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From the author of the critically acclaimed The Phantom Atlas
and The Madman’s Library (Sunday Times Literature Book of the
Year) comes a magnificent new illustrated work. From prehistoric
carvings and ancient Egyptian statues, to medieval spell books and
Victorian code-writing, this unique collection gathers a wealth of
curious objects and surprising stories to trace the story of love
through the ages. Discover the royal marriage that crossed
the boundary of death in 14th-century Portugal, the judicial duels
between husbands and wives in Early Modern Europe, the love spells
found in medieval manuscripts, and the romantic codes hidden in
some of art’s greatest masterpieces. Meet the feared ancient
Greek army regiment comprised entirely of male couples; the French
pirate queen avenging her murdered husband; the first woman to sail
around the world; and the quack sexologist who conned 18th-century
London with his musical mechanical bed. Here are ancient gods,
mythical monsters, the Elizabethan portraits of smiling men on fire
and the erotic paintings hidden beneath the ash of Pompeii, as well
as Nigerian wedding chains, Welsh love spoons, cryptic postcards
and the centuries-old cartographic tradition of mapping the
heart. A curiosity cabinet of romantic treasure, Love: A
Curious History in 50 Objects draws on a wide range of sources to
form a collection perfect for fans of beautiful illustrated works
and curious history, while also forming the ideal romantic
gift. 'A glorious cornucopia of a book, celebrating love
from the hilarious to the divine - as always, Brooke-Hitching's
encyclopaedic knowledge shines through.' Fern Riddell,
author Sex: Lessons From History
Enter The Madman's Gallery - the perfect gift book for any art
lover. Discover an eccentric exploration through the curious
history of art, to find the strangest paintings, sculptures,
drawings and other artistic oddities ever made. From the author of
the bestseller The Madman's Library (SundayTimes Literature Book of
the Year 2020, Radio 4 Book of the Week) comes an extraordinary new
illustrated collection. This unique exhibition gathers more than a
hundred magnificent works, each chosen for their striking beauty,
weirdness and captivating story behind their creation. Obscure and
forgotten treasures sit alongside famous masterpieces with secret
stories to tell. Here are Doom paintings, screaming sculptures,
magical manuscripts, impossible architecture, dog-headed saints,
angel musketeers and the first portrait of a cannibal. Stolen art,
outsider art, ghost art, revenge art, and art painted at the bottom
of the sea take their place alongside scandalous art, forgeries and
hoaxes, art of dreams and nightmares, and cryptic paintings yet to
be decoded. Discover the remarkable Elizabethan portraits of men in
flames, the mystery of the nude Mona Lisa, the gruesome ingredients
of lost pigments, the werewolf legion of the Roman army, and the
Italian monk who levitated so often he's recognised as the patron
saint of aeroplane passengers. From prehistoric cave art to
portraits painted by artificial intelligence, The Madman's Gallery
draws on a remarkable depth of research and variety of images to
form a book that surprises at every turn, and ultimately serves to
celebrate the endless power and creativity of human imagination.
'...a feast of artistic curiosities' - The Telegraph 'What that
last book did for bibliophiles, this new, beautifully produced and
elegantly written anthology does for art lovers ... The research
that has gone into this is prodigious, but Brooke-Hitching loves
storytelling even more than scholarship, and he has a gift for it.'
- The Spectator 'Extraordinary' - Artists & Illustrators
* BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK * 'Anybody who loves the printed
word will be bowled over by this amusing, erudite, beautiful book
about books. It is in every way a triumph. One of the loveliest
books to have been published for many, many years' Alexander McCall
Smith 'Quite simply the best gift for any book lover this year, or
perhaps ever' Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times Literary Book of the Year
'An utterly joyous journey into the deepest eccentricities of the
human mind... The most cheering, fascinating book I've read for
ages' Guardian From the author of the critically acclaimed and
globally successful The Phantom Atlas, The Golden Atlas and The Sky
Atlas comes a stunning new work. The Madman's Library is a unique,
beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of
literature, delving into its darkest territories to hunt down the
very strangest books ever written, and uncover the fascinating
stories behind their creation. This is a madman's library of
eccentric and extraordinary volumes from around the world, many of
which have been completely forgotten. Books written in blood and
books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the
globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they
could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle, books of code
and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered... and a few others
that are just plain weird. From the 605-page Qur'an written in the
blood of Saddam Hussein, through the gorgeously decorated
15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the lost
art of binding books with human skin, every strand of strangeness
imaginable (and many inconceivable) has been unearthed and bound
together for a unique and richly illustrated collection ideal for
every book-lover.
