An impressive amount of new research, especially about the women in Rupert's life. It brings Rupert the man to life in a very balanced and engaging way. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
What a beautiful book, both the illustrations and the sentiments expressed in the prose, I loved it. A lyrical reminder of how precious wildlife and habitats need protecting to survive.
Loved this book. The author is passionate about sharing the joys of reading and benefits of literacy.
Facsimile Edition of the 1844-5 Handbook to Chatsworth published by Frederic Shoberl Jr., “the most delightful and informative historic description of an English country house”.
William Cavendish, the charming and extravagant 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858), was greatly interested in the history of his family and of Chatsworth, and in 1844 he privately printed a delightful Handbook of his home intended primarily for family and friends. It was written in the first person and addressed to the Duke’s sister Harriet, Countess Granville. He opens 'Dearest Harriet…my plan is to suppose that you are just arrived, and that I show you every room and corner of the house' – a house they had both known and loved since infancy.
Stoker Devonshire, the current Duke, has recently published a facsimile edition of the Handbook to mark his membership of the Roxburghe Club, edited by John Martin Robinson, the acclaimed architectural historian.
“The [original] book is extremely rare. The [Sixth] Duke referred to the small number of copies in a postscript. He intended them as gifts to his near relations. Only twelve octavo copies are thought to have been produced originally and some of these have disappeared. The Duke also commissioned two large-paper copies for himself which are now in the Library at Chatsworth”.
This finely produced facsimile has been taken from the copy formerly at Castle Howard and now at Chatsworth. The 6th Duke’s additions and changes recorded in show more manuscript in his personal working copy have been included in the wide margins of this edition together with notes explaining the well-known people and places mentioned. These are augmented by the Duke’s notes and brief additional biographical sketches at the end; watercolour illustrations from the large-paper Chatsworth copy of the Handbook and the Devonshire Collections are included.
250 x 265mm. full grey leather based on a binding design on a copy at Chatsworth known as the Duchess’s Copy. The endpapers’ design taken from a detail of the curtains in the library at Chatsworth.
“The production of this volume – which has been entirely the work of John Martin Robinson, our esteemed Secretary, and Robert Dalrymple, the designer, with help from Fran Baker, our Archivist and Librarian – has given me as an idle spectator enormous pleasure. I am delighted that this intimate description of Chatsworth by this charming man will now reach a much wider audience. It stands in its plain-speaking glory fulfilling the 6th Duke’s idea of producing an illustrated larger paper volume of the Handbook” (Foreword by the Duke of Devonshire) show less
William Cavendish, the charming and extravagant 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858), was greatly interested in the history of his family and of Chatsworth, and in 1844 he privately printed a delightful Handbook of his home intended primarily for family and friends. It was written in the first person and addressed to the Duke’s sister Harriet, Countess Granville. He opens 'Dearest Harriet…my plan is to suppose that you are just arrived, and that I show you every room and corner of the house' – a house they had both known and loved since infancy.
Stoker Devonshire, the current Duke, has recently published a facsimile edition of the Handbook to mark his membership of the Roxburghe Club, edited by John Martin Robinson, the acclaimed architectural historian.
“The [original] book is extremely rare. The [Sixth] Duke referred to the small number of copies in a postscript. He intended them as gifts to his near relations. Only twelve octavo copies are thought to have been produced originally and some of these have disappeared. The Duke also commissioned two large-paper copies for himself which are now in the Library at Chatsworth”.
This finely produced facsimile has been taken from the copy formerly at Castle Howard and now at Chatsworth. The 6th Duke’s additions and changes recorded in show more manuscript in his personal working copy have been included in the wide margins of this edition together with notes explaining the well-known people and places mentioned. These are augmented by the Duke’s notes and brief additional biographical sketches at the end; watercolour illustrations from the large-paper Chatsworth copy of the Handbook and the Devonshire Collections are included.
250 x 265mm. full grey leather based on a binding design on a copy at Chatsworth known as the Duchess’s Copy. The endpapers’ design taken from a detail of the curtains in the library at Chatsworth.
“The production of this volume – which has been entirely the work of John Martin Robinson, our esteemed Secretary, and Robert Dalrymple, the designer, with help from Fran Baker, our Archivist and Librarian – has given me as an idle spectator enormous pleasure. I am delighted that this intimate description of Chatsworth by this charming man will now reach a much wider audience. It stands in its plain-speaking glory fulfilling the 6th Duke’s idea of producing an illustrated larger paper volume of the Handbook” (Foreword by the Duke of Devonshire) show less
The King's Shadow, is the perfect ending to the Civil War trilogy, although it is a good enough story to be read as a stand alone novel. Anyone who reads this novel first will be greedy to read the previous two (Winter Prince and Farewell Cavaliers) The previous two novels had ultimately tragically unfulfilled love stories but here Lucinda, a very engaging and believable heroine finds a perfect match in the hero, Mark. They deserve each other and their hard won happiness together.
