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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 18%
    - Forgotten Stars and Stories
    by Carla Valderrama
    £20.49

    The creator of the leading classic Hollywood Instagram account, This Was Hollywood, offers a fresh take on film history - presenting a collection of fascinating, under-the-radar stories both from cinema's forgotten past and about its most beloved legends.

  • Save 20%
    by Iris Lauterbach
    £99.99

    Citrons, lemons, and bitter oranges float like heavenly bodies above Italian villas, Nuremberg gardens, and picturesque countryside in J. C. Volkamer's ode to the citrus fruit. Reproducing a rare hand-colored set of the copper plates, this publication shows 170 varieties of citrus fruits in life size. Full of fragrance and color, they revive a...

  • Save 18%
    - Anime & Manga
     
    £17.99

    Go beyond conventional anime and mainstream manga with truly unique views of the Japanese art-form as sketched by 50 artists.

  • Save 21%
    by Tom Morello
    £27.49

    As the co-founder of Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave and Prophets of Rage, and as a collaborator with rock legends from Bruce Springsteen to Johnny Cash, few musicians have been as groundbreaking as American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and political activist, Tom Morello. Whatever It Takes explores Morello's entire career from his first bands through to his most recent solo album. This book is illustrated throughout with photographs, including many from Tom Morello's archives; memorabilia such as vintage setlists , diaries, handwritten musical notes and imagery of Tom Morello's most famous guitars.

  • Save 23%
    - A Visual Sourcebook for the Modern Mystic
    by S. Elizabeth
    £15.49

    A visually rich sourcebook featuring eclectic artwork (from the late-nineteenth century to today) inspired and informed by the mystical, esoteric and occult.

  • Save 15%
    by Catherine Ingram
    £10.99

    Find Frida Kahlo in 12 colourful scenes that collectively tell the fascinating story of her life, her art and her influences

  • Save 25%
    by Hiromasa Yonebayashi
    £20.99

    A Ghibli masterpiece of the imagination, brought to life with sketches and stills from Arrietty.

  • Save 24%
    by Bob Iger
    £18.99

    Celebrate 90+ years of Mickey Mouse with one of the most expansive illustrated publications on the Disney universe: behind-the-scenes shots, rare animation art, and vintage comics trace Mickey's cartoons, his comic adventures, the world of Mickey merchandise and memorabilia, as well as the legendary Mickey Mouse Club.

  • - From Tokyo and Beyond
    by Rei Shito
    £27.49

    A new guide to Tokyo street style, documenting looks from Japan and beyond, featuring endless inspiration, tips, and tricks to put together that killer look.

  • Save 29%
    by Anupama Kundoo
    £31.99

    First portrait of the internationally renowned and award-winning Indian architect. Anupama Kundoo has European ties and teaches as Professor of Affordable Habitat at the UCJC Madrid. Advocates an architecture with low environmental impact and respect for the socio-economic context.

  • Save 27%
    by Takahiro Kurashima
    £21.99

    If you liked Poemotion, you will love Moiremotion. Optical perception taken to the extreme. The long-awaited sequel to the bestsellers Poemotion 1-3.

  • Save 27%
    - Abstraction
     
    £21.99

    Gerhard Richter's abstract works are the subject of this extraordinary book, which brings together eighty works from collections around the world.

  • Save 27%
    by Carolina Amell
    £21.99

    This incredible photographic celebration of inspirational female skaters from all over the globe will appeal to skate fans of every age.

  • Save 20%
    by HANSOND
    £11.99

    The origin of the world for pocket change! Gustave Courbet got it right in 1866 when he painted a voluptuous woman's furry cleft and titled it L'Origine du monde. We all come from the pussy and half of us spend our lives trying to climb back in-now you can carry 150 of the best right in your back pocket.

  • - Doodle coloring book
    by Happy Arts Coloring
    £8.99

  • Save 10%
    - A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest
    by Chris West
    £8.99

    An entertaining look at the changing face of the Eurovision Song Contest and the political and cultural influences behind its kitsch and glitzy facade.Do you think the world of the Eurovision Song Contest, with its crazy props, even crazier dancers, and crazier still songs has nothing to do with serious European politics? Think again. The contest has been a mirror for cultural, social, and political developments in Europe ever since its inauguration, when an audience in dinner jackets and ball gowns politely applauded each song. It has been a voice of rebellion across the Iron Curtain, an inspiration for new European nations in the 1990s and 2000s, the voice of liberation for both sexual and regional minorities. It even once triggered a national revolution.Eurovision! charts both the history of Europe and the history of the Eurovision Song Contest over the last six decades, and shows how seamlessly they interlink - and what an amazing journey it has been.

