Geschiedenis

A wide-ranging new history of the Baltic Crusades and their legacyBetween the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, crusading armies unleashed a relentless holy war against the last pagan societies in northern Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. Led by Catholic rulers, churchmen, and, most importantly of all, the warrior monks of the Teutonic Order, they sought to expand Christendom through conquest and conversion. In the process they forged a new world with a profound legacy that resonates into the present. Aleksander Pluskowski traces the broader story of the Baltic Crusades. Pluskowski explores how the construction of castles and towns, and the introduction of new languages, technology, monetary economies, and religion transformed the conquered societies. Moving through the years, we see how the history of the crusades was reinvented in the twentieth century to serve nationalist aims, including those of the Third Reich. This is a fascinating study that provides a fresh look at the impact of centuries of religious warfare across northern Europe.

Discover the sparkling story of costume jewelry through the extraordinary collection of Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. In the early 20th century, New York became the epicenter of paste jewelry design, as artisans fleeing war-torn Europe rebuilt their craft in America. Their expertise propelled the city to fashion’s forefront, ushering in an era of bold, beautiful, and accessible bijouterie.This gorgeous book, with texts by Carol Woolton and Maria Luisa Frisa—who pens a personal reflection on Patrizia and her collection—showcases nearly 600 of the finest pieces from the 1930s to the new millenium. With stunning photography by Luciano Romano, it follows jewelry’s democratization, as women embraced statement accessorizing and a newfound fashion freedom. Beyond their beauty, these baubles embodied rebellion and transformation: they adorned Hollywood’s greatest icons, and became symbols of identity and creativity.Explore the visionary designers and cultural movements of each era, reflecting the artistic, economic, and social shifts that shaped them. Learn how innovative materials like Lucite and Bakelite, and the introduction of vibrant tropical colors, inspired new waves of designs. Discover the remarkable artistry of designers who incorporated intricate details and eye-catching motifs in their often avant-garde creations, blurring the line between fine and fashion jewelry and transforming accessories into wearable art. This is an essential source of inspiration for collectors, designers, and jewelry lovers alike.

The North Sea, a maritime highway and the edge of a nation of islanders with a proud sea-faring past. Running from Kent and the Rhine estuary to the Norwegian coast and the tip of the Shetland islands, it has been home to warring tribes, foreign invaders, lost civilisations and holidaymakers. Its history spans millennia, since a seismic shift sent land retreating and water rushing in. Today, the North Sea continues to rise, claiming land mass as the east coast crumbles and sinks. In The North Sea, renowned historian Alistair Moffat spends a year travelling its shores to better understand our relationship to the sea. He takes us on an epic, sweeping history from the Kentish coast to flooded homes, crossing wild fenland and Brexit fault lines, visiting well-worn seaside towns and windswept island monasteries. The story he tells is one of newcomers and the mark they left, of Roman invasions, the arrival of the Saxons and the Viking raids. But it is also a story of those they met, of Pictish citadels and Orcadian stone circles. It is a story of technological advancement, of submarine engineering and weather forecasting. It is a story of huge industry, from whaling expeditions and fishing trawlers to the boom of North Sea oil and offshore wind farms. This is the story of how the North Sea shaped us and will continue to do so; it is above all a story of insistent, inescapable change.

A new look at a vanguard modernist artist who reimagined the still life, landscape and portrait genres

This landmark publication coincides with the major Guggenheim New York exhibition of works by the remarkable German Expressionist Gabriele Münter. Münter’s painting practice between 1908 and 1920 is the central focus of the exhibition and accompanying book. The study also illuminates her lesser-known later work and includes significant examples of her photography taken during earlier extensive travels in the United States. Münter was notably a cofounder of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a loose and transnational confederation of progressive artists and other creatives, with whom she probed the expressive potential of color and the symbolic resonance of forms. Her introspective portraits during World War II capture the “new woman” and explore questions of gender identity.
Highlighting more than 90 paintings, drawings and photographs, this publication not only traces Münter’s pioneering and understudied practice but also challenges accepted historical narratives that have tended to sideline women artists. Reproductions of archival material appear alongside choice selections of the artist's sketches, prints and reverse glass paintings. Thematic texts by renowned scholars explore identity, place, belonging and the embodied experience of modernist women artists during this period.
Gabriele Münter (1877–1962) was at the forefront of the German avant-garde in the early 20th century and exhibited extensively at galleries and salons throughout Europe during her lifetime. Along with her artistic colleague and one-time partner, Vasily Kandinsky, Münter was a founder of the influential Expressionist group of artists, Der Blaue Reiter.

Europa. De zestiende eeuw is het eerste deel in een vierdelige reeks geillustreerde boeken, waarin in tachtig verhalen een caleidoscopische geschiedenis van Europa tussen 1500 en 1900 wordt verteld.

