Books published by Thames & Hudson Ltd

A new, radically updated edition of the immensely successful introductory textbook on world prehistory.

An original and revealing series of essays on couples who shared both sexual and artistic bonds.

Despite his posthumous fame as a painter of flowers, still-lifes, gardens, landscapes and city scenes, during his lifetime Vincent van Gogh believed that his portraits constituted his most important works. Although as an artist he was 'touched by so many different things', he was nevertheless committed to the art of portraiture - a quality that distinguished him from his contemporaries. Van Gogh was passionate in his avoidance of bland, photographic resemblances, in the hope of capturing the essential character of his models by means of expressive colour and brushwork. Showcasing a dramatic set of portraits created during Van Gogh's ten-year career, this book reflects the strong visual impact with which the artist captured the diversity of contemporary life. In his many portraits, we can discern the artist's desire to record expressively a number of themes, from the plight of the agricultural workers in his native Brabant and the destitution of prostitutes and their children in urban Europe, to the lives of his cosmopolitan acquaintances in Paris, including café owners and art dealers. It was here that he began his remarkable sequence of self-portraits. With reference to Van Gogh's extensive correspondence, Skea elaborates how the artist perceived his chosen subjects as would a writer, and how he felt that his portraits should somehow evoke what he considered to be the spiritual underpinning of human existence

Presents various colourful characters who have sunk into obscurity, from St Cuthbert and Nicholas Breakspear (the only English pope) to Octavia Hill and the Marquis of Granby. This title also covers such diverse areas as sports, lost villages, forgotten war heroes and inventors.

A rich sourcebook of design ideas for incorporating workspaces into domestic spaces - through objects, spatial transformation or design - targeted at consumers, practitioners and architects.

A lively illustrated book that introduces children to their first 100 Chinese words, making learning written Chinese fun and simple. For ages 7+

Over the course of a career spanning more than fifty years, Seattle-based architect Jim Olson, of Olson Kundig, has made his name designing a broad range of buildings that sensitively respond to their environment. Initially drawing from his close connection to the nature and culture of the Pacific Northwest, he has attracted an international reputation for designing houses for art collectors around the world. Considered together, his buildings reveal an exceptional interplay between art, light, nature, craft and architecture, which can be experienced in a range of projects that span the globe, from Mexico to South-East Asia. This complete overview of many decades of carefully considered buildings begins with an extended essay by Aaron Betsky, who considers the intimate relationship between Olson‿s natural surroundings and love of art and his design process over the course of his career. This is followed by a selection of twenty-eight of Olson‿s recent projects, interspersed with private sketches and his reflections on architecture and the creative process. The final reference section includes an extensive illustrated chronology of the architect‿s entire corpus.

A detailed study of contemporary art in Hungary from the period immediately following the Revolution of 1956 through 1980-- a troubled yet fascinating period in the history of the country

A stunning collection of intricately made games pieces from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait

Award-winning designer Sean Adams presents over 100 case studies of environmental graphics and murals from around the world.

An accessible introduction to pre-modern Islam, showcasing the individuals - caliphs, law-makers, theologians, poets, mystics and scholars - who shaped the course of early Islamic history.

A guide to ancient Rome, it describes the best places to stay and shop, what to do, and what to avoid. It is intended for tourists, armchair travellers and history buffs.

Go behind the facades and finishes to understand how fifty of the world's most iconic and important buildings were constructed.

A culinary odyssey through Mexico's food traditions and the epicurean tastes of its people.

An engaging and authoritative overview of the history of footwear from the Middle Ages to today, illustrated with rare and luxurious examples.

a selective and opinionated guide informed by superlative taste, direct experience and many years of partaking in the very best that London has to offer.

The years since 1989 have seen a complete untethering of what art can be, who makes it and where it can be found, which has been matched by a reassessment of art's appropriate place in society. This title examines the themes in contemporary art, from portraiture in the age of face transplants and facial recognition software, and more.

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla have built a 28-year partnership that has included designing for India's leading actors and actresses, working with directors on costumes for epic Bollywood films, and building a brand that exudes luxury, artistry and Indian tradition. This book is suitable for those in the world of high fashion.

A pop-up book with flaps to lift, tabs to pull and plenty of surprises

Offering a creative and fun approach to math (and problem solving) for children who love hands-on learning, this fill-in book helps children to think like mathematicians by introducing key mathematical concepts in a highly visual--and entertaining--way. Full color. 7 5/8 x 9 13/16.