steamy, TikTok-famous Priest series, in which sinners and saints alike test the bonds of religion, love, and lust.He's a priest, and here is his confession.There are many rules a priest can't break. A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God. Tyler Bell has had no problem playing by the rules for the last three years after a family tragedy set him on the path to priesthood. That all changes when the delicious, sultry voice of Poppy Danforth sinks its claws in him through the screen of his confessional booth, and he can't get her sins out of his head.It should be easy to put his impure thoughts of her to rest, considering the vows Tyler has taken. It should be nothing to overcome what the sight and sound of her does to him, when his life with the Church means everything. But once he has his first forbidden taste of those red lips, Tyler can't help but break all his rules for Poppy-no matter what it might cost them both.

  • Save 21%
    by Kinfolk
    £13.49

    Issue Forty-Six invites you inside 10 inspiring homes where creative lives unfold. Among the extraordinary residences featured, you'll find remote farmhouses in Japan and England, modernist masterpieces in California and Australia, an artistic guesthouse in Senegal, and two palatial European apartments reimagined in very different ways by their designer occupants. Plus: We meet ascending streetwear icon Samuel Ross, swap recipes with the founder of Smitten Kitchen, and learn the secrets of a successful dance floor with DJ Hunee.

  • Save 15%
    by Travis Baldree
    £8.49

  • Save 24%
    by Thibaud Villanova
    £18.99

    Introducing 'The Unofficial Ghibli Cookbook' by Thibaud Villanova. Published in 2022 by Titan Books Ltd, this book is a delightful culinary journey into the world of Ghibli. This book is not just a cookbook, but a unique exploration of the iconic Japanese animation studio's films. The author, Thibaud Villanova, takes you on a gastronomic journey, recreating the delicious meals and treats seen in Ghibli's films. From hearty meals to sweet desserts, this book covers it all, making it a must-have for both Ghibli fans and food enthusiasts. The book, published by Titan Books Ltd, is a testament to Villanova's love for Ghibli and his culinary expertise. So, don your apron and get ready to bring the magic of Ghibli into your kitchen with 'The Unofficial Ghibli Cookbook'.

  • Save 29%
    by Monica Khemsurov
    £35.49

    "A stylish guide to artful objects, both new and vintage, and how to use them to design a remarkable home, from the founders of the trendsetting magazine Sight Unseen. With a collection of anecdotes, tours of remarkable homes, and modern and meaningful design advice, Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer take you on a fun, educational, and highly visual journey through two questions at the core of their design philosophy: what are objects, and how do we live with them? Why should we collect them, and how can they impact our lives? Like a chat with your most stylish friend, How to Live with Objects guides collectors, art lovers, and design enthusiasts towards a more sophisticated and skilled mindset in acquiring vintage, rare, and new objects and shows you how to style them in your own home. Appealing to every type of space, this book emphasizes the importance of objects, regardless of your style preference, and illustrates exactly how to find and utilize dâecor to maximize the thoughtfulness of your space. From a deep dive into thrifting, showing readers how to find that find so it doesn't end up being the one that got away, to style tips and tricks, How to Live with Objects is an indispensable tool for home owners and art enthusiasts alike"--

  • Save 11%
    by Scott Cawthon
    £7.99

    "Five Nights at Freddy's fans won't want to miss this collection of three chilling stories that will haunt even the bravest player ... Have you ever experienced a gut feeling that told you something was wrong? ... Caden senses the underwater animatronics in Freddy's Fantasy Water Park have a mind of their own. Robbie knows deep down that the minds of the members of the Fazbear Fan Club have been taken over by something. And Abe can't shake the feeling that the animatronic assistants in his Fazplex Tower apartment are hiding things from him. But in the world of Five Nights at Freddy's, when something feels wrong, it's often too late to do anything about it"--

  • Save 11%
    by Scott Cawthon
    £7.99

    "Outsourcing their storytelling to artificial intelligence comes with unintended results for the executives of the Fazbear Entertainment board of directors. Tony's search for the player behind the impossibly high scores at the Pizzaplex Fazcade leads him down a rabbit hole with no way out. And Abe's journey to find the first generation animatronics causing problem for his Bobbiedot home assistants lead him to believe he should have never moved into his new apartment. In the world of Five Nights at Freddy's sometimes a shortcut can lead to a dead end..."--

