Art History Books

Excellent explanations of the symbolic meanings withen icons. I liked it.
Marguerite Culhane
Eagle River AK

Wonderful book. One those you can't put down. Great art. And i hope he does more on the subject. Just a great book. A+

A beautiful and helpful book. I'm glad I bought it. It is not a primer, but rather a middle school book.

An excellent book for those interested in iconography.Set at a level for both the experianced writer, who wants to refresh their knowledge and yet also for the novice who would like to investigate this area.The explanations of the icons are wonderful,while the prayers from the eastern orthodox church illustrate the deep comtemplative spirit of this media.

I read "The Language of Icons" with the intention of learning more about the mode of religious art most characteristic of Eastern Christianity. The book far exceeded my expectations. I learned more about icons than I ever would have hoped. The reproductions of representative icons were beautiful and luminous. Moreover, the text was deeply spiritual and inspiring. The reader is drawn to meditate on the Christian message that the icons symbolize. There are books that are informative and books that are inspiring. This book manages to be both.

I don't have much to add to the excellent reviews already made of this book, but it's been 4 years since this edition came out; we desperately need a new one as in a few weeks we will have seen every movie in this tremendous book. There are so many bad movies out there and this book (and netflix) has helped us to miss most of them.

What a great book! It's wonderful to have on hand for reference and would make a really welcome gift for someone (with "like interests") at Christmas or any other gift giving opportunity. In addition, it's just plain fun to read. Movies I have never heard of, and/or wish I'd seem are there by the dozens. Anyone with a "mail" subscription to a movie outlet would be very happy to get it. I'm getting a couple more for "gifting".

I'm not sure I consider myself a film buff. Friends often ask me to recommend a film or DVD, claiming I see "everything" which is hardly the case. Some even call me a film buff but I believe I've never earned the title. Friends of mine who can name any actor/actress/director in films well known and obscure, as well as release dates, studios, and quote Pauline Kael the way some people quote scripture or Shakespeare are in my estimation film buffs. I'm only a dabbler in comparison. Yet when I purchased NEVER COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU, I realized how many wonderful films I have seen and became even more appreciative that I live in a major metropolitan area that still has a few good small theatres and a theatre that shows great independent films.

NEVER COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU will be enjoyed by anyone who is an enthusiast for film and anyone who wants to watch great films that were critically acclaimed and loved by audiences, albeit smaller audiences than the blockbusters. Most are easily available on DVD/video. The book is a collection of film reviews by Kenneth Turan, a critic for both NPR and THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. Turan does not use the book to lambaste the state of Hollywood or criticize the quality of the most popular films released today. Instead, he gives readers the opportunity to read reviews of films that are of good quality but may have been overlooked when they were released.

Most of the films included are contemporary independent and foreign films. Turan focuses on these films rather than the better known releases believing that reviews of these films, including reviews penned by Turan himself, are readily available. Most of the films he reviews in the book were released during his tenure as a critic though he does include a section on classics that were panned by critics but in time were deemed brilliant. He also includes some writings about miscellaneous film topics such as Yiddish films, films released by Hollywood before the code, and Chinese martial arts films (I haven't acquired a taste fro these as of yet).

This is a book I wished had been penned about ten years earlier, when I began building my video and now DVD collection. It will be a great guide for anyone interested in film or who is beginning to develop an interest in film or for anyone who loves a good story and enjoys being pleasantly surprised when discovering a worthy film in a video store.

This is a book that highlights movies that we, as a society, desperately need. They cover a wide range of emotions, topics, times and places and yet they all have one thing in common - they make us think. I could have added a few myself (Memento, Contact, Facing Southwest, etc) but the listed movies are enought to keep even the most avid fan busy.

Divided into four parts.types - English language, Foreign language, documentaries and Classics, each is interesting not only in its own right but how it relates to the culture from which it sprung. Thus, VERTIGO, originally panned and dismissed, has emerged in the running as one of the greatest movies of all time. Some of the descriptions are artistic statements in themselves - I am thinking of the almost poetic notes on Glenn Gould's 32 Variations or the Decalogue's Polish origins & interpretation. The author is quite catholic in his tastes, eschewing well-worn political or religious labels. THis is a good book, an important one and deserves a wider audience.

I live sort of in the sticks--nothing plays at the local theaters except the big blockbusters. So this books serves as a great resource to all the movies I missed: independent films, foreign films, and (my personal favorite) documentaries. After reading this book, I now have many more movies to add to my Netflix queue. I have already seen quite a few of the films Turan reviews in this book, and I enjoyed them all, so I feel I can trust the other reviews in this book.

The "retorespectives" section at the end of the book is also valuable, and will serve as a good introduction for me to several genres and oevres.

I do have one complaint about the book, in that it is already a couple of years out of date. I hope Turan comes out with an updated edition soon.

what can go on behind the scenes of historical events, give this book a read.

I met Bill Gibson before his book hit the shelves. I found him to be a reserved man, with an underlying sense of humor; only mentioning to me, he had a book coming out about his career as a professional photagrapher in the Navy. I asked him if he liked it on the Merrimac; oddly, he hardly speaks to me lately.