800+ onthullingen van ondergronds Amsterdam: intrigerende archeologische vondsten 800+ revelations from underground Amsterdam: intriguing archaeological finds

Onderweg door de historische schatkamer van Noord-Holland

Peter Lindbergh and Azzedine Alaïa, the photographer and the couturier, were united by their love of black, a love that they would cultivate alike in silver print and solid color garments. Lindbergh ceaselessly turned to black and white to signify his search for authenticity in the faces he brought to light. Alaïa drew on the monochrome of timeless clothes to create veritable sculptures for the body.

In this book, the unique dialogue between the two artists is immortalized in print. Illustrating their community of spirit, its images are a celebration of their artistic partnership and testament to their history-making achievements in photography and fashion.

Despite their geographically opposed origins, Lindbergh and Alaïa pursued similar horizons. At the same time as Lindbergh’s reputation in Germany was growing thanks to his work in Stern magazine, and he set up his studio in Paris in 1978, Alaïa was the couturier shrouded in discretion whose sophisticated techniques were a treasured secret amongst the most important clients of Haute Couture.

Alaïa became the architect of bodies, revealing and unveiling them, while Lindbergh distinguished them by shining a light on their soul and personality. Step by step, they became the creators that dominated their respective disciplines. Both rejected any artifice that distracted from their true subject, and it is with great ease that they came together for a number of powerful collaborations.

Shared inspirations and aesthetic values are visible throughout their work. A beach in Le Touquet and the streets of old Paris reference a mutual love of black and white cinema and vast panoramas. The backdrop of an engine room illustrates the memory of an industrial German landscape for one and references the inordinate passion for functional design and architecture held by the other. Alaïa’s clothes act as pedestals for the smiles and eyes of the women who wear them: Nadja Auermann, Mariacarla Boscono, Naomi Campbell, Anna Cleveland, Dilone, Lucy Dixon, Vanessa Duve, Helene Fischer, Pia Frithiof, Jade Jagger, Maria Johnson, Milla Jovovich, Lynne Koester, Ariane Koizumi, Yasmin Le Bon, Madonna, Kristen McMenamy, Tatjana Patitz, Linda Spierings, Tina Turner, Marie-Sophie Wilson, Lindsey Wixson. For Lindbergh, who built his notoriety on the images of these supermodels, the authenticity of their traits is all that matters. The result is a potent black and white catalogue that reverberates with truthfulness and beauty.

With contritutions by Fabrice Hergott, director of the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paolo Roversi, photographer, and Olivier Saillard, fashion historian and director of the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Paris.

Discover the ancient power of Japanese wisdom. A beautiful collection of timeless lessons to live by.

A lively account of the concealed faiths of the ancient world.

Ethiopia has captured the imagination of observers since ancient times. This book provides a fresh perspective on Ethiopian history up to 1500, beginning with the Aksumite civilization at the start of the Common Era. It revisits famous stories like the legend of the Queen of Sheba, examines the rise and fall of Aksum, explores the role of Muslims and Islam in Ethiopian society and highlights the architectural wonders of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches. Focusing on the Golden Age of the early Solomonic rulers, the book incorporates the most recent scholarship to present a clearer and more nuanced understanding of this rich history. Cogently written for a general readership, it is also a valuable resource for African Studies.

From the first steam trains to the high-speed bullet trains of today, Rise of the Railway tells the hidden stories of railway history – the inspired engineering, technical ingenuity, and sheer determination that forged the world’s railways.

Award-winning writer and broadcaster Christian Wolmar reveals how the railways were built not just on bold vision and technical expertise, but also on wild gambles and trial and error – and how the new era of trains brought about sweeping changes in the lives of people around the world.

This book details the lives and work of railway pioneers such as George Stephenson and John Stevens, and it explores and maps famous railways such as the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Orient Express. Key technological innovations are explained with in-depth illustrations, while stunning photographs and paintings bring railway history to life on the page. Gripping eyewitness accounts describe the railways of the past through the eyes of people who were there.

Packed with colourful stories, technical insights, and beautiful images, Rise of the Railway is the ultimate ride along the rails of history.

Travel to a time and universe where science and art intertwined, and the heavens were charted with breathtaking beauty. This unique volume revives Andreas Cellarius’s 17th-century masterpiece, an iconic atlas that captured man’s ambition to grasp infinity. First published in 1660, its 29 sweeping, double-folio maps detail the vast celestial systems of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Tycho Brahe, alongside intricate motions of the sun, moon, and planets. Each plate is a vision of wonder: constellations traced across radiant skies are framed by opulent borders adorned with cherubs, astronomers, and instruments of discovery. Often described as the most beautiful celestial atlas ever published, Harmonia Macrocosmica is one of the masterworks from the Golden Age of Dutch map-making. More than a visual feast, this reprint includes an illustrated introduction by renowned scholar Robert van Gent that delineates the journey from ancient stargazers to the scientific revolution. He lays out the cultural, historical, and astronomical significance of Cellarius’s magnum opus, as well as the craftsmanship of his publisher, Johannes Janssonius. A detailed appendix further enriches the voyage, listing constellation myths, star names, and technical glossaries that illuminate every turn of the page. This volume is both a delight for the senses and a portal to the skies as they were once mapped, at a time when the universe itself was viewed as work of art. For dreamers, scholars, and astonomers alike, Cellarius’s heavens still inspire awe, inviting us to lose ourselves in the theater of the cosmos.

