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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 Judy Kay King
    £20.49

  • by WAYNE DOUGL BARLOWE
    £49.99 - 56.49

  • - Mac Miller Lyric Edition
    by Marina Cardenas
    £13.99

  • Save 24%
    by Desmond Shawe-Taylor
    £18.99

  • Save 23%
    by Will McPhail
    £16.99

    'BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OF 2021' Guardian and Irish Times'Starts as a charming romantic comedy and turns into something tender and affecting about our need for connection. I loved this one. ' David Nicholls'Beautiful, bittersweet portrait of modern life . . . his tragicomedy will also make the heart swell.' Guardian'Brilliant.' Candice Carty-Williams'This is a miraculous book.' Joe DunthorneNick, a young illustrator, can't connect with people. Whether it's the barista down the street, his own family or Wren, an oncologist whose life becomes painfully tangled with his, Nick can't shake the feeling that there is some hidden realm of human interaction beyond his reach. He staggers through meaningless conversations and haunts lookalike, vacuous coffee shops in the hope that he will find it there. But it isn't until Nick learns to stop performing and speak about the things that really matter that the complex and colourful worlds of the people he meets are finally revealed to him.Illustrated in both colour and black-and-white in McPhail's instantly recognisable style, In is poignant, fresh and hilarious. McPhail transforms the graphic novel with a heart-wrenching compassion uncannily appropriate for our isolated times.

  • Save 20%
    - In-depth
    by Laura Shenton
    £11.99

    Embracing synth pop, an album with a darker edge to it. Commercially, a bold move but with memorable melodies & catchy rhythms, it paid off. All whilst making reference to psychologist Arthur Janov. An in-depth perspective on how the album came to be, how it was presented & received & what it means in terms of Tears For Fears' legacy today.

  • Save 24%
    - A Portrait of our Nation in 2020: Sunday Times Bestseller
     
    £18.99

    Focused on three key themes - Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal and Acts of Kindness, this book presents a unique portrait of the UK during the 2020 lockdown, through 100 community photographs.

  • - The Covid Drawings 2020
    by Jolie Goodman
    £20.49

    By making a daily drawing since Boris Johnson was elected prime minister in December 2019. Jolie Goodman has made a visual record of the pandemic. This selection are her Covid Drawings in 2020.

  • Save 23%
    by Susan Ogilvy
    £15.49

    An exquisitely illustrated, one-of-a-kind celebration of the hidden beauty of nature and the ingenuity of birds Susan Ogilvy started painting bird nests almost by accident. One day, while tidying up her garden after a storm, she found a chaffinch nest - a strange, sodden lump on the grass under a fir tree. She carried it inside and placed it on a newspaper; over the next few hours, as the water drained out of it, the sodden lump blossomed into a mossy jewel. She was amazed, and dropped everything to make a painting of the nest at exact life size.This was the start of an obsession; Ogilvy has since painted more than fifty bird nests from life, each time marvelling at its ingenious construction. Every species of bird has its own vernacular, but sources its materials - most commonly twigs, roots, grasses, reeds, leaves, moss, lichen, hair, feathers and cobwebs, less usually, mattress stuffing and string - according to local availability. Ogilvy would, of course, never disturb nesting birds; instead she relies upon serendipity, which is why all her nests have either been abandoned after fulfilling their purpose, or displaced by strong winds.Although Nests showcases the specimens she has found near her homes in Somerset and on the Isle of Arran, its subject matter is by no means only British, since these same birds can be found all over Europe, Scandinavia and as far afield as Russia, Turkey and North Africa. This wondrous book is all the more special for its rarity. Few modern books exist specifically on the subject of bird nests; the most recent among the author's reference works was published in 1932. Exquisitely designed and packaged, Nests will be an essential addition to the libraries of all nature lovers.

  • Save 10%
    - the inspiration behind the hit Netflix TV series, LUPIN
    by Maurice Leblanc
    £8.99

    THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE HIT NETFLIX SERIES, LUPIN.

  • Save 25%
    by Paul McCartney
    £17.99 - 51.99

  • - The Essential Saxophone Resource
    by Ray Smith
    £26.49

    Dr. Ray Smith is the saxophonists'' saxophonist, the teachers'' teacher. His 50+ years of saxophone playing and teaching have prepared him well to bring together perhaps the greatest breadth of practical saxophone information ever assembled under one book cover in The Science and Art of Saxophone Teaching. This book is valuable to saxophone teachers and serious saxophone students alike covering such topics as basic tone production (embouchure, oral cavity, breath support) and solving problems with tone, playing low notes, slurring down over intervals, solving reed issues, saxophone repair and adjustments, coordinating classical and jazz study and practice, warmup exercises and practice routines, articulation basics and articulation styles, development of technique and speed, choosing fingerings, solving vibrato issues, working on intonation problems, playing dynamics, rhythmic development, learning altissimo (may be worth the price of the book alone), phrasing musically, choosing good breathing places, working with ornamentation and cadenzas, dealing with differences between styles, becoming a multilingual musician, doubling other woodwind instruments and helpful information on clarinet, flute and double reeds, dealing with stage fright, and much more. This volume belongs in the library of every earnest saxophonist. There are also a series of video tutorials on a coordinated YouTube channel that bring all the concepts to life.Ray has been blessed to be a master pedagogue and is sharing in this book the concepts, insights, and approaches he has used to help countless young players become great saxophonists and musicians. His track record as a professor at Brigham Young University is enviable. His students teach at many of the nations'' universities, perform in the Broadway pits, play in the service bands of the Army, Navy, and Marines, and write for Hollywood movies. One is playing with the Dukes of Dixieland, and one is currently holding down the first tenor chair in the famed University of North Texas 1 O''Clock Lab Band. Ray, himself, a disciple of Eugene Rousseau, is a fine performer and well-recorded artist. He is equally at home in classical and jazz-related styles and adept at all five woodwind instruments. He has been heard frequently on the airwaves of this country (ESPN, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc.), on movies such as The Sandlot and The Swan Princess, and on Television series such as He-Man: Masters of the Universe, Xena, and Hercules.