  • Save 28%
    by Aaron Ehasz
    £27.49

    Date Subject To Change.The world behind The Dragon Prince is finally revealed!The Dragon Prince has enchanted and enthralled viewers since its initial release in September of 2018. Now, for the first time ever, dive into the world behind its creation with this all-new hardcover collection! Never-before-seen concept sketches, preliminary designs, and first impressions from the first three seasons of the animated Netflix series expand over nearly 200 pages of content, from storyboards and environments to the characters and creatures that fans across the world have come to love. Assembled in consultation with The Dragon Prince co-creators Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond and executive producer Justin Santistevan, this is the ultimate window into the work behind the show!

  • Save 14%
    - The New York Times bestseller
    by Patti Smith
    £9.49 - 10.99

  • Save 15%
    - The Biography
    by Peter Doggett
    £10.99

  • - Icons of K-Pop
    by Adrian Besley
    £7.99 - 9.49

    BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan or 'Bulletproof Boy Scouts', are the breakthrough K-pop band. For the first time, this book tells the story of the Korean boy band with a global army of fans, who have propelled their heroes to the top of the charts all over the world.

  • - Basic, Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions
    by Catherine V Holmes
    £15.49 - 31.49

  • Save 19%
    by Jean Haines
    £12.99

    Learn how to paint stunning watercolours filled with colour and light in Jean Haines' loose and expressive style with this special collector's edition.

  • Save 20%
    by James Graham-Campbell
    £11.99

    Covers all the art styles of the so-called Viking Age. This work ranges in time from the first major Viking expeditions overseas around AD 800 to the general establishment of Christianity in Scandinavia some 300 years later. It is suitable for all those interested in this vibrant art form and in Norse history.

  • Save 23%
    by Akiane Kramarik
    £15.49

    Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry is a collection of the best of Akiane's full-color paintings and poetry created from ages 4 to 10, along with details of her family and the amazing stories that surround each unique artwork.

  • Save 26%
    - Opera
    by Leslie Dunton-Downer & Alan Riding
    £19.99

    "e;Packed into every page of this book is the excitement of discovery, knowledge, taste and visual beauty. It all gives the reader the illusion of being at an actual performance."e; Placido Domingo "e;Opera is a beautiful guide for opera enthusiasts as well as the perfect welcome for converts to this ancient rite. It offers today's and tomorrow's audiences a delightful "e;navigation system"e; along an avenue that leads from Monteverdi to Bob Wilson."e; St phane Lissner, Director of the Teatro alla ScalaEssential reading whether you are a seasoned opera goer looking for a quick brush-up before a performance, or new to the genre and wanting to know more.From Baroque to Italian, from Vivaldi to Debussy explore 400 years of music drama from late-Renaissance Italy to works from contemporary names including Philip Glass and Thomas Ad s. Discover hundreds of classic and modern opera interpretations, learn about the lives of operatic masters, from Monteverdi to Adams plus, read act-by-act synopses of more than 160 operas from Madama Butterfly and Tosca to Candide and The Maid of Pskov which signpost the highlights of each opera and help you follow the story-line and identify characters. Eyewitness Companions Opera music for your ears and eyes.

  • Save 11%
    by Mark 563
    £7.99

    After the overwhelmingly popular Hip Hop Coloring Book, Mark 563 is back with Hip Hop Coloring Book: East Coast Edition. It's a fun activity book for kids and adults. The book features a selection of Mark 563's own illustrative takes on some of Hip Hop's most important figures - from early pioneers like Busy Bee, to 90s NYC profiles like Nine and newer stars like ASAP Rocky - all ready to be colored in.The 96 pages are packed with legendary East Coast rappers, spanning from the Golden Era through to today's rap superstars. A perfect gift for anyone interested in Hip Hop and popular culture. Hip Hop Coloring Book: East Coast Edition is marker friendly! Use your favorite markers without the risk of ruining the illustration on the other side of the paper.Hip Hop Coloring Book: East Coast Edition is the latest in Dokument Press popular coloring book series, with themes such as graffiti, skateboarding and lowriders.

  • - An Image Archive of Botanical Illustrations for Artists and Designers
    by Kale James
    £18.99

  • Save 25%
    - Understanding the rules and knowing when to break them - A Visual Communication Manual
    by Timothy Samara
    £20.99

    This updated version of Rockport's best-selling Design Elements covers all the design fundamentals, from working with grids, color application, typography, and imagery to finally how to put it all together.

  • Save 21%
    by T. H. Carpenter
    £13.49

    A comprehensive, scholarly yet succinct illustrated survey of myth as it appears in Greek art.

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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