An extraordinary historical journey through England. From Alice Loxton, author of the acclaimed bestseller Eighteen

A Waterstones Best History Book of 2025

‘Joyous. The perfect walk through history‘ – Sir Tony Robinson, actor, presenter and author

'Whimsical, charming and cosy. Will make you want to take a long walk, look at some churchyards, and drink a lovely cup of tea' – Alice Winn, bestselling author of In Memoriam

In 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I, the warrior king. Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalized in stone. To mark the places where it stopped overnight, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses.

More than seven centuries later, bestselling historian Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: following in history’s footsteps by walking the entire 200-mile funeral route on the corresponding dates.

As Alice journeys in search of England’s forgotten Queen, over ancient paths and modern motorways, history comes alive in surprising ways. Lively and entertaining, Eleanor uncovers the extraordinary life and formidable character of this lesser-known royal, revealing her inspiring legacy and the hidden history of Britain.

‘Beautiful, elegiac, honest and compelling . . . a modern-day pilgrimage walking in the footsteps of one of the great forgotten queens’ – Kate Mosse, bestselling author of The Map of Bones

‘Loxton has the novelist’s skill of seeing the world through her characters’ eyes, and the historian’s accuracy of vision’ – Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of Normal Women

‘Eleanor is dazzling, alive with wit, elegance and insight. A book that makes history feel urgent, intimate and unforgettable’ – Rob Rinder, bestselling author of The Trial

A bold reimagining of the life of much-loved English Regency writer, Jane Austen, from the author of RED ROSA and THREADS

In her later years, Jane Austen made a patchwork quilt. She folded thousands of tiny scraps of fabric over diamond-shaped slips of paper and painstakingly stitched them together. Kate Evans employs these slivers of cloth to illustrate Jane Austen’s life story. Evans teases apart the threads that connect Austen’s beloved novels, the events of her life, and the fabric of society in Regency England.

Patchwork is a major new work of graphic biography. Kate Evans has an unparalleled ability to marry drama, comedy, and historically immersive detail, bringing Austen’s story to life with fluid, dynamic artwork, at times embroidered onto cloth itself. The author’s love for Austen shines throughout. Her incredible eye for historical detail – panes of glass, bits of lace, hedgelaying styles, the cut of a coat or the architecture of a Hampshire cottage – creates a captivating vision of Jane Austen’s world.

Van inspirerende kunstenaars tot invloedrijke ondernemers, van onvermoeibare activisten tot toegewijde sleutelfiguren in volksbuurten

From the hit 'Short History of...' podcast comes the dramatic and thrilling story of Ancient Rome. Packed with historical detail this immersive account brings to life the rise and fall of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.

Short History of Ancient Rome transforms 1,000 years of history into a riveting and action-packed account of the inception, expansion and ultimate fall of Ancient Rome.

Combining impeccable research with gripping storytelling, Short History of Ancient Rome takes readers through the dramatic twists and turns of the kingdom, the republic, the empire and its decline in less time than it would take to watch the Gladiator movies.

Filled with the sights, sounds, smells and characters that shaped Rome, this book brings the ancient world to life and tells you everything you need to know about this crucial period in history.

Van de eerste Joodse bewoners eind zestiende eeuw tot de bloei, ondergang en de voorzichtige wedergeboorte van een religieuze en culturele identiteit

Embark on a voyage through a chronological history of anime that explores both the marquee cinematic touchstones and enduring series that have shaped the medium.The Anime Archives celebrates it all, from the Studio Ghibli films that fans queued for at the cinema to the eagerly anticipated Dragon Ball Z episodes, and Demon Slayer’s enormous cultural footprint. No icon will be left out.Discover more about the creators – and creative processes – that gave life to these worlds that defined childhoods while capturing imaginations. Composed of thoughtful essays and insights into key artists, dive into the inspirations, philosophies and techniques integral to these timeless masterpieces.Featuring interviews with and retrospectives of renowned names from the history of anime, including:Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Diary of Ma-chan, New Treasure Island)Leiji Matsumoto (Space Battleship Yamato, Galaxy Express 999)Hidekazu Ohara (Mobile Suit Gundam 0080, Night on the Galactic Railroad, Chocobo Racing)Koji Morimoto (Robot Carnival, Children of the Sea, Noiseman Sound Insect)Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump)Rumiko Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Inuyasha)Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Angel’s Egg)Isao Takahata (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Panda! Go, Panda!, Grave of the Fireflies)Hayao Miyazaki (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Future Boy Conan, Porco Rosso)Rintaro (Metropolis, Galaxy Express 999)Makoto Shinkai (Your Name, Suzume, Weathering with You)Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, Belle, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion Gunbuster, Shin Godzilla)Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Tokyo Godfathers, Millennium Actress)Hiroaki Yura (Safe House Studios, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance)

