Anova Books

Following in the bestselling steps of Robson Strangest series, London is now given the Strangest treatment.Packed with amazing things you didn't know about the capital, such as the fact that it's still forbidden to run, carry an umbrella or whistle in Burlington Arcade. There's a tiny, working jail cell that looks like a fat lamppost, situated at the southeast corner of Trafalgar Square, that still has a direct phone link to Scotland Yard. The entrance to Buckingham Palace that faces down the Mall is actually the back door, not the front.

Jack is one of the UK's most popular, and yet most controversial, contemporary artists. His pictures sell for a record amount of money, the paintings in his exhibitions are always sold out before the opening and 'The Singing Butler' made history for being the most expensive painting by a Scottish living artist ever to be sold at auction. (And surely the same painting is one of the world's most replicated fine art images?) Here, for the first time, we get up close and personal with Jack in the studio. We see how he works in his studios in Scotland, London and Nice and we see how these locations influence his paintings. The book also includes brand new paintings never before seen. We analyse Jack's own cultural influences and the influences his work has come to have on popular culture in turn. With outstanding and revealing photography by Jillian Edelstein and a foreword from friend and fellow son of Fife, author Ian Rankin, this is a book to delight Jack Vettriano's fans.

No item of clothing has endured for longer than the dress. Yet the last century alone has seen the most radical changes of style — hemlines swinging from ankle to thigh; outlines alternating between the body-hugging and the bell — and our fascination with the 'frock' has not gone away. From Gres’ draping to Dior’s New Look, from Mary Quant’s mini to Hussein Chalayan’s mechanical marvels, this book looks at the dress in twentieth century fashion. Thematic chapters (Changes, Feminine, Sex, Must-haves, Fantasy, Classical and Art) set out the inspirations and implications for each new change alongside the stunning photography. It is more than eighty years since Coco Chanel invented the little black dress, but every woman still has one in her wardrobe today. It’s decades since women discovered trousers and separates, but every woman dreams of wearing a glorious, glamorous gown at least once, whether it’s on a Hollywood red carpet, or just on her wedding day. 'Fabulous Frocks' is a book to fire a fashionista's imagination.

Steve McQueen, the self confessed ‘King of Cool’ is as popular today as in the 50s and 60s when he became famous in films such as The Great Escape and The Magnificent Seven, The Thomas Crown Affair and later The Towering Inferno. McQueen began his career in television and moved into film in the mid 1950s when he became a true cinema icon, and classic images of him are reproduced today. In many of his films his real-life passion for fast cars and motor racing was evident, and he was always keen to do his own stunts. This beautiful collection shows the different sides of his professional and personal life with many images not seen before. It will be a delight to his multitude of fans. — Latest stunning addition to the Life in Pictures series — Many classic and unseen images of this stylish 'anti-hero' — Incisive account of the life of Steve McQueen

Launched in March 1972 priced 20p, 'Cosmopolitan' began as it meant to go on: The diet worth eating for; I was a sleep-around girl; How to turn a man on when he's having problems in bed; Jilly Cooper on what makes David Niven and Roy Jenkins fantastic lovers. 'The Best of Cosmopolitan: The 70s and 80s' is a fascinating trawl through these hallowed pages, the woman's Bible to all things sex, fashion and romance. Featuring the very best of the big name interviews, frank relationship advice and just the occasional fashion faux pas, this is a must have purchase for all fans of the magazine.

A sourcebook of 1960s fashion print – the apogee of fashion print – that will be the inspiration for designers for years to come. The creativity of the period is given full expression in this sourcebook of hundreds of designs that makes it an essential for contemporary design practitioners and students. The book contains exclusive illustrations and original artwork from designers as well as finished prints. Each short chapter introduction is followed by a range of illustrations with captions to give provenance and relevance. The prints are arranged in the chapters: • Art into Pop: fashion prints that saw the influence of Pop Art • Revivals and Reflections: Biba''s revival of 19th-century designs • Flower Power: floral designs, from Marimekko to Ken Scott • Lost in multicoloured hues, kaleidoscopic colours and psychedelia prints • Magical Mystery Tour: the influence of other cultures on print design

Sophia Loren is seen as one of the first cinematic sex symbols, her charisma and voluptuous figure attracted many admirers. Yet her life away from the cameras may surprise some — she was married to Carlo Ponti, film producer, throughout her career and until his recent death. She also struggled to become a mother and considered her two children her greatest accomplishment. Loren came from impoverished roots, yet she was possibly the greatest Italian actress of her time. Her many films included Houseboat, Two Women (for which she won the Academy award), The Fall of the Roman Empire and The Millionairess. She also loved to sing, adding to her sex appeal with her seductive voice. Sophia Loren: A Life in Pictures illustrates the variety and contrasts in Loren's private and public persona, with wonderful pictures and an incisive biography. It features a sumptuous collection of images of Hollywood's great sex symbol. It includes many rare pictures from Loren's personal and public life. It is a lavish addition to the Life in Pictures series.

Where did John, Paul and George try to post Ringo into a letterbox? Which railway stations were locations in 'A Hard Day's Night? ''Where was 'I Am The Walrus' filmed? They may have been born in Liverpool, but London was the Beatles' home away from home; the place where they really grew into their roles as international musical and cultural icons. Subsequently, all over the city, there are sites which represent a significant shared moment in the history of the band, and that of London. The Beatles London is a celebration of those places, both a guide book and a treasure trove of Beatles' nuggets. This unique and fascinating book details how London and the Beatles were, and always be, connected together at the time of a great social and cultural shift. Originally published in 1994, this new edition has been full updated and reformatted, and includes a section on 'Beatles walks' to take across the capital.

This is a complete guide to all aspects of drawing for fashion designers, from simple line drawing, though crayons, painting to collage and computers. It gives the technical information on mastering the human figure in clothed form while encouraging readers to find their own creative style. It offers drawing and illustration techniques galore — most with step-by-step demonstrations. But the book also pays great attention to the creative process, how to use colour when designing and how to build up a knowledge of fabrics and illustrate them to best effect.This is the most complete book on the subject to date and is made more useful by the sheer range of different styles of drawing. It encourages the reader to find a style that suits them.

From her captivating debut in Roman Holiday in 1953, Audrey Hepburn redefined notions of Hollywood elegance and sophistication. This lavishly illustrated book celebrates Audrey's popularity as an enduring icon, providing a unique insight into her career, personality and trademark style that still fascinate and captivates today. A detailed biography is accompanied by over 160 photographs, many reproduced for the first time and taken by some of the world's top photographers. Famous quotes on and from Audrey Hepburn complement the impressive iconographic research, which includes numerous family pictures as well as information from private collections, press agencies and newspapers. From her enchanting appearances on the big screen to her charity work for UNICEF and fascinating family life, this book is a highly individual portrait of a much-loved movie and fashion legend.

This is a visual bible for fashion illustrators and graphic designers, giving an unprecedented variety of approaches for illustrating fashion with hundreds of stunning images. Illustrators from all over the world show a range of approaches, techniques and styles. With illustrators from Singapore to Italy, America to New Zealand, it is the ultimate resource for fashion expression. The chapters are arranged as follows: Introduction; Womenswear: seperates — knit, coats and jackets, eveningwear, couture, bridal, and lingerie; Menswear: Ts and shirts — outerwear, knit, casual, neckwear, smart, bespoke, and underwear; Childrenswear: babies — tots, juniors, tweenies, and teens; Youth Culture: music — clubland, tribes & vibes, street fashion girls, streetwise guys, and relationships; Sport & Leisure: gym — track, ball games, snow & ice, blades & boards, biking, and aquatics; Accessories: footwear — bags, headwear, eyewear, jewellery, techno, and umbrellas; and, Beauty & Glamour: grooming — cosmetics, make-up, and hair. It is an invaluable acquisition for students and college libraries internationally but it is relevant to all those involved in fashion and grahic design as fashion illustration continues its onslaught on today's media.

This is a large format, meticulously researched, lavishly illustrated and fully international history of mankind's seaborne voyages from the Phoenicians and Chinese to modern navies and round-the-world sailing yachts. Royal prestige, intellectual curiosity, commerce and territorial expansion all propelled mankind to make perilous voyages across unpredictable oceans to find out what lay beyond the horizon, and the art of navigation allowed them to do so. From initial conjecture and philosophical reason, man ventured forth to glean first-hand information of the seas by exploration and scientific investigation. Author Donald Johnson pieces together the advances in astronomy, navigation, shipbuilding and surveying through the ages to tell the fascinating and absorbing history of navigation and exploration in an elegant volume that is beautifully illustrated with manuscripts and rutters, portolans and sea charts, ship's instruments and artefacts. The meticulous research, based on original sources, has brought to light a lot of new information, which in some cases contradicts popular held beliefs. Certain navigational instruments have been tested in real circumstances, such as the Viking instrument for determining a ship's course to enable us to fully understand how people crossed vast, limitless oceans. The book opens with the basic questions and challenges of navigation. Part 2 unravels the development of science and seafaring from the ancient times to the Mediterranean era. This created a basis for longer sailings, which are at the heart of Part 3 and in Part 4 the book ends with the advanced technology that made it possible to determine a ship's exact position at sea.