It is another excellent portrayal of life in 17th century life and the uncertainty of General Monck's intentions on his march to London is vividly portrayed. Having lived in Nottingham for many years and grown up close to York I was particularly delighted by the depiction of both cities.
It was also a joy to be reacquainted with the vivacious Mary Villiers and reassuring to discover how well Alice Hull had managed her business and coped without Thomas. It was satisfying to see Willys' shifting loyalties finally receive their fitting recompense.
The style is clear and well paced, a fascinating portrayal of intriguing and loveable characters
It is another excellent portrayal of life in 17th century life and the uncertainty of General Monck's intentions on his march to London is vividly portrayed. Having lived in Nottingham for many years and grown up close to York I was particularly delighted by the depiction of both cities.
It was also a joy to be reacquainted with the vivacious Mary Villiers and reassuring to discover how well Alice Hull had managed her business and coped without Thomas. It was satisfying to see Willys' shifting loyalties finally receive their fitting recompense.
The style is clear and well paced, a fascinating portrayal of intriguing and loveable characters
Major Samson Lyle, the highwayman hero of this and Highwayman Ironside is rogue with a heart of gold type of character. He has a great sense of justice and vengeance against those who killed his wife but the series is softer and less violent than the Stryker novels by Michael Arnold. Samson has an inventive wicked sense of humour.
The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English Thrones by Thomas Asbridge
Well researched but very accessible. This is an excellent biography. I thoroughly enjoyed it and kept picking it up again at any spare moment which I hadn't expected. This is the first book by the author I have read but I will look out for his other works.
Fascinating read for anyone who loves books and collecting them but also interesting for anyone interested by the compulsion to collect anything and the need to have it at wahtever cost. Rather an abrupt ending though.
Enjoyable and interesting short items about life as a bookseller
A great idea and I discovered some new and interesting things. Not sure it would work with authors whose lives aren't already well known and documented.
An interesting and informative book. Easy to read and a joy to browse through the gorgeous photographs. A pleasure to own this one.
A very moving autobiographical tale of the author's life just before WW I. His family live in poverty but there is never a hint of self pity or resentment yet the hunger for more from life than the grinding physical hard work he takes on as a farm labourer clearly flows throughout. Of his 5 shillings a week pay he only keeps 1 shilling (the rest going to his mother) and all of it is spent on secondhand copies of books from a market stall where books are 3d each making him feel wealthy in choosing his 4 books each week. Through these books he educates himself, including learning Latin and eventually finds the elation of freedom in a scholarship to Durham University.
Miss Marple Novels (4 volumes) Murder at the Vicarage, The Body in the Library, A Pocket Full of Rye, Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
In a word excellent. The stories offer a great selection and even for avid viewers of the various Miss Marple screen offerings the text still provides plenty of extra clues and depth to enjoy. Well worth re-reading to enjoy the quick acidity of some of Jane Marple's comments. The bindings are beautiful and the paper a smooth joy. The vibrant illustrations are the perfect finishing touch. A treasured and favourite set already.
The unfolding of a claustrophobic and obsessive passion the young hero develops for his fascinating new neighbour to the exclusion of all else from his life told restrospectively. Turgenev writes so authentically based on his own obsessive passion for Pauline Viardot. The book is gorgeous from the gold slipcase and endpapers to the cloth cover richly embellished with flowers picked out in gold. The illustrations are hauntingly ethereal and make the entire work perfect. A beautiful companion to Turgenev's On The Eve.
poignant tale of a group of young men all in various stages of love with the heroine who is herself poised to fall in love with one of them. On the very brink of making her choice, the object of her choice introduces a fascinating stranger. The binding and illustrations are fitting accompaniments to this moving novella and a beautiful companion to Turgenev's First Love with a matching gold slipcase and elegantly tall, slim volume.
An excellent very readable biography. It relies on the autobiography and Trollope's books so has an authentic tone. A great pleasure to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed Wolf Hall and worried the sequel could not live up to it. The worrying was needless as Bring Up the Bodies is superb. It is tight and tense even though readers know the outcome. Seeing the action through Cromwell's eyes and mind adds a new rich layer to well known history. Hilary Mantel is a masterly storyteller keeping readers gripped on every page. The only gripe would be "he, Cromwell" cropping up too often in answer to critics of Wolf Hall not always following which he is referred to. This aside I can't wait to read the third part of this trilogy.
Couldn't put this down. Shardlake gets better with each outing. You feel as if you are there with him.
Elizabeth Chadwick gets better with each book if that's possible. I couldn't put this one down, just had to know what happened to Mahelt - brilliant.
Beautiful photographs and a moving account of Eric Ashby's life with foxes at his sanctuary