Celebrate the beauty and creativity of the world’s greatest contemporary gardens through this stunning survey highlighting the leading designers of today

An indispensable guide to Greenland—why it matters, who covets it and why this wilderness of 56,000 inhabitants could become the next global flashpoint.

Waterbeheer is een tijdloos onderwerp dat iedereen in Nederland aan gaat

This superbly illustrated guide tells the history of the Beautiful Game through the stories behind the world’s most intriguing football (aka soccer) stadiums—from the most dramatic to the most remote to the great urban arenas.

This panoramic collection showcases stadiums, venues, and pitches, from the quirky to the historic, covering both men’s and women’s leagues, professional to amateur, wherever the game is played with enthusiasm and great style.

For those who love the sport, either from birthright or from newly kindled passion, there’s a distinct and beloved resonance and local character to each stadium. This is one of soccer’s great charms, and this book is a road map to a pilgrimage to 1000 arenas that anyone in love with the beautiful game would want to visit in person: some visionary and new, some ageing but iconic, some remote yet picturesque, some tumbledown, quirky yet historical and utterly lovable—but all with such genuine personality, the fans’ hearts beat a little faster to see a match there.

This book covers the world and the game, from well-known shrines to amateur venues; from the Faroe Islands to Argentina’s storied La Bombonera. Along the way, it gives the reader the feeling of being at the game, immersed in the crowd experience—whether it be a rabid 100,000 national fans cheering their team or watching with two men and a dog in the Scottish Highlands.

Relive a full century of artistic innovation, iconic moments, and technological advancements in this gorgeously illustrated definitive history of anime.

The tenth volume in the bestselling CATWALK™ series offers the first ever comprehensive overview of Jean Paul Gaultier’s womenswear collections, from his debut in the late 1970s to his farewell show in 2020. With 2.5 million copies in print, each cloth-bound volume in the official and authorized CATWALK™ series is produced in close collaboration with the world's top fashion houses. These treasure troves of inspiration are must-have references for all fashion fans and professionals. Often introduced as French fashion’s ‘enfant terrible’, Jean Paul Gaultier radically refreshed, re-energized and re-imagined the possibilities of high fashion from the 1980s onwards, blurring boundaries between masculine and feminine, high and low culture and celebrating models of all ages and ethnicities – even drawing icons such as Madonna and Björk onto his runway. This definitive publication opens with a concise history of the house, followed by a brief biographical profile of Jean Paul Gaultier, before exploring the collections themselves, organized chronologically. Each collection is introduced by a short text unveiling its influences and highlights, and illustrated with carefully curated catwalk images that showcase hundreds of spectacular clothes, details, accessories, beauty looks and set designs – and, of course, the top fashion models who wore them on the runway, from Linda Evangelista and Kate Moss to Gigi and Bella Hadid. A rich reference section, including an extensive index, concludes the book. After Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Vivienne Westwood, Versace, Chloé and Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier is the tenth volume in the CATWALK™ series.

A bold new account of Europe’s plight as it faces political fracture, economic stagnation, and external challenges from the U.S., China, and Russia

'A magnificent book that sings of the romance and mystery that only old maps possess' EDWARD BROOKE-HITCHING

'Astonishingly fresh and insightful ... A triumph' ALICE ROBERTS

'Engaging, deeply satisfying and elegantly designed' SIMON WINCHESTER, SPECTATOR

The remarkable story of an overlooked map archive that reveals how maps have helped inspire some of the greatest scientific discoveries, but also led to terrible atrocities.

At the heart of University College London, nestled in the centre of Bloomsbury, lies a long-forgotten map library packed with thousands of maps and atlases. After Professor James Cheshire stumbled upon it, he spent three years sifting through hundreds of dusty drawers to see what was there. He was stunned to uncover some of the most significant maps and atlases from the last two centuries - many of which had not seen the light of day for decades.

In The Library of Lost Maps we discover atlases for the masses that expanded nineteenth-century horizons and maps that were wielded by those in power to wage war and negotiate peace; charts that trace the icy peaks of the Himalayas and the deepest depths of the ocean; and pioneering maps produced to settle borders in central Europe or the wealth of those in inner-city London. Maps have played a vital role in shaping our scientific knowledge of the world, showing the impact of climate change and inspiring the theory of plate tectonics. They have also guided politicians, encouraging both beneficial reforms and horrific conquests, the consequences of which we continue to live with today.