'Very beautiful and illuminating' Mariella Frostrup Edward
Brooke-Hitching, author of the international bestseller The Phantom
Atlas delivers an atlas unlike any other. The Devil's Atlas is an
illustrated guide to the heavens, hells and lands of the dead as
imagined throughout history by cultures and religions around the
world. Packed with colourful maps, paintings and captivating
stories, the reader is taken on a compelling tour of the geography,
history and supernatural populations of the afterworlds of cultures
around the globe. Whether it's the thirteen heavens of the Aztecs,
the Chinese Taoist netherworld of 'hungry ghosts', or the 'Hell of
the Flaming Rooster' of Japanese Buddhist mythology (in which
sinners are tormented by an enormous fire-breathing cockerel), The
Devil's Atlas gathers together a wonderful variety of beliefs and
representations of life after death. These afterworlds are
illustrated with an unprecedented collection of images, ranging
from the marvellous 'infernal cartography' of the European
Renaissance artists attempting to map the structured Hell described
by Dante and the decorative Islamic depictions of Paradise to the
various efforts to map the Garden of Eden and the spiritual vision
paintings of nineteenth-century mediums. The Devil's Atlas
accompanies beautiful images with a highly readable trove of
surprising facts and narratives, from the more inventive torture
methods awaiting sinners, to colourful eccentric catalogues of
demons, angels and assorted death deities. A traveller's guide to
worlds unseen, The Devil's Atlas is a fascinating study of the
boundless capacity of human invention, a visual chronicle of man's
hopes, fears and fantasies of what lies beyond.
'Beautiful ... endless, brilliant unforgettable stories' Cerys
Matthews, BBC Radio 6 'Combining myth and science, this
breathtaking book [is] packed with stunning images' Daily Mail
After the enormous international success of The Phantom Atlas and
The Golden Atlas, Edward Brooke-Hitching's brilliant book unveils
some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created during
mankind's quest to map the skies above us. This richly illustrated
treasury showcases the finest examples of celestial cartography - a
glorious genre of map-making often overlooked by modern map books -
as well as medieval manuscripts, masterpiece paintings, ancient
star catalogues, antique instruments and other appealing
curiosities. This is the sky as it has never been presented before:
the realm of stars and planets, but also of gods, devils, weather
wizards, flying sailors, medieval aliens, mythological animals and
rampaging spirits. The reader is taken on a tour of star-obsessed
cultures around the world, learning about Tibetan sky burials,
star-covered Inuit dancing coats, Mongolian astral prophets and Sir
William Herschel's 1781 discovery of Uranus, the first planet to be
found since antiquity. Even stranger are the forgotten stories from
European history, like the English belief of the Middle Ages in
ships that sailed a sea above the clouds, 16th-century German UFO
sightings and the Edwardian aristocrat who mistakenly mapped
alien-made canals on the surface of Mars. As the intricacies of our
universe are today being revealed with unprecedented clarity, there
has never been a better time for a highly readable book as
beautiful as the night sky to contextualise the scale of these
achievements for the general reader.
A STUNNINGLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK REVEALING THE GREATEST MYTHS, LIES
AND BLUNDERS ON MAPS 'Highly recommended' - Andrew Marr 'A
spectacular, enjoyable and eye-opening read' - Jonathan Ross The
Phantom Atlas is an atlas of the world not as it ever existed, but
as it was thought to be. These marvellous and mysterious phantoms -
non-existent islands, invented mountain ranges, mythical
civilisations and other fictitious geography - were all at various
times presented as facts on maps and atlases. This book is a
collection of striking antique maps that display the most erroneous
cartography, with each illustration accompanied by the story behind
it. Exploration, map-making and mythology are all brought together
to create a colourful tapestry of monsters, heroes and volcanoes;
swindlers, mirages and murderers. Sometimes the stories are almost
impossible to believe, and remarkably, some of the errors were
still on display in maps published in the 21st century. Throughout
much of the 19th century more than 40 different mapmakers included
the Mountains of Kong, a huge range of peaks stretching across the
entire continent of Africa, in their maps - but it was only in 1889
when Louis Gustave Binger revealed the whole thing to be a fake.
For centuries, explorers who headed to Patagonia returned with
tales of the giants they had met who lived there, some nine feet
tall. Then there was Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish explorer who
returned to London to sell shares in a land he had discovered in
South America. He had been appointed the Cazique of Poyais, and
bestowed with many honours by the local king of this unspoiled
paradise. Now he was offering others the chance to join him and
make their fortune there, too - once they had paid him a bargain
fee for their passage... The Phantom Atlas is a beautifully
produced volume, packed with stunning maps and drawingsof places
and people that never existed. The remarkable stories behind them
all are brilliantly told by Edward Brooke-Hitching in a book that
will appeal to cartophiles everywhere.
