Press

Japanese Art

978-0-500-20425-2

“Covers the prehistoric period through Japan today and seeks to capture the essence of Japanese culture, which embraces balance, harmony, humor, and human imperfection. [Stanley-Baker] aims to communicate the sense of union between the art and the artist, as well as the ability of Japanese art and culture to absorb the ideas and influences of other cultures into its own.”

— Protoview

The Japanese House Since 1945

978-0-500-34373-9

“This book examining Japanese residential architecture in detail from 1945 onwards can be said to be a realistic history of post-war Japanese society, as seen through the filter of architectural design… The chain of creativity that began in the architectural world of post-war Japan remains unbroken—this book conveys that sense of hope.”

— Tadao Ando, from his Foreword

“Fascinating… [Captures] beautiful images of some of the country's most innovative homes, as well as architectural drawings, resident interviews, and descriptions of the circumstances surrounding their construction.”

— Dwell

“Excellent… Traces the evolution of single-family houses across eight decades, focusing as much on the people who live(d) in the houses than the architects who designed them… [Naomi Pollock's] most important and best book to date… Compelling and vivid.”

— A Weekly Dose of Architecture Books

Jerry Dantzic: Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: With a reflection by Zadie Smith

978-0-500-54465-5

Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill adds a quiet new dimension to the story we thought we knew about Holiday. With Jerry Dantzic, she revealed homier sides of her life which needed no explanations and invited no judgments: at home with her husband or her dog, or visiting her co-author and her godchild. In these images and in Mr. Dantzic's performance shots, she is not the tragic torch singer of myth but a middle-aged woman finding simple comforts from the maelstrom, no longer as sharp in her voice but undiminished in her ability to command a stage.”

— New York Times' Lens

“Recommended for photography enthusiasts, fans of Holiday, and jazz history buffs. Dantzic's intimate portraits honor this period in Holiday' life, just two years before her untimely death at age 44. Often shooting indoors and with a slow shutter, he captures a good deal of motion blur that give the images a gritty look and feel. When Holiday is performing, Dantzic frequently shoots from a low vantage point to emphasize her larger-than-life stature. Dantzic also provides a rare view into the everyday life of this mythic performer, which includes playing with her Chihuahua Pepi, walking in New York City, interacting with friends, and cooking in her West 68th Street apartment.”

— Library Journal

“[A] remarkable set of images of one of America's greatest artists. If you're a Holiday fan, it will be hard to resist seeking out this book that so candidly captures her late in her life and career. The images are intimate but not prurient. Too often fans want to see the flaws, the scars and wear-and-tear of a well-documented difficult life, as if those struggles alone defined Holiday. The book shows us much more. Likely influenced by Dantzic's relationship with William Dufty (her friend and the co-author of her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues), Holiday gave the photographer nearly unprecedented access.”

— Jazz Times

“This coffee table book features 100 photos and beautifully captures Holiday on a cigarette-hazed bandstand, wearing a bare-shouldered, sequined dress, performing songs such as 'Fine and Mellow,' 'Don't Explain,' and 'Strange Fruit.' Taken one year after the publication of her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, and two years before her untimely death at age 44, the photos reveal a deeply personal and vibrant side of Holiday. Also included are…extensive technical photography notes by Jerry Dantzic's son, Grayson, who is a photo archivist [and] a moving essay by novelist Smith.”

— Publishers Weekly

“Dantzic's high-contrast, black-and-white images of the singer on stage are powerful and iconic and reveal an artist truly in her element. Zadie Smith opens this collection with a reflection inspired by the photographs, an evocative stream-of-consciousness prose poem that suggests the mindset of Lady Day.”

— Booklist

“A sleek coffee table book of photographs, many never seen before, [that] is a reminder that between the fame and the infamy, normal life happens. It's the everyday nature of these black-and-white photographs that makes them so unusual. [Billie] Holiday is pictured walking into the club before a performance; putting on her makeup in front of a dressing room mirror; being licked on the cheek by her Chihuahua; holding her blond-haired godson in her arms; or leaning over a pan in her friend's kitchen. British novelist Zadie Smith, who sang jazz before she began publishing fiction, provides a curious introduction to the book: a short story written from Holiday's point of view.”

— The Washington Post

Jeweled Splendors of the Art Deco Era: The Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan Collection

978-0-500-51947-9

“Virtually impossible to put down. A 'feast for the eyes'…for any art collector or connoisseur of the jeweler's art. The works pictured are breathtaking in their craftsmanship, their ingenuity, and their astonishing use of color. Each image is clear and crisp, as if you could touch the object. This is a book to return to again and again, a book to treasure. It is a deeply satisfying opportunity to examine, close up, a noteworthy collection.”

— Gems & Gemology

Joel Meyerowitz: A Question of Color

978-0-500-29789-6

“Vibrant… Meyerowitz's insights are abundantly clear in arresting shots [paired with] commentary that reveals the depth of his artistic philosophy… This captivates.”

— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This latest book…puts a fresh spin on Meyerowitz's oeuvre. The photo pairings of black & white vs. color help us feel the tension between the images. We can then answer our own 'question of color.'”