Brimming with astonishing discoveries, The Library of Lost Maps reveals why cartography really matters and how map-making has helped transform our understanding of the world around us.

The artist known as Banksy has been creating works for over three decades and is one of the best-known artists of our age. Banksy has always believed the best place for his work is on a wall, where it's free and accessible to everyone. That said, since 2002, he’s also created around fifty-one print editions, producing an estimated 30,000 artworks. His Pictures on Walls (POW) project played a huge role in shaping his career and the street-art scene at large. This unauthorized guide to Banksy's print editions meticulously documents 174 unique prints, presenting an unparalleled visual catalog of these hugely collectible works.In addition to making his art accessible to a larger audience, these prints often expand on themes seen in his wider body of work, making them essential in understanding his artistic development over the last two decades. Banksy initially offered his prints, both signed and unsigned, for modest prices.Banksy: The Prints

Jens Stoltenberg geeft een eerlijk en openhartig verslag van een dramatisch decennium als leider van de NAVO

A new and definitive account of one of the most famous and mysterious manuscripts in the world.

The Book of Kells is a mystery. It is distinct from all copies of the gospels from the early Middle Ages, not only in the quality and amount of its decoration but also in the peculiarities of the ordering of its contents, the oddness of its apparatus, the appearance of the script, the interplay of text and ornament, and the erratic forms of its Latin. Scholars cannot agree on the number of scribes and artists involved; or establish the purpose of the Book; or decide whether its oddities are the result of incompetence or carelessness, and how those oddities relate to the minutely careful and deeply meaningful art.

The Book of Kells is probably the most famous manuscript in the world – and Victoria Whitworth's masterly treatment offers something new.

The captivating story of football told through 100 amazing objects collected from its rich history – a must-read for any football fanWhat do a Paul Gascoigne puppet, the 1895 British Ladies’ kit, John Motson’s coat, an inflatable unicorn or the 1966 World Cup Final ball tell us about the beautiful game?Carefully selected from the unique archive of Manchester’s National Football Museum, these and many other artefacts give an amazing account of football itself, but also of the clubs, players and fans at all levels. They take us inside moments of high drama, crushing heartbreak and euphoric success, and together reflect a diverse, inclusive and surprising vision of the world’s favourite sport.Perfect for fans of all ages, this compendium of cup glories and bittersweet away-days will appeal to anyone with a love of the game.

Founded in London in 1851, Reuters mission is to present to the world the news that matters. Its photographers deliver over 1.5 million photographs every year, priding themselves on being first on the scene. For close to four decades, Reuters photographers have captured evocative images to document events at speed. They have received numerous awards over that time, including a 2024 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography of the Israel–Hamas war.In the MomentIn the Moment

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.

'Brings Rolex's incredible story alive like none before it... A fascinating and joyfully accessible read'
- Robin Swithinbank, journalist, author and podcaster

In celebration of 120 years, this book offers a unique decade-by-decade journey through the legacy of Rolex, featuring 12 chapters that tell the story of the brand and the exceptional watches that cemented its fame and prestige.

Explore 120 stunning Rolex timepieces, which showcase the diversity of the models, cases, movements, dials and bracelets. From the iconic Oyster, Datejust, Submariner and Daytona series, to the opulence of the Cellini and Masterpiece strands. Each era enhanced Rolex's reputation for innovation and quality. Their evolution is vividly and expertly described by James Dowling ('Mr Rolex').

With hundreds of images, archive material, ephemera and specially commissioned photography, this is the comprehensive story of the world's most recognized watch brand.

»To dance is to participate actively in the vibration of the universe« – Sasha Waltz For 30 years, the dance company and artistic collective Sasha Waltz & Guests has celebrated international success with its contemporary choreographies, social sculptures, Dialoge projects, operas and films. On the occasion of its anniversary, choreographer Sasha Waltz looks back together with people who have accompanied her along the way. As she herself aptly describes it, “an ensemble is a living archive.” But how does an ensemble collectively remember? Beyond the mere chronology of events, the book brings an aspect of remembrance to the fore that ensures the repeatability of dance: notations. Sasha Waltz’s “scores” consist of an eclectic collection of evocative terms, each of which designates individual choreographic figures. Like an encyclopaedic cabinet of curiosities, this publication takes up 50 of these “codes” and detaches them from their actual context. Through links to art history and complemented by texts and poems a creative rearrangement of Sasha Waltz’s oeuvre emerges that makes the choreographic figures themselves dance once again.

Honger, ziekte en globalisering in het midden van de 19de eeuw

THE MODERN CLASSIC AND SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER.
NOW BOLDER, BRIGHTER AND EXPANDED INTO GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOUR WITH 25 NEW COLOURS.

