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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 20%
    by Gyles Brandreth
    £11.99 - 17.49

    The ultimate anthology of theatrical anecdotes, edited by lifelong theatre-lover Gyles Brandreth in the Oxford tradition, and providing a wonderfully entertaining and revealing portrait of the world of the theatre across four hundred years.

  • Save 23%
    - The Biography of Chris Cornell
    by Corbin Reiff
    £15.49

    "The new Chris Cornell biography is the book his legacy deserves." -Kerrang!

  • - A Collection of Contemporary Poetry and Photography
    by Clarissa Sofia
    £17.49

    This book is an exploration of relationships between people and places, love, death, and mental health, specifically depression and anxiety. Clarissa shares her journey as a young woman growing into her adult skin through poetry and self-portraiture. In this collection, Clarissa questions our current society and tackles ways of dealing with the reality of what it means to be conscious, conveying self-acceptance as the highest form of rebellion.

  • Save 12%
    - A Land of Prayer: A Photo Travel Experience
    by Andrey Vlasov
    £44.99

  • by Sadakichi Hartmann
    £21.49

    This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

  • Save 24%
    by Neal Treadwell & Hugh Nini
    £39.49

  • - For Beginners
    by S J Tyler
    £12.49

  • Save 23%
    by David Byrne
    £15.49

    From former Talking Heads frontman and multimedia visionary David Byrne and revered bestselling author, illustrator, and artist Maira Kalman-an inspiring celebration in words and art of the connections between us all. A joyful collaboration between old friends David Byrne and Maira Kalman, American Utopia offers readers an antidote to cynicism, bursting with pathos, humanism, and hope-featuring his words and lyrics brought to life with more than 150 of her colorful paintings.The text is drawn from David Byrne's American Utopia, which has become a hit Broadway show-returning to Broadway on September 18, 2020, and soon to be a documentary from Spike Lee. The four-color artwork, by Maira Kalman, which she created for the Broadway show's curtain, is composed of small moments, expressions, gestures, and interactions that together offer a portrait of daily life and coexistence.With their creative talents combined, American Utopia is a salvo for kindness and a call for jubilation, a reminder to sing, dance, and waste not a moment. Beautifully designed and edited by Alex Kalman, American Utopia is a balm for the soul from two of the world's most extraordinary artists.

  • Save 29%
    by Christopher Warwick
    £35.49

    Celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with this definitive photographic story of her public and private life. Brimming with tradition, history, glamour, and culture, this book features international tours, state functions, royal weddings, and jubilees, and showcases the glorious royal photography of such luminaries as David Bailey, Yousuf...

  • Save 24%
    - Basic Forms
    by Thierry De Duve
    £18.99

    An elegant new edition of Bernd and Hilla Becher's classic black-and-white photographic study of industrial buildings.

  • Save 27%
    by Wally Koval
    £21.99

    Accidentally Wes Anderson is a captivating book written by Wally Koval. Published in 2020 by Orion Publishing Co, this book falls under a unique genre that attracts a wide range of readers. The book takes you on a visual adventure of the world's most idiosyncratic and distinctive places, as seen through the lens of the popular Instagram account, @AccidentallyWesAnderson. It's a collection of more than 200 locations spanning every continent and every time zone. Whether it's a colorful cityscape, a grand entrance, or a forgotten seaside resort, each location embodies the distinct aesthetic of filmmaker Wes Anderson. This book is a must-have for those who love travel, design, and cinema.

  • Save 24%
    by ITV Ventures Ltd
    £18.99

    An official and comprehensive celebration of 60 years of Britain's favourite soap.

  • Save 20%
    - My Nature Journal
    by Jo Brown
    £11.99

    Things of such magnitude deserve respect and understanding. They deserve to be remembered...

  • Save 24%
    by Daniel Kothenschulte
    £18.99

    One of the most expansive illustrated publications on Disney animation, finally available in a compact edition. The landmark volume includes behind-the-scenes photos, story sketches, and cel setups of famous film scenes. It covers each of the major animated features made during Walt's lifetime, as well as lesser-known short films and episodic...

  • Save 20%
    - Instrumental Hip Hop & Electronic Music at the Turn of the Century
    by Laurent Fintoni
    £11.99

    In Bedroom Beats and B-sides, Laurent Fintoni details the rise of bedroom producers at the turn of the century through the stories of the instrumental hip-hop and electronic music scenes that made this rise possible. From trip-hop, illbient, and IDM to leftfield hip-hop, glitch, and beats, the book explores how these scenes acted as incubators for new ideas about composition and performance that are now taken for granted. Combining social, cultural, and musical history with extensive research and over 100 interviews, the book tells the B-side stories of hip-hop and electronic music from the 1990s to the 2010s, exploring the evolution of a modern beat culture.