— Art Photo Collector

John Galliano for Dior

978-0-500-02240-5

“For the first time, the history of Galliano's Dior is being celebrated in full… Reveal[s] the drama, behind-the-scenes moments, glamour and genius of one of the most revered designers of our time.”

— The Face

“Fairer's images accurately capture the heady backstage drama, superlative mannequins of the era and most of all Galliano's creations in finest detail. Essential for fans of the house of Dior's arguably most exuberant period.”

— Glass

“Captures the designer's extraordinary creations during his tenure at the French fashion house in previous unseen behind-the-scenes moments.”

— Business of Fashion

“A must-own for any fashion connoisseur.”

— Society Texas Magazine

“Visually stunning.”

— Vogue

“Capture[s] the designer's wildly imaginative runway shows and dramatic, colorful creations.”

— AnOther

“Fairer's backstage photos capture not only the designer's uninhibited creations, but also the behind-the-scenes frenzy at his shows… stunning.”

— Daily Mail

Josef Albers: Life and Work

978-0-500-51910-3

“A gripping biography of a German artist unjustly pigeonholed as the creator of interminable variations of pictures of squares… Darwent draws extensively on Albers's previously unpublished writings and drawings to fully capture the artist's life… Sympathetic and generously illustrated.”

— Publishers Weekly

“Charles Darwent's biography gives the German-born American artist and teacher his due [and] makes a strong case for an artist who was not as recognized as fellow Bauhaus teachers Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Lyonel Feininger… Darwent emphasizes the poetic yearning that hides within Albers's scientific-seeming experiments, most notably in his "Homage to the Square" paintings… A gruff yet caring teacher, a ladies' man and a daily Mass-going Catholic, both jealous of and generous with his peers, Albers steps convincingly from these pages.”

— The Washington Post

Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Houses

978-0-500-02584-0

“From Paris to Rome, Hamburg, and beyond, the places Karl Lagerfeld lived were as considered and compelling as the clothes he designed… If you never scored an invitation to dinner, this might just be the next best thing.”

— Town & Country

“Serves not only as visual proof of his talents across multiple mediums, but also a fascinating glimpse into the interconnectedness of his great creative mind.”

— Vogue

“The places Karl Lagerfeld lived were as considered and compelling as the clothes he designed. Here, the late fashion impresario's homes are opened (some for the first time) to showcase the imaginative and incredible ways he lived. If you never scored an invitation to dinner, this might just be the next best thing.”

— Town & Country

“Lagerfeld sustained his need for transformation not just through fashion but with décor… Each of Lagerfeld's properties served as a canvas with which to explore a singular obsession.”

— Air Mail

“Details the domestic life of the late German fashion designer [and] showcases a series of photos of his eclectic interiors.”

— Forbes

Kids of Cosplay

978-0-500-02617-5

“Redding juxtaposes the fantasy of cosplay with the mundane settings in which he places his subjects.”

— Publishers Weekly

The King of the Golden River

978-0-500-65185-8

“Blake's signature kinetic line and quivering washes of bold color illustrate an 1842 folktale by the influential art critic John Ruskin. … Ruskin's rich language…is a treat.”

— Publishers Weekly

“The kinetic, colorful artwork for this edition comes from the masterful Quentin Blake… The modern reader ages 5-11 will find, in this appealing edition, a story of vice punished and virtue rewarded… Mr. Blake's pictures add enough dash and wit to make the book succeed.”

— The Wall Street Journal

King Tutankhamun Tells All!

978-0-500-65255-8

“Feast your eyes… An irreverent biography…packed with tasty nuggets about ancient Egyptian history and culture… Naunton's deep expertise about ancient Egypt infuses every page of the book… Karsten's colorful drawings make an appealing accompaniment to Naunton's explainers.”

— The New York Times Book Review

The Land Gardeners: Cut Flowers

978-1-760-76288-9

“In words and photos, Elworthy and Courtauld bring their garden to life and share advice on organization, timing and cutting flowers all while extolling the virtues of organic gardening.”

— Houston Chronicle

“There is something immensely satisfying about sitting in an armchair, opening a book, and gazing at the hard work of others. The Land Gardeners: Cut Flowers (Thames & Hudson, $34.95) collects the considerable efforts of Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy, two London mothers who hatched the idea of starting a gardening business when they realized they enjoyed talking about plants instead of play dates at nursery-school pickups.”

— Mosaic

The Land Gardeners: Cut Flowers

978-1-760-76038-0

“Inspirational and practical.”

— Sunday Times

“Sumptuous.”

— Gardens Illustrated

“The Land Gardeners do desirable to perfection and every page is an inspiration.”

— Country Life

“Beautiful [and] inspirational.”

— Financial Times/How to Spend It

“Everything you need to know about creating your own cut-flower garden and more.”

— Veranda

“Packed with ideas and inspiration, passion and beauty… This large-size, hardcover book is filled with stellar photographs that will also inspire you to display a vase filled with flowers you grew and arranged yourself.”

— The Oregonian