Icon, legend, actress, star — all these words can be used to describe Marilyn Monroe and yet they simply do not do her justice, because she was so much more. Norma Jean has inspired and created more headlines than any other movie actress — yet her marriages, affairs and life choices all distract us from the talent of this very beautiful woman. Part of the successful «Life in pictures» series, this book presents Marilyn at her very best. Following her from toddler to teen, to one of Hollywood's best-loved celebrities, we gain a unique insight into her life, loves and career. Over 160 pictures represent impressive iconographic research, including personal photos, images from national archives, private collections and press agencies — some not published before. Famous quotes on and from Monroe further reveal the thoughts of her closest friends, collaborators and admirers. This is both a unique collection and a visual reminder of why Marilyn has endured as one of our most fascinating and best-loved Hollywood stars.

An invaluable resource for designers and crafters looking for designs and motifs that have their heart in the Celtic tradition but are new, fresh and original – also available on the CD inserted in the book. New twists on Celtic knotwork, tessellation and spiralwork are mixed with stunning figure work to create great designs, suitable for those working in wood, glass, textiles, embroidery and quilts, as well as general designers looking for ideas. All the motifs can be used by the reader for creative work. There are over 40 large-scale designs made up from a range of smaller composite motifs (most provided separately). In addition, there are hundreds of smaller motifs that can used in isolation or linked together to make large-scale designs. The author provides grids for those wanting to make large-scale designs from the smaller motifs.

The Guide has been described as the National Trust's bible — and indeed it is. This latest edition takes a larger, squarer format, to do full justice to the Trust's illustrious collection of colour photographs, and to showcase recent acquisitions such as the Gothic wonder of Tyntesfield, John Lennon's childhood home Mendips, and William Morris' Arts and Crafts Red House. Magnificent landscapes, including the breathtaking coast of Cornwall, Snowdonia, the Peak District, and the lunar scenery of Stragford Lough, are set beside the Trust's great gardens such as Sissinghurst Castle in Kent and Stourhead Landscape Garden in Wiltshire. The Trust's country houses of course feature in all their varied beauty — from the Tudor splendour of Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire through to the magnificent Victoriana at Cragside in Northumberland. Not everything is on such a grand scale; Lydia Greeves describes T.E. Lawrence's modest cottage at Clouds Hill in Dorset, a spade mill in Northern Ireland and even a duck decoy at Boarstall in Buckinghamshire.

Presents an illustrated celebration of Grace Kelly, one of Hollywood`s brightest stars. This work includes a biography and over 160 pictures and contact sheets. It also features family pictures, national archives, private collections, press agencies, and newspapers.

A History of 20th Century Fashion charts the early dominance of couture to the influences of street culture. The narrative is based on a firm understanding of social, economic and technical developments all over the world, and emphasizes the commercial organization of the industry, from designer and textile manufacturer right through to the consumer. Over 100 b/w and 50 colour illustrations bring the history of fashion to life.

When the National Trust decided to take on the care of gardens, the aim was that these would be the very best of their kind in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust now has the finest collection of gardens ever assembled under one ownership — the greatest in number, diversity, historic importance and quality. Taken together they contain the world's most important collection of cultivated plants, distinguished for their beauty, rarity, historical interest and scientific value. First published in 1996, this new edition has been substantially revised to showcase superb new photography, and to introduce recently acquired properties such as Greenway in Devon and the gardens of houses such as Red House in Kent and Tyntesfield in Somerset. Stephen Lacey paints a vivid picture of individual Trust gardens through historical and horticultural perspectives. He gives his personal take, describing the present state of each and placing it firmly within the context of gardening history in Britain. All the major periods are represented: a knot garden from a 1640 design at Moseley Old Hall in Staffordshire; magnificent eighteenth-century landscapes such as 'Capability' Brown's at Petworth in Sussex; Victorian Gardens like Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire, with its wealth of new plants introduced from all over the world; and the famous plantsmen's gardens of the last century, such as Nymans in Sussex, Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, and Hidcote in Gloucestershire.

This book claims to be the facsimile edition of the notebook of Lady Angelica Cottington, who, it is said, took the infamous photograph of a group of fairies that was authenticated by Conan Doyle, but later discredited. Lady Cottington was determined to prove the existence of fairies, and began to capture them between the pages of her notebook, in which she had previously pressed wild flowers. In the introduction to the book, it is explained that one of Lady Cottington's notebooks was recently discovered, intact and in good condition, and has been reproduced complete with biographical information about the near-reclusive Lady Cottington, and a photograph of her holding the original book between the pages of which so many fairies, goblins, pixies and elves were unceremoniously flattened and preserved for ever. What Lady Cottington did not realise was that the actual fairies were unharmed; as they are made of astral matter, only their psychic images remained on the pages and the fairies grew to enjoy the game, leaping between the closing pages in an effort to outdo each other to produce the most imaginative and (it has to be said) outrageous poses. This is a hilarious, imaginative and highly creative record of the fairies caught by Lady Cottington, and of the disruptive influence they had on her otherwise sheltered life, all of which is painstakingly recorded in her personal diary. A revised edition to include eight additional pages, a new introduction by Terry Jones and Brian Froud, new digitization and design for pages, endpapers and cover as appropriate including new pressed fairy images; a DVD and a new sticker. DVD to include previously unreleased material from the Cottington Archive: a Pressed Fairy art gallery, interviews with Brian Froud, Terry Jones and Ari Berk and 5-minute filmed interview with Lady Cottington. DVD to be produced by Imaginosis.

A beloved icon who put the 'haute' in 'couture' and found success as an actress, a mother and a humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn was an expert in the art of being a woman. The waifish star and muse of Givenchy was quite the sage as well, turning out insightful quotes on topics of concern to women the world over: careers, love lives, motherhood, relationships and ageing gracefully, among others. Writer Melissa Hellstern has spent five years collecting some of the late icon's most remarkable words in this beautifully designed and produced book filled with rare photos, behind-the-scenes stories and insights from the friends who knew Hepburn well. Enduring the challenges of womanhood – miscarriages, divorce and the balancing act of career and family – Audrey Hepburn exuded dignity and humility through her successes and failures, and women of all ages will find inspiration among these pages. More philosophy than biography, 'How to be Lovely' revisits the many interviews Audrey gave over the years, allowing us to hear her voice directly. 'How to be Lovely' uncovers the real Audrey, in her own words. Audrey Hepburn perfected the art of gracious living and is an enduring, relevant and inspiring role model for women today. She found her way into the hearts of millions who grew up wanting to be just like her.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, 'The Book of Rock' pays tribute to those artists whose music has provided a soundtrack for the growing pains of three generations. It is a gallery of 500 saints, sinners and martyrs of rock and pop history. Here democracy is everything: guitar heroes rub shoulders with tortured geniuses, and the flamboyant masters of showmanship receive the same treatment as reclusive poets. Together they provide a fresh, provocative guide to the icons of rock and pop, the most influential singers and musicians from around the globe. New Chart Entries! Now in a more easy to handle format, this new edition is fully updated with fantastic new, varied and talented acts from across the musical spectrum, including Eminem, The Strokes, The White Stripes, The Streets, The Dandy Warhols, Shakira, Anastasia, Shania Twain, OutKast and Coldplay.

In December 2003 the painter Jack Vettriano, a coalminer's son, met his parents off the train from Scotland on his way to collect an OBE. Over the last few years Vettriano has had a meteoric rise to fame — emerging from the unlikely background of the Scottish coalfields, unknown and untutored, he has become Scotland's most successful and controversial contemporary artist. Appearing on posters and cards, mugs and umbrellas, prints of his work outsell Van Gough, Dali and Monet and his paintings have been acquired by celebrities around the world. Vettriano's images have an often mysterious narrative and are a gateway to an alluring yet sinister world. Daylight scenes of heady optimism, painted against backdrops of beaches and racetracks, are counterbalanced by more disquieting canvases of complex night-time liaisons in bars and clubs, bedrooms and ballrooms. Both sexes are clearly styled — the men hard-edged and mysterious, the women seductive and enigmatic. Yet beneath the confident posturing, Vettriano recognizes our inherent human frailty, that there is no victor in the struggle between duplicity and desire. Men and women are ultimately trapped by the machinations of intense love.