  • Save 27%
    by Allan Kozinn
    £21.99

    Set against the backdrop of the Beatles splintering over both business and creative issues, The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969-73 covers a period in which Paul McCartney recreated himself, both as a man and as a musician. This is an in-depth and revealing exploration of his creative life beyond the Beatles?featuring hundreds of interviews with fellow musicians, tour managers, recording engineers, producers, filmmakers, and more.The story of the Beatles has been told many times, covering all periods and perspectives. Paul McCartney's work in the 50 years since the Fab Four's breakup has been extraordinarily successful and enduringly popular?his 26 post-Beatles albums have sold upwards of 86.5 million copies; McCartney's 2019 Freshen Up tour was the highest grossing tour ever, in the entire world; and his last solo album McCartney III debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and number two on Billboard 200. Beside his extraordinary, creative solo output, he has collaborated with the most influential artists of his generation and the next: from Elvis Costello to Stevie Wonder, from Michael Jackson to Dave Grohl, even with Johnny Cash and Kanye West. McCartney, too, has explored new poetry styles with Allen Ginsburg and teamed up with Peter Martins and the NYC Ballet to create Ocean's Kingdom. The list goes on from there. And he has done all this post-Beatles and while maintaining a mostly normal family life. Paul McCartney has lived ten lifetimes in the span of one and become increasingly more relevant, yet curiously, his creative output since the Beatles has never had the full exploration such a life and body of work demands.The McCartney Legacy gives McCartney's post-Beatles life and work the kind of in-depth treatment that Mark Lewisohn has given the Beatles, and Philip Norman has given John Lennon. It is the first truly comprehensive biography, and the most finely detailed exploration of McCartney's creative life beyond the Beatles, ever undertaken.

  • Save 15%
    by Steve Brusatte
    £10.99 - 15.49

  • Save 15%
    by Paul Cantor
    £10.99

    The first biography of rapper Mac Miller, the Pittsburgh cult favorite¿turned¿rap superstar who touched the lives of millions before tragically passing away at the age of 26¿now in paperbackMalcolm James McCormick was born on January 19, 1992. He began making music at a young age and by 15 was already releasing mixtapes. One of the first true viral superstars, his early records earned him a rabid legion of die-hard fans¿as well as a few noteworthy detractors. But despite his undeniable success, Miller was plagued by struggles with substance abuse and depression, both of which fueled his raw and genre-defying music, yet ultimately led to his demise. Through detailed reporting and interviews with dozens of Miller¿s confidants, Paul Cantor brings you to leafy Pittsburgh, seductive Los Angeles, and frenzied New York, where you will meet Miller¿s collaborators, producers, business partners, best friends, and even his roommates. Traveling deep into Miller¿s inner circle, behind the curtain, the velvet ropes, and studio doors, Most Dope tells the story of a passionate, gifted young man who achieved his life¿s ambition, only to be undone by his personal demons.Most Dope is part love letter, part cautionary tale, never shying away from the raw, visceral way Mac Miller lived his life. Praise for Most Dope"A tender, studious remembrance." ¿The New York Times"An insightful exploration of his life . . . painstakingly reported by Cantor, who interviewed more than 100 people during a three-year process." ¿USA Today "An inside look at Miller's life through the eyes of his friends and industry peers, tracking the musician's life journey as he quickly ascended the ranks." ¿Daily Beast

  • Save 24%
    by Ursula K. Le Guin
    £45.49

    Immerse yourself in the magical world of 'Books of Earthsea', a captivating masterpiece by the renowned author Ursula K. Le Guin. Published in 2018 by Simon + Schuster Inc., this book is a must-have for lovers of fantasy literature. Le Guin, known for her profound and imaginative storytelling, takes you on an unforgettable journey through the mystical archipelago of Earthsea. The book brilliantly intertwines elements of magic, power, and the human spirit, making it a riveting read from start to finish. Don't miss out on this enchanting publication from Simon + Schuster Inc., a leading publisher known for its diverse and high-quality titles. 'Books of Earthsea' is indeed a timeless piece of literature that transcends the boundaries of imagination and reality. It's more than just a book; it's an experience you wouldn't want to miss.

  • Save 15%
    by Rob Halford
    £10.99

  • Save 21%
    by Steven Faerm
    £13.49

  • Save 15%
    by Philip Watson
    £10.99

    The definitive biography of guitar icon and Grammy Award-winning artist Bill Frisell.FEATURING EXCLUSIVE LISTENING SESSIONS WITH: Paul Simon; Justin Vernon of Bon Iver; Gus Van Sant; Rhiannon Giddens; The Bad Plus; Gavin Bryars; Van Dyke Parks; Sam Amidon; Hal Willner; Jim Woodring; Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill'A beautiful and long overdue portrait of one of America's true living cultural treasures . . . a brilliant book.'JOHN ZORN'Wonderful. It captures exactly the Bill I know.'GAVIN BRYARS'The perfect companion-piece to the music of its subject.'MOJOOver a period of forty-five years, Bill Frisell has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential musicians at work today.Growing up playing clarinet in orchestras and marching bands, Frisell has progressed through a remarkable range of musical personas - from devotee of jazz master Jim Hall to 'house guitarist' of estimable German label ECM, from edgy New York downtown experimentalist to plaintive country and bluegrass picker. He has been a pioneering bandleader and collaborator, a prolific composer and arranger and a celebrated Grammy Award winner.A quietly revolutionary guitar hero who has synthesised many disparate musical elements into one compellingly singular sound, Frisell connects to a diverse range of artists and admirers, including Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Gus Van Sant, Marianne Faithfull and Justin Vernon, many of whom feature in this book.Through unprecedented access to the guitarist and interviews with his close family, friends and associates, Philip Watson tells Frisell's story for the first time.'A revelatory, roots and branches portrait of one of America's greatest synthesisers of musical ideas.'IAN PATTERSON, ALL ABOUT JAZZ

  • Save 23%
    by Justine Picardie
    £15.49

    THE TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLERAN IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR'A gripping story in which Justine Picardie brilliantly contrasts the cruel Old World of wartime France with the hopeful New World epitomised by Christian Dior's New Look.'ANTONIA FRASER'An incredible story of courage, endurance and passion.'MARIA GRAZIA CHIURI, Creative Director of Dior'An extraordinary biography.'SUNDAY TIMES'Exceptional . . . Miss Dior is so much more than a biography.'DAILY TELEGRAPHMiss Dior is a story of freedom and fascism, beauty and betrayal, roses and repression, and how the polished surface of fashion conceals hidden depths. It paints a portrait of the enigmatic woman behind the designer Christian Dior: his beloved younger sister Catherine, who inspired his most famous perfume and shaped his vision of femininity. Justine Picardie's journey takes her to Occupied Paris, where Christian honed his couture skills while Catherine dedicated herself to the French Resistance, until she was captured by the Gestapo and deported to the German concentration camp of Ravensbruck.With unparalleled access to the Dior family homes and archives, Picardie's research into Catherine's courageous life shines a new light on Christian Dior's legendary work, and reveals how his enchanting 'New Look' emerged out of the shadows of his sister's suffering.Tracing the wartime paths of the Dior siblings leads Picardie deep into other hidden histories, and different forms of resistance and sisterhood. She explores what it means to believe in beauty and hope, despite our knowledge of darkness and despair, and discovers the timeless solace of the natural world in the aftermath of devastation and destruction. The result is an exquisite and unforgettably moving book.*A beautiful, full colour illustrated book featuring exclusive images from the Dior archives*'Catherine's story is beautifully, hauntingly told in spare and elegant prose by Picardie . . . moving and evocative.'THE TIMES'The juxtaposition of the terrible shadows and dazzling light is one of the great strengths of this book . . . A very personal, very passionate book.'ARTEMIS COOPER, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT'Picardie writes: 'The vestiges of Catherine's presence remain as a powerful reminder of the importance of freedom, and why it is worth fighting for.' There are few truer words.'THE SPECTATOR'Picardie's book is of the moment, celebrating an unsung hero at a time when female influences are earning new acclaim.'VOGUE'Miss Dior ensures the bravery of the women at Ravensbruck is not merely a distant echo.'i'Beautiful.' OBSERVER'Moving and beautifully illustrated.' NEW STATESMAN'Stunning.' RED'Not just beautifully written, this is also a stunningly beautiful book.' NOON

  • Save 25%
    by Matt Gibberd
    £19.49

  • Save 14%
    by John Illsley
    £9.49

  • Save 27%
    by Tom Sheehan
    £21.99

  • Save 14%
    by Chrishell Stause
    £9.49

    A heartfelt, humorous personal memoir and relatable guide to overcoming obstacles, wising up about romance, and getting ahead in your career from the star of Netflix's hit reality show Selling Sunset.In this engaging, witty, and inspirational memoir, Chrishell Stause shares her story of living an unconventional childhood in small-town Kentucky marked by periods of homelessness, family addiction struggles and dreams of one day being on a daytime soap, all while managing the local Dairy Queen. Through resilience and grit, she overcame obstacles and pushed past every barrier in her path to become one of the most envied luxury realtors in Los Angeles and buzzworthy cast members in reality TV.She takes us behind the scenes of Selling Sunset, reveals never-before-told stories from her life in soaps, and even pulls back the curtain on her highly publicised love life, offering insight not before shared. With her signature honesty and charm, Stause also gives tangible advice based on the lessons she's learned over the years and offers unique insight about how to stay resilient and positive no matter how many times life knocks you down. Under Construction is for anyone who wants to remember that no matter what happens or how, you have to get up, dress up and show up - and walk back into the room stronger than ever before.

  • Save 15%
    by Graeme Thomson
    £10.99

    'Nobody owes us anything, but the Simple Minds story has been too condensed. After Live Aid and 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' there hasn't been quite the credit for those first few records. I think they contain some really special music. I can hear the flaws but there's something about the spirit and imagination in them that feels good. They draw from such a wide range of influences ... but the spirit of it was always Simple Minds.' Jim Kerr, to the authorAn illuminating new biography of one of Britain's biggest and most influential bands, written with the full input and cooperation of Simple Minds, shedding new light on their dazzling art-rock legacy.Themes for Great Cities features in-depth new interviews with original band members Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil and Derek Forbes, alongside key figures from within their creative community and high-profile fans such as Bobby Gillespie, James Dean Bradfield and Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite. The book reclaims and revivifies the magnificence of Simple Minds' pioneering early albums, from the glitchy Euro-ambience of Real to Real Cacophony and Empires and Dance to the pulsing, agitated romance of Sons and Fascination, New Gold Dream and beyond.Emerging in 1978 from Glasgow's post-punk scene, Simple Minds transitioned from restless art-rock to electro futurism, mutated into passionate pop contenders and, finally, a global rock behemoth. They have sold in the region of 60 million records and remain a worldwide phenomenon. The drama of their tale lies in these transformations and triumphs, conflicts and contradictions.Themes for Great Cities tells the inside story of a band becoming a band. Inspiring, insightful and enlightening, it celebrates the trailblazing music of one of Britain's greatest groups.

  • Save 11%
    by Casey McQuiston
    £7.99 - 11.99

    From the bestselling author of Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need . . .Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she's spent the past four years dodging gossipy, classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that's kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal's perfect daughter.But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she's not the only one Shara kissed. There's also Smith, Shara's longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara's bad boy neighbour with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara's trail of clues and find her. It'll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair-and-square.Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe - probably not, but maybe - more to Shara, too.Fierce, funny and frank, Casey McQuiston's I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy and finding love in unexpected places.

  • Save 30%
    by Jens Muller
    £41.99

    It is little known that remarkable global brands such as General Electric, Ford, and Louis Vuitton still use logos that were designed over 100 years ago. Delving into the origins of modern trademarks and gathering more than 6,000 logos from the mid-19th century to 1940, Jens Muller's extensive complement to Logo Modernism is essential for...

  • - A catalog of components
    by Celine Dietziker
    £25.99

  • by Rebecca Desnos
    £18.49

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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