  • Save 11%
    by Alexander Rosso
    £7.99

    Take a break from your stressful day-to-day sneaker hunting and amp up your creativity. In the Sneaker Coloring Book you can colour your most beloved shoe models in whichever way you want. You can relax your mind with some peaceful colouring fun, or get heads on creative adding that complex design you always wished for your favourite sneaker model. Whether you are an advanced sneaker head or just have the slightest interest in street fashion and sneakers, you can''t go wrong with the Sneaker Coloring Book!

  • - A Visual Guide to Produce Clothing.
    by Abc Seams Pty Ltd
    £32.49

    What is inside a Tech Pack and how should I explain my designs?Sewing Seams for Tech Packs is a reference book that focuses on the technical aspects of fashion design.This tool will allow you to not only understand how garments are made, but also how to enrich your skills as a designer.The 27 garment pieces that are developed within this book, are the basis to explain almost any design. We show you in detail how each garment is done, and how to explain it clearly to a factory.By referring to this book when making your tech packs you will save time and avoid misunderstandings.Design like a proChoose the most appropriate seams for any project, and master the technical issues that are involved in developing garments.

  • - One Person's Discovery of Orb Photography.
    by Sandy Mayberry
    £19.49

  • Save 29%
    - My Life in Lyrics
    by Robert K. Oermann & Dolly Parton
    £33.99

    Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.

  • Save 23%
    - A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
    by Julia Cameron
    £15.49 - 18.99

    'I love it. A practical, spiritual, nurturing book.' - Russell BrandTHE MULTI-MILLION-COPY WORLDWIDE BESTSELLERSince its first publication, The Artist's Way has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert, Tim Ferriss, Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron guides readers in uncovering problems and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to open up opportunities for growth and self-discovery.A revolutionary programme for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life. 'Each time I've learned something important and surprising about myself and my work ... Without The Artist's Way, there would have been no Eat, Pray, Love' ELIZABETH GILBERT

  • Save 24%
     
    £18.99

    Wolfgang Tillmans has explored the medium of photo-imaging with greater range than any other artist of his generation. From early portraits of his friends to abstract images made in a darkroom without a camera or works made with a photocopier, he has pushed the photographic process to its outer limits in myriad ways. For this collection of...

  •  
    £78.99

    This first comprehensive study in English of the many and variegated ways the afterlife was envisioned in the Middle Ages presents exciting new interpretations that will interest literary scholars, (art) historians, and theologians.

  • Save 21%
    - Memories of Growing Up in Britain
    by Lee Schulman
    £14.99

    Anonymous family photos from Britain in the 50s to 80s provide an emotional glimpse of past lives.

  • - Photography Book
    by Elyse Booth
    £23.99

    Take a trip through the streets of Lisbon, Portugal. This coffee table photography book is a great opportunity to take a trip in the comfort of your own home. Experience the vibrant colours of the cityscapes and waterfront sculptures. All of the murals and cultural graffiti bring the city to life.

  • Save 14%
     
    £23.99

    Exploring a wide range of sonic practices, from birdsong in the Marshall Islands to Zulu ululation, the contributors reorient the field of sound studies toward the global South in order to rethink and decolonize modes of understanding and listening to sound.

  • Save 27%
    by Phil Szostak
    £21.99

    This official behind-the-scenes companion to the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian features exclusive concept art, character and costume sketches, and vehicle and creature designs.The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian takes fans behind the scenes of the first ever live-action Star Wars television series. Filled with concept art, sketches, and interviews with key cast, crew, and creatives, including executive producer/showrunner/writer Jon Favreau and executive producer/director Dave Filoni, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian will provide readers with an exclusive look at a whole new universe of Star Wars characters, locations, and vehicles. Premiering in November 2019 as a key launch title for Disney+, The Mandalorian follows the adventures of galactic gunslinger Din Djarin and the Child as they traverse the outer systems of the galaxy and evade remnants of the Empire. Readers will encounter early visual and conceptual ideas for these new characters and unexplored frontiers, filled with crime syndicates, bounty hunters, and smugglers. The gritty, lived-in cantinas and spaceports are populated by a talented cast that includes Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), Werner Herzog (Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man), Nick Nolte (48 Hours), Gina Carano (Haywire, Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), and Carl Weathers (Rocky).

  • by Marci Rodgers
    £22.49 - 29.99

  • - Authentic Words and Phrases in the Celtic Language of Wales
    by Meagan Davis & Robert Davis
    £9.99

    A "think before you ink" guide to the Welsh language and symbols of Wales. You love all things Welsh and Wales, and you want to tell the world. But if you rely on dodgy online translations and images, you could end up with a Welsh tattoo nightmare! Written and edited by fluent Welsh speakers, this book features resources to help you plan the perfect Welsh inscription or tattoo:ΓÇó Overview of the Welsh language and the history & culture of WalesΓÇó Descriptions of Welsh symbols and historical figuresΓÇó Illustrations of real-life Welsh tattoos gone wrongΓÇó Glossary of 400+ authentic words and phrases in Welsh

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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