All jest aside, I'm not giving Bill's book five stars in order to be on speaking terms again, or for the rebate promised on my copy. Bill Gibson's "No Film In My Camera", will entertain all generations, and surely enlighten the younger; although parental guidance is suggested.

Bill brings us his personal perspective to major events and eminent icons of our history, with humor and dashing flair. Particularly dashing, when caught sunbathing on Enyu island.(One of the reasons for the PG rating.)

As I read, I couldn't help but envy his life, and imagine myself a member of his crew, partaking in the adventure.

Now that I've read the book, I find Bill to be a reserved man, with an underlying obsession for insane risk, and his humor a little less subtle, especially when I can talk him into a martini. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

what can go on behind the scenes of historical events, give this book a read.

I met Bill Gibson before his book hit the shelves. I found him to be a reserved man, with an underlying sense of humor. Only mentioning to me, he had a book coming out about his career as a professional photagrapher in the Navy. I asked him if he liked it on the Merrimac; oddly, he hardly speaks to me lately.

All jest aside, I'm not giving Bill's book five stars in order to be on speaking terms again, or for the rebate promised on my copy. Bill Gibson's "No Film In My Camera", will entertain all generations, and surely enlighten the younger; although parental guidance is suggested.

Bill brings us his personal perspective to major events and eminent icons of our history, with humor and dashing flair. Particularly dashing, when caught sunbathing on Enyu island.(One of the reasons for the PG rating.)

As I read, I couldn't help but envy his life, and imagine myself a member of his crew, partaking in the adventure.

Now that I've read the book, I find Bill to be a reserved man, with an underlying obsession for insane risk, and his humor a little less subtle, especially when I can talk him into a martini. BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

As the wife of a career Navy photographer for many years, I was often asked, "What does a *photographer* do in the service?" Certainly, they are unsung heroes whose stories should be told. And now they have a master story-teller to do it: Bill Gibson. This book is sheer delight for all of us who were there, and many who will wish *they* had been when they read about it! Only the Twentieth Century could have produced Bill Gibson -- there will never be another. He not only lived history in many areas, but helped make it as well. "No Film" is such a good read that, although I tried to ration it to myself and make it last, I could not let it alone until I had read it all, and still go back to savor certain episodes again. I placed it on the shelf next to Tom Brokaw's two books about my generation, and I am hoping this remarkable person is at work on another.

Gibson is a supremely multi-talented author. His skill as a cameraman is met - and perhaps exceeded - as a gifted raconteur. He takes you along for a fascinating trip through history: World War 11, Africa, Viet Nam, Hollywood!, NASA and other adventures he was lucky to survive! From hanging off helicopters to crouching tigers - you can't get enough! This is a true page turner that proves again - great non-fiction has no equal. Gibson is a true Renaissance man....I hope he is writing a sequel. This is a book you will want to keep in your permanent library.

NO FILM IN MY CAMERA is an action-packed adventure from page one! Mr. Gibson's book is an eye-opening ride that took me to some of the most turbulent and exciting times in our nation's history. His accounts of daring assignments, and sometimes crazy adventures as a cameraman, are retold with passion and humor. After many years of telling stories with his camera, he now tells his own story with as much creativity and attention to detail. From being on the USS Hornet as she was attacked, to being a part of the early days of the Space Program, to encounters with world leaders and Hollywood celebrities, NO FILM IN MY CAMERA gives an eye-opening look at the never-dull life of an inventive, courageous, world-class cameraman.

Just buy it. You won't be sorry. Great images and lots of informative discussion of imagery.

I am using this book as a text in school and I am quite impressed. I bought this book (hardcover) for half the price of the paper back version sold at my school. The text in interesting, not dry. The images are good reproductions. The only thing that I don't admire about the book is that some of the images are printed in black and white.

I think that I am like many people in that my knowledge of the Renaissance Art of Northern Europe comes from a few lectures in a college art history survey course. A few iconic images from the likes of Bosch, Holbein,Durer and Breugel are all that come to mind. I knew the era was important but the details were sketchy.

"Northern Renaissace Art" is everything you could want to deepen your knowledge of this important period of history. The book is 750 pages long and has over 680 illustration of which 250 are in beautifully reproduced color. James Snyder does an excellent job of explaining why those iconic paintings that everyone knows are great and deserve to be remembered 500 years after they were painted. More importantly, Snyder takes those second tier masters out of obscurity and elevates them to their proper place in history. Before reading this book, I had never heard of such masters as Jan Gossaert, Jean Fouquet and Petrus Christus. It was a exciting to get know their work. By no means is "Northern Rensaissace Art" a reasonably priced book. But it is the type of book that will give you great pleasure for many years.

I am using this book as a text in school and I am quite impressed. I bought this book (hardcover) for half the price of the paper back version sold at my school. The text in interesting, not dry. The images are good reproductions. The only thing that I don't admire about the book is that some of the images are printed in black and white.

Books on the Renaissance can be quite confusing to non-specialists. For example, Shakespeare classes in English schools discuss him as a Renaissance writer. Yet art teachers describe his near contemporary, Rubens, as the quintessential Baroque artist!
So exactly what does Northern Renaissance Art cover? Is it an age that can be separated, marked out and surveyed by political or religious activities? And by northern what is meant? Is Switzerland the home of northern art? