Tamsin Pickeral

A fascinating illustrated history of humanity’s favourite dog breeds, uncovering their unique traits, evolution and origin stories. Did you know that Dachshunds were once fierce hunters of wild boar? Why the Havanese holds the title of Cuba’s national dog? Or why the Papillon is named after the French word for ‘butterfly’? In The Invention of the Dog, Tamsin Pickeral uncovers these surprising stories and more, exploring how humans have shaped over 70 breeds to hunt, guard, herd, retrieve and, of course, to be loyal companions. With over 200 breeds recognized by Kennel Clubs around the world, one question remains: where did they all come from? In this lavishly illustrated book, Pickeral tells the story of over seventy of the most interesting and important breeds. With warmth and wit, she uncovers their unique personalities, quirks and histories, from the dainty Pekingese once carried in the sleeves of Chinese emperors, to the towering Great Dane, a gentle giant among canines. Organized by breed group, such as ‘Toy’ and ‘Sporting’, the book explores how each breed came to be, blending curious facts with charming anecdotes. Along the way, she reveals how these dogs have captured the hearts of everyday owners, kings, queens, emperors, celebrities, artists and writers alike. Richly illustrated with artworks, photographs and historical objects, this book is a joyful celebration of our centuries-old obsession with man’s best friend.

A celebration of the Impressionists artists, including Monet, Renoir and Pissarro, whose paintings are inextricably linked to the birth of modern art. Today, our passion for these artists remains, and their paintings are amongst the best-loved works in the history of art. By choosing to paint extraordinary pictures of modernity that shocked the bourgeois elite, the Impressionists challenged the academic ideals of the French Salons, rejected the past and embracing colour to portray a sense of joie de vivre. Their revolutionary use of colour, free brushstrokes and modern subject matter, painted en plain air gave rise to one of the most important and influential art movements of the nineteenth century. Featuring many of the most famous and important pieces by the groups’ key figures, this beautifully illustrated reference book also includes a collection of less well-known but equally important works to show the diversity of this exceptional movement.

Spanning seven centuries, this selection of fifty iconic paintings offers readers a crash course in art history while presenting gorgeous color reproductions that are a pleasure to contemplate. Starting with Giotto's Arena Chapel frescoes and continuing through Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, as well as works by Monet, van Gogh, Cassatt, Cezanne, Dali, Kahlo, Hopper, Pollock, Rothko, and O'Keeffe, nearly every important painter is represented in this book. It features works that may be familiar to the eye, but whose histories are even more fascinating. Readers will learn about the painters who created them, the reasons for their importance and the places the paintings can be found. As entertaining as it is informative, this beautiful book is the perfect introduction to great paintings that have stood the test of time.

Discover one of the most charming places on earth through the incredible pictures featured here and find out why this place is adorable by all who visit. Showing everything from familiar sights to seldom-seen vistas, "The Secrets of Tuscany" is the definitive pictorial guide to this awe-inspiring region.