'Stunning...divine' Stephen Fry 'A fabulous book, good enough to
eat with a spoon! Marvellous' John Lloyd, creator of QI 'Perfect
for the armchair adventurer historian, this is a rich visual
exploration of some of the most beautiful charts ever created'
National Geographic 'Introduces us to a whole different way of
looking at maps. Great illustrations, most engaging - the author is
just a mine of information' Simon Mayo's Books of the Year The
Golden Atlas is a spectacular visual history of exploration and
cartography, a treasure chest of adventures from the chronicles of
global discovery, illustrated with a selection of the most
beautiful maps ever created. The book reveals how the world came to
be known, featuring a magnificent gallery of exceptionally rare
hand-coloured antique maps, paintings and engravings, many of which
can only be found in the author's collection. Arranged
chronologically, the reader is taken on a breathtaking expedition
through Ancient Babylonian geography and Marco Polo's journey to
the Mongol Khan on to buccaneers ransacking the Caribbean and the
voyages of seafarers such as Captain Cook and fearless African
pathfinders. Their stories are told in an engaging and compelling
style, bringing vividly to life a motley collection of heroic
explorers, treasure-hunters and death-dealing villains - all of
them accompanied by eye-grabbing illustrations from rare maps,
charts and manuscripts. The Golden Atlas takes you back to a world
of darkness and peril, placing you on storm-lashed ships, frozen
wastelands and the shores of hostile territories to see how the
lines were drawn to form the shape of the modern world. The
author's previous book, The Phantom Atlas, was a critically
acclaimed international bestseller, described by Jonathan Ross as
'a spectacular, enjoyable and eye-opening read' and this new book
is sure to follow suit.
Literature and Character Education in Universities presents the
potential of literary and philosophical texts for character
education in modern universities. The book engages with theoretical
and practical aspects of character development in higher education,
combining conceptual discussion of the role of literature in
character education with applied case studies from university
classrooms. Character education within the academic context of the
university presents unique challenges and opportunities. Literature
and Character Education in Universities presents perspectives from
academics in Europe, the USA and Asia, offering unique insights
into the ways that engaged reading and discussion of core texts can
promote the development of intellectual and moral virtues. Chapters
draw on a wide range of texts from Confucius’ Analects to J. D.
Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, focusing on themes such as
truthfulness, self-knowledge, prudence, tolerance, friendship, and
humility. Literature and Character Education in Universities will
be of real use to researchers, academics and postgraduates in the
fields of higher education, philosophy, and literature. It should
be essential reading for university educators interested in
character development and advocates of literary education in modern
universities.
'An entertaining new book... which looks back at the most bizarre
sporting activities ever devised by mankind' Daily Mail 'Perfect
book for the Christmas stockings of adults and curious children'
Wall Street Journal For those who enjoyed the quirkiness of
Schott's Miscellany, the erudition of The Etymologicon or the
extremes of The Dangerous Book for Boys, this is the ideal read.
From Flagpole Sitting to Hot Cockles, Edward Brooke-Hitching has
researched through piles of dusty tomes to bring vividly back to
life some of the most curious, dangerous and downright bizarre
sports and pastimes ever devised, before we thought better of it
and erased them from the memory. After all, who would ever want to
bring back Fox Tossing, a popular sport for men and women in
17th-century Germany? The sport involved dozens of couples pairing
up and standing 20-25 feet apart in an enclosed field, each holding
one end of a net, and then they would pull hard at both ends as the
fox ran past, sending it flying high into the air. There are many
other sports revealed within these pages that are unlikely ever to
make an appearance on our TV screens, such as Firework Boxing,
which is just as dangerous as it sounds. Meanwhile, Ski Ballet may
not have been so risky, but Suzy 'Chapstick' Chaffee's signature
move - the Suzy Split (a complete forward split while balanced on
the tips of her skis) - was probably not one to try at home. An
intriguing, entertaining and occasionally shocking insight into the
vivid imaginations of humanity across the years, Fox Tossing,
Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports is an unforgettable
read and a perfect gift.
Literature and Character Education in Universities presents the
potential of literary and philosophical texts for character
education in modern universities. The book engages with theoretical
and practical aspects of character development in higher education,
combining conceptual discussion of the role of literature in
character education with applied case studies from university
classrooms. Character education within the academic context of the
university presents unique challenges and opportunities. Literature
and Character Education in Universities presents perspectives from
academics in Europe, the USA and Asia, offering unique insights
into the ways that engaged reading and discussion of core texts can
promote the development of intellectual and moral virtues. Chapters
draw on a wide range of texts from Confucius' Analects to J. D.
Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, focusing on themes such as
truthfulness, self-knowledge, prudence, tolerance, friendship, and
humility. Literature and Character Education in Universities will
be of real use to researchers, academics and postgraduates in the
fields of higher education, philosophy, and literature. It should
be essential reading for university educators interested in
character development and advocates of literary education in modern
universities.
Packed with strange stories and spectacular illustrations, The
Devil's Atlas leads you on an adventure through the afterlife,
exploring the supernatural worlds of global cultures to form a
fascinating traveler's guide quite unlike any other. From the
author of the critically acclaimed bestsellers The Phantom Atlas,
The Sky Atlas, and The Madman's Library comes a unique and
beautifully illustrated guide to the heavens, hells, and lands of
the dead as imagined throughout history by cultures and religions
around the world. Packed with colorful maps, paintings, and
captivating stories, The Devil's Atlas is a compelling tour of the
geography, history, and supernatural populations of the afterworlds
of cultures around the globe. Whether it's the thirteen heavens of
the Aztecs, the Chinese Taoist netherworld of "hungry ghosts,"
Islamic depictions of Paradise, or the mysteries of the Viking
mirror world, each is conjured through astonishing images and a
highly readable trove of surprising facts and narratives, stories
of places you'd hope to go, and those you definitely would not. A
traveler's guide to worlds unseen, here is a fascinating visual
chronicle of our hopes, fears, and fantasies of what lies beyond.
DISCOVER THE BEYOND: From the depths of underworlds to the heights
of heavens and everywhere else a life after death may be spent,
this atlas explores the geography, history, and supernatural
populations of the afterworlds of global mythologies. A GLOBAL
SURVEY: From the demon parliament of the ancient Maya, to the
eternal globe-spanning quest to find the Earthly Paradise, to the
"Hell of the Flaming Rooster" of Japanese Buddhist mythology (in
which sinners are tormented by an enormous fire-breathing
cockerel), The Devil's Atlas gathers together a wonderful variety
of beliefs and representations of life after death. UNUSUAL AND
UNSEEN: These afterworlds are illustrated with an unprecedented
collection of images. They range from the marvelous "infernal
cartography" of the European Renaissance artists attempting to map
the structured Hell described by Dante and the decorative Islamic
depictions of Paradise to the various efforts to map the Garden of
Eden and the spiritual vision paintings of nineteenth-century
mediums. EXPERT AUTHOR: Edward Brooke-Hitching is a master of
taking visually-driven deep dives into unusual historical subjects,
such as the maps of imaginary geography in The Phantom Atlas,
ancient pathways through the stars in The Sky Atlas, and the
literary oddities lining the metaphorical shelves of The Madman's
Library. Perfect for: Obscure history and mythology enthusiasts
Anyone with an interest in the occult Spiritual curiosity seekers
Map lovers
Comprehensive chronological survey and analysis of every recording
on which Louis Armstrong played during the period 1923 to 1928.
Armstrong's immense impact on the evolution of jazz is found
primarily in these early recordings, and Brooks's close examination
of this period is important, as much of this influence becomes
obscured by later recordings. Glossary, bibliography, and title
index.
This fascinating and bizarre collection compiles the most unusual,
obscure books from the far reaches of the human imagination
throughout history. From the author of the critically acclaimed
bestsellers The Phantom Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a unique and
beautifully illustrated journey through the history of literature.
The Madman's Library delves into its darkest territories to hunt
down the oddest books and manuscripts ever written, uncovering the
intriguing stories behind their creation. From the Qur'an written
in the blood of Saddam Hussein, to the gorgeously decorated
fifteenth-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the
most enormous book ever created, The Madman's Library features many
long forgotten, eccentric, and extraordinary volumes gathered from
around the world. Books written in blood and books that kill, books
of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to
the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe,
books worn into battle and books of code and cypher whose secrets
remain undiscovered. Spell books, alchemist scrolls, wearable
books, edible books, books to summon demons, books written by
ghosts, and more all come together in the most curiously strange
library imaginable. Featuring hundreds of remarkable images and
packed with entertaining facts and stories to discover, The
Madman's Library is a captivating compendium perfect for
bibliophiles, literature enthusiasts, and collectors intrigued by
bizarre oddities, obscure history, and the macabre. - MUST-HAVE FOR
BOOKLOVERS: Anyone who appreciates a good read will love delving
into this weird world of books and adding this collection to their
own bookshelf. - DISCOVER SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE: The Madman's
Library will let you in on the secret and obscure histories of the
strangest books ever made. - EXPERT AUTHOR: Edward Brooke-Hitching
is the son of an antiquarian book dealer, a lifelong rare book
collector, and a master of taking visual deep dives into unusual
historical subjects, such as the maps of imaginary geography in The
Phantom Atlas or ancient pathways through the stars in The Sky
Atlas.