  • Save 22%
    - Places as Constellations
    by Izaskun Chinchilla
    £27.99

    This unprecedented project shows how incorporating women into the field of architecture would generate new places for thought and attention on the part of professionals, or consolidate and expand those that exist. Text in English and Italian.

  • Save 28%
    by Sebastian Schutze
    £17.99

    Notorious bad boy of Italian painting, Caravaggio is now considered one of the greatest influences in all art history. This neat catalogue raisonne reproduces all of Caravaggio's paintings as well as a number of dramatic details of his boundary-breaking realism. Five accompanying chapters trace Caravaggio's artistic daring and his equally...

  • Save 13%
    - The Covers
    by Jefferson Hack
    £52.49

    Celebrating 30 years of Dazed s boundary-pushing storytelling at the forefront of youth culture, this book reveals the past, present, and future of Dazed through its bold cover designs and manifesto-like headlines.

  • Save 32%
    by Bridget Foley & Tom Ford
    £71.49

  • Save 20%
    - The Frantic Four Years
    by Richard James
    £11.99

    A retrospective of one of Britain's most successful bands. Spanning the period 1970 to 1984, the creative peaks and troughs of all the songs recorded by 'The Frantic Four' are examined in detail by a fan who can play guitar a bit, and also knows his Bach from his byte.

  • Save 27%
    by Edward Lucie-Smith & Sergei Reviakin
    £25.49

  • Save 18%
    - Design and techniques
    by Laura Boswell
    £20.49

    A detailed and practical guide to experiment and discover the potential of linocut and the reduction printed method.

  • Save 17%
    by Mark Lanegan
    £9.99

    The COVID diaries of the alternative rock star and bestselling author of SING BACKWARDS AND WEEP

  • Save 21%
    - The Prints of Ernst Haeckel
    by Richard Hartmann, Irenaus Eibl-Eibersfeldt & Olaf Breidbach
    £14.99

    The geometric shapes and natural forms, captured with exceptional precision in Ernst Haeckel's prints, still influence artists and designers to this day. This volume highlights the research and findings of this natural scientist.

  • Save 24%
    - The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground
    by Michael Moynihan
    £15.99

    Bands including Dead, Euronymous, and Varg Vikernes--along with sociologists, police officers, theologians, and occultists--recount how the satanic Black Metal, a spin-off of the heavy metal underground, devolved into acts of church burning, murder, and suicide in Scandinavia.

  • Save 18%
    by Robert McKee
    £20.49

    '"Good story" means something worth telling that the world wants to hear. Finding this is your lonely task... but the love of a good story, of terrific characters and a world driven by your passion, courage and creative gifts is still not enough. Your goal must be a good story well told.' Robert McKee

  • Save 30%
    by Ollie Johnston
    £39.99

    Written by the ultimate Disney insiders, this "bible" of animation has become a legend in itself. This volume seeks to explain the process that makes Disney's animation unique--what sets the work of the Disney studios apart from other animation products. Here are original sketches of best-loved Disney characters, how memorable movie sequences were made, and anecdotes about working with Walt. Full-color throughout. National ads/media.

  • Save 20%
    by Stan Lee
    £11.99

    Stan Lee, the founding father of Marvel Comics, and John Buscema, artist of the classic Silver Surfer series, give professional advice and instruction for budding comics artists. Learn how to draw the Marvel way, courtesy of this lavishly illustrated, step-by-step guide to all facets of the process.

  • Save 17%
    by Mark LeVine
    £37.49

    Written in the language of the working jazz musician, this book is easy to read and user-friendly. At the same time, it is the most comprehensive study of jazz harmony and theory ever published. Via 500+ pages of text and more than 750 musical examples, it takes the student from the most basic techniques such as chord construction and the II-V-I progression through scale theory, the blues, "I''ve Got Rhythm" changes, slash chords, the bebop and pentatonic scales, how to read a lead sheet and memorize tunes and a study of reharmonization that is almost a book in itself. The author, Mark Levine, has worked with Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, and many other jazz greats.

  • Save 20%
    by Quincy Troupe
    £11.99

    'LISTEN. The greatest feeling I ever had in my life -- with my clothes on -- was when I first heard Diz and Bird back in 1944. I've come close to matching the feeling of that night, but I've never quite got there. I'm always looking for it, trying to always feel it in and through the music I play ...'

  • Save 15%
    by Mark LeVine
    £28.99

    The most highly acclaimed jazz piano method ever published. Over 300 pages with complete chapters on Intervals and triads, The major modes and II-V-I, 3-note voicings, Sus. and phrygian Chords, Adding notes to 3-note voicings, Tritone substitution, Left-hand voicings, Altering notes in left-hand Stride and Bud Powell voicings, Block chords, Comping ...and much more!

  • Save 15%
    by Anthony Kiedis
    £10.99

    * The frank, shocking and inspiring autobiography of Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'the world's biggest band' (MOJO)* 'Book of the Year' N.M.E.

  • Save 19%
    by Cheri Smith
    £12.99

    This paperback treasury is perfect for the insatiable Magic Eye fan.

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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