David Pryce-Jones

The mention of Vienna evokes images of symphonies and concertos, long coats and powder puff hairdos, elegant dances, fairy lights and beautiful landscapes, all linked to our memories of Mozart, Julie Andrews and the Sound of Music. This volume in the Great Cities series shows us the darker side of Vienna and the legacy of the Habsburg regime, with its social hierarchies amounting to almost a type of 'caste' system, the barriers to entry and recognition, the watertight compartments, and so on. An absorbing and informed account, supported by unique images of a bygone age.… (more)

A unique hybrid of criticism, memoir and essay. David Pryce-Jones uses books that authors have inscribed to him as a springboard to discuss their life, works, themes or subjects – all interwoven with and informed by his personal experiences and reflections. The book is arranged alphabetically by subject, which suggests that should be browsed rather than read. However, Pryce-Jones is so engaging, and his style so consistent, that it is easy to read Signatures as a cohesive work rather than a collection of disparate pieces. Pryce-Jones's own enthusiasms and preoccupations run throughout the book; this leads to some repetition, though it is entirely forgivable and justified by the context. One final plaudit must be given to the book as a physical object: Signatures is one of the most elegantly designed volumes that I have seen in recent times; from the choice of typeface to the architecture of the page and to the blind-stamped cover border, this is a book that honours its contents. Highly recommended.… (more)