'Dazzling and vibrant' Mail on Sunday
'Extraordinarily full and interesting' TLS
'Gorgeous' Guardian
'Charming' FT
'Beautiful' Daily Mail
'Irresistible' Country Living

The history of colour tells the vivid story of civilisation. From scarlet women to imperial purple, leaf green to the white paint that protected against the atom bomb, Picasso's blue period to the pink Barbie claimed for feminism, The Secret Lives of Colour offers a bright thread throughout human history.

Kassia St Clair's lifelong fascination with colours and where they come from (whether Van Gogh's chrome yellow sunflowers or Dorothy's ruby slippers) takes us on an unforgettable journey through our past, present and future.

'An excellent, innovative and idiosyncratic cultural history that will colour your thinking' Spectator
'If you want to fall back in love with colour, read The Secret Lives of Colour' Sunday Telegraph

Animation is a global artform, and The Animation Atlas is your essential guide to this exciting, expansive world.

From Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham, authors and hosts of the Ghibliotheque podcast, comes this whistle-stop tour through animated film history. A cartography of cartoons, The Animation Atlas takes in everything from titans of animation such as Disney, Pixar, Aardman and Studio Ghibli to pioneers, innovators and rising stars from the wider world of cinema.

A truly global history of animation - Each of the 30 chapters sets down in a different country to focus on local talent that has made a global impact on the form, from Spain to South Africa and China to Chile.

Box office hits and hidden gems - Features a dazzling selection of films, from hand-drawn Hollywood classics (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and award-winning CG masterpieces (Flow), to the works of revered artists such as Lotte Reiniger (The Adventures of Prince Achmed), Jan Švankmajer (Alice) and Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbour Totoro).

Dozens of gorgeous illustrations - Includes more than 150 photographs, artworks and stills from some of the most beautiful animated films ever made. A perfect gift for film lovers.

Dompel jezelf onder in een bundeling van de mooiste oude kaarten over Nederlandse wateren. Rivieren, kanalen en de zee brengen het land en zijn bevolking al eeuwenlang voorspoed en rampen. Die onstuimige geschiedenis valt het beste te traceren via oude kaarten. Van de sedimentafzetting die ons land tot Nederland boetseerde via de Hollandse Waterlinie tot het zwarte turfgoud en de dreigende zeespiegel. Deze kaarten schrijven niet alleen een nieuwe geschiedenis, ze zijn ook een spiegel voor het heden.

A new and radically original account of the longest military conflict in European history, which challenges the conventional periodisation of the ‘Hundred Years War’ to consider a much longer period of Anglo-French conflict.

Michael Livingston argues that the English lens through which the war has been viewed has led historians to define it in terms of English interests (most famously, the claim of the English Plantagenet king Edward III to be the rightful king of France), and that the events collectively labelled the ‘Hundred Years War’ are best seen as a sequence of steps in France’s struggle to define itself as a nation. For much of the period, France’s primary rival was indeed England. But it was by no means the only combatant. Burgundy stood in its way, too, as did Brittany, Flanders, Navarre and other rival powers.

Viewing France as the primary engine driving the war leads Livingston to consider a much longer timespan, starting with the Anglo-French ‘Pirate War’ of 1292 (which swiftly escalated into a fight over England’s feudal possessions in Gascony) and ending with the marriage of Charles VIII of France to Anne of Brittany by which Brittany was subsumed into the French realm.

This glorious guided tour of cartographic history features more than 300 of the most famous and important maps of all time.

Immerse yourself in ancient Chinese star charts, decipher medieval Mappae Mundi, and marvel at intricate surveys of the ocean floor and the lunar surface. Discover how Polynesian navigators used sticks to chart their way across the Pacific, what a rhumb line is, and where dragons were once said to lurk.

Organized chronologically, the book includes the most celebrated examples of maps spanning more than 5,000 years, explaining everything from scales and compasses to meteorological symbols, and exploring techniques from engraving and printing to cartographic projection. Entries also place the maps in their wider cultural and historical context, providing a complete overview of the subject.

Combining stunning reproductions with precise annotation, visual analysis, and pull-out details, Maps, Annotated brings an expertly curated selection of the world’s most celebrated maps right into your home, telling the fascinating stories behind each one.

‘De Hanze’ van de bekende historicus en bestsellerauteur Dick Harrison vertelt de geschiedenis van het machtige middeleeuwse handelsverbond waarvan ook Nederland en België deel uitmaakten.

Ontdek het inspirerende verhaal en de tijdloze filosofie achter het iconische Hermès, rijk geïllustreerd met exclusief beeld en persoonlijke verhalen.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Literally meaning “pictures of the floating world,” ukiyo-e was a particular genre of art that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries and came to characterize the Western world’s visual idea of Japan. In many ways images of hedonism, ukiyo-e scenes often represented the bright lights and attractions of Edo (modern-day Tokyo): beautiful women, actors and wrestlers, city life, and spectacular landscapes.

Though he captured a variety of subjects, Hiroshige was most famous for landscapes, with a final masterpiece series known as “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” (1856–1858), which depicted various scenes of the city through the seasons, from bustling shopping streets to splendid cherry orchards.

This reprint is made from one of the finest complete original sets of woodblock prints belonging to the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo. It pairs each of the 120 illustrations with a description, allowing readers to immerse themselves in these beautiful, vibrant vistas that became paradigms of Japonisme and inspired Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Art Nouveau artists alike, from Vincent van Gogh to James McNeill Whistler.

Feared, revered, respected, and beloved, cats have left an indelible paw print on the histories and civilizations of humankind. Over the last two million years, cats and people have interacted in diverse and unexpected ways, but the predecessors of today's furry friends were predators, not pets.Leading anthropologist Jerry Moore charts the cat's path from deadly enemy to improbable roommate, making use of the latest archaeological evidence to produce an original and revealing narrative. Starting with the terrifying prehistorical scimitar-tooth cat of the Pliocene age and the lion drawings of the Paleolithic Chauvet caverns, Moore journeys through our complicated history with these charismatic creatures. He travels along the Nile and across the Mediterranean, sailing on to South America, exploring pet cemeteries, cat mummies, and exquisite statuary across continents and centuries.Cat Tales

'BOLD AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN' Tom Holland
'MY GOD, THIS BOOK IS NEEDED. HISTORY HAS NEVER SEEMED MORE ALIVE...' Russell T Davies

A gripping new journey through ancient history, uncovering the origins of homophobia and the untold stories of those who dared to love.

In the early days of ancient Greece, queer love was celebrated. The most famous warrior in antiquity loved another man, the poet whose lyrics were memorised by philosophers and kings sang of her desire for women. Men could swear oaths of undying love and live out the rest of their lives together in peace. What fragments survive of this ancient world all tell us one thing: it was not a sin to be queer.

In this extraordinary book, Harry Tanner sets out on a journey to discover the origins of homophobia in the West. He follows the traces of this sinister idea as it swept across the ancient Mediterranean. Wherever he discovers the roots of homophobia taking hold, Tanner finds a confluence of crises mirrored across the centuries. Inequality, fear and an obsession with self-control – this is how societies turn on their queer citizens, time and time again, since the dawn of history.

This is a powerful story that draws on the rich world of the ancients to reveal how homophobia infected Western religion and ideology - the consequences of which we are still living with today - and to that end how we can move forward and resist homophobia in the future.

'Absorbing' The Times'Gripping' Sam Leith'There are few bits of history more mythologised, sensitive and political than Sparta, but luckily we have Bayliss' Dan Snow, creator of History HitSparta - its legendary warriors and steadfast resilience are famous throughout the world as a model for toughness, justice and masculinity. The Spartans' reputation as fighters is matched only by their mythic code of honour. Their torch has been carried by footballers and politicians, video games and philosophers alike.But who really were the Spartans? And what was the driving force behind the rise - and dramatic fall - of Sparta?Sparta traces the story of Ancient Greece's most iconic city-state, from its humble beginnings as a hamlet in the Peloponnese to its meteoric rise as the foremost military superpower of the Classical world. Andrew Bayliss uncovers the eclectic quirks that set Sparta above its rivals: its famous double monarchy, the harsh methods for raising children as soldiers and the unique role of women in Spartan life.Sparta was an ancient superpower, and its legacy is still shaping popular culture and politics today. This is the story of its rise and fall.

In repressive Elizabethan England, artists are frightened into dull conventionality; foreigners are suspect; popular entertainment largely consists of coarse spectacles, animal fights, and hangings. Into this crude world of government censorship and religious authoritarianism comes an ambitious cobbler's son from Canterbury with a daring desire to be known-and an uncanny ear for Latin poetry. A torment for most schoolboys, yet for a few, like Christopher Marlowe, a secret portal to beauty, visionary imagination, transgressive desire, and dangerous skepticism.

What Marlowe seizes in his rare opportunity for a classical education, and what he does with it, brings about a spectacular explosion of English literature, language, and culture. His astonishing literary success will, in turn, nourish the talent of a collaborator and rival, William Shakespeare.

Dark Renaissance illuminates both Marlowe’s times and the origins and significance of his work—from his erotic translations of Ovid to his portrayal of unfettered ambition in a triumphant Tamburlaine to Doctor Faustus, his unforgettable masterpiece about making a pact with the devil in exchange for knowledge. Introducing us to Marlowe’s transgressive genius in the form of a thrilling page-turner, Stephen Greenblatt brings a penetrating understanding of the literary work to reveal the inner world of the author, bringing to life a homosexual atheist who was tormented by his own compromises, who refused to toe the party line, and who was murdered just when he had found love. Meanwhile, he explores how the people Marlowe knew, and the transformations they wrought, gave birth to the economic, scientific, and cultural power of the modern world including Faustian bargains with which we reckon still.