Enter The Madman's Gallery and discover an extraordinary,
illustrated exhibition of the greatest curiosities from the global
history of art, featuring one hundred magnificently eccentric
antique paintings, engravings, illustrations, and sculptures, each
with a fascinatingly bizarre story to tell. Brought to light from
the depths of libraries, museums, dealers, and galleries around the
world, these forgotten artistic treasures include portraits of
oddballs such as the British explorer with a penchant for riding
crocodiles, and the Italian monk who levitated so often he's
recognized as the patron saint of airplane passengers. Discover
impossible medieval land yachts, floating churches, and
eagle-powered airships. Encounter dog-headed holy men, armies of
German giants, 18th-century stuntmen, human chessboards, screaming
ghost heads, and more marvels of the human imagination. A
captivating odditorium of obscure and engaging characters and
works, each expertly brought to life by historian and curator of
the strange Edward Brooke-Hitching, here is a richly illustrated
and entertaining gallery for lovers of outre art and history. A
GLOBAL SURVEY: Here are European painters who used ground up
Egyptian mummies as pigment, examples of the antique Japanese art
of Gyotaku (fish stone rubbings) using dried fish as printing
plates, a Parisian art hoax featuring paintings actually created by
a chimpanzee, and much more. ODDITIES ABOUND: Depictions of the
demon worms believed to cause toothaches carved into human molars:
Check. A nude version of the Mona Lisa painted by the "bad boy"
apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci: Here it is. The most admiring
portrait of a cannibal likely ever produced: Presented in full
color. EXPERT AUTHOR: Edward Brooke-Hitching is a master of taking
visually driven deep dives into unusual historical subjects, such
as the maps of imaginary geography in The Phantom Atlas or ancient
pathways through the stars in The Sky Atlas, imaginative depictions
of heavens, hells, and afterworlds in The Devil's Atlas, and the
strangest books imaginable in The Madman's Library. Perfect for:
Fans of beautifully illustrated works, art history, and unusual
world atlas collections Readers of quirky history such as Schott's
Miscellany, Atlas Obscura, and the wildly popular QI series (for
which the author is a writer and researcher) Gift for a graduate,
teacher, or student of world history, art history, library science,
archeology, sociology, or any discipline engaged in the exploration
of curiosities and human nature
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The Sky Atlas (Hardcover)
Edward Brooke-hitching
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R1,030
R848
Discovery Miles 8 480
Save R182 (18%)
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The Sky Atlas unveils some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever
created during humankind's quest to map the skies above us. This richly
illustrated treasury showcases the finest examples of celestial
cartography--a glorious art often overlooked by modern map books--as
well as medieval manuscripts, masterpiece paintings, ancient star
catalogs, antique instruments, and other curiosities.
This is the sky as it has never been presented before: the realm of
stars and planets, but also of gods, devils, weather wizards, flying
sailors, ancient aliens, mythological animals, and rampaging spirits.
- Packed with celestial maps, illustrations, and stories of places,
people, and creatures that different cultures throughout history have
observed or imagined in the heavens
- Readers are taken on a tour of star-obsessed cultures around the
world, learning about Tibetan sky burials, star-covered Inuit dancing
coats, Mongolian astral prophets and Sir William Herschel's 1781
discovery of Uranus, the first planet to be found since antiquity.
- A gorgeous book that delights stargazers and map lovers alike
With thrilling stories and gorgeous artwork, this remarkable atlas
explores our fascination with the sky across time and cultures to form
an extraordinary chronicle of cosmic imagination and discovery.
The Sky Atlas is a wonderful book for map lovers, history buffs, and
stargazers, but also for those who are intrigued by the many wonderful
and bizarre ways in which humans have sought to understand the cosmos
and our place in it.
- A unique map book that expands beyond the terrestrial and into the
celestial
- A wonderful gift for map lovers, obscure-history fans, mythology
buffs, and astrology and astronomy lovers
- Great for those who enjoyed What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated
Tour of the Night Sky by Kelsey Oseid, Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska
and Daniel Mizielinski, and Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I
Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will by Judith Schalansky
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger
Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain
imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed
pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we
have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting,
preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger
Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and
hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger
Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain
imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed
pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we
have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting,
preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger
Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and
hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone
|
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