Welcome to a pastel-colored world of excess, filled with rustling silks, gravity-defying hairstyles, delicious intrigue, and, of course, bloody revolution

Marie Antoinette: The very name conjures up a vibrant pastel-coloued world of excess, filled with satin shoes, rustling silks, gravity-defying hairstyles, decadent macarons, delicious intrigue, and then, of course, bloody revolution.

This groundbreaking volume first reconstructs the life and style of the captivating-yet-tragic Marie Antoinette—married at 14, queen at 18, and beheaded at 37—from the intimate apartments she lived in to the scent she wore, the trends she led, and the complexities of French court life. The authors draw on contemporary accounts, interiors, letters, portraits, and the tantalizingly few personal possessions that remain: her shoes and fans, and fragments of cloth from her dresses.

But Marie Antoinette has remained influential long beyond her death in 1793. The book uncovers how the ill-fated queen of France has provided a constant source of inspiration to the worlds of design, fashion, film, and decorative arts, from 19th-century fancy dress balls, to art deco illustration, to the couture of John Galliano for Dior and the sumptuous movie by Sofia Coppola. It considers afresh the legacy of a complex and misunderstood figure whose style, youth, and notoriety have contributed to her timeless appeal.

THE SUNDAY TIMES #1 BESTSELLERA Book of the Year in The Times and Financial Times‘The biographer who brought down Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’ THE OBSERVER‘This isn’t a book; it’s a case for revolution’ SUNDAY TIMES'Undoubtedly the most important book of the last year, if not the century' MAIL ON SUNDAY‘This book has changed the way its readers think. Possibly the most important book that touches on the British monarchy since the days of Thomas Payne’ WILL LLOYD‘As represented in the book’s pages, the royal family, with its appendages and penumbra, can be seen as an impossible entity, toxic to those in it and attached to it, and subtly contaminating the rest of us.’ DAVID AARONOVICH‘Surely has a claim to the title of book of the year, for its seismic impact’ FINANCIAL TIMESDrawing on four years of research, numerous FOI requests and interviews with over a hundred people who have never spoken out before, the book traces the lives of the late Queen’s second son and his ex-wife through their childhoods, courtship, marriage, divorce, careers, and royal and charitable activities.Having still lived together until their departure from Royal Lodge in 2025, they claimed to be "the happiest divorced couple in the world". The book investigates the reality of their relationship and their love lives. It charts Andrew’s record in the Falklands, his business activities and reveals details of how the couple have been able financially to sustain their extravagant lifestyles. It also recounts the full story of their links with Jeffrey Epstein.Chronicling their lives in parallel, the picture that emerges is of a spoilt former prince unable to connect and a former duchess pushed by her insecurities into a desperate need to maintain the attention her ‘royal’ status brought. Rigorously researched and packed full of revelations, this is eye-watering biography at its best.‘This isn't just a royal biography. It's a study in reputational collapse and the danger of unchecked power inside Britain's most protected institution' THE STANDARD‘A catalyst for Andrew’s de-princing’ THE TIMES

A fascinating and beautifully illustrated journey across the world and through the centuries in search of the sea monster.

‘They rave for food with unceasing frenzy, being always ahungered and never abating the gluttony of their terrible maw.’ Pliny the Elder

This absorbing exploration of the sea monster in all its tentacular forms is a deep dive into the world of sirens, mermaids, Scylla and kraken from 3C BCE to the modern day. Told through writings from ancient myths, early scientific natural histories and iconic literature, tales are intertwined with wonderful engravings, diagrams and paintings. These accounts give a unique perspective on the histories of societies and cultures around the world, taking in significant events like the Age of Sail, the Enlightenment and Darwinian evolution.

With their excess size, claws, tentacles and bloodlust, monsters represent our greatest fears: the unknown, the dark, the natural world and even ourselves. As stories passed from generation to generation, they were analogues for dangerous weather events, foreign invaders, enemy nations, physical phenomena and real animals.

Prema Arasu brings together excerpts from Beowulf, Moby-Dick and many other works by authors such as Homer, HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, HG Wells… Each is brought to life with an introduction and beautifully gory artwork, making this a gorgeous book that’s sure to draw you in and drag you down…

De zwevende wereld is de meeslepende en vaak emotionele dubbelbiografie van een uitzonderlijk vader en zijn minstens zo unieke dochter. In hun voetsporen is het ook een geschiedschrijving van het oude Japan en een verhaal van de enorme invloed die deze verloren beschaving had op de westerse cultuur - nog tot op de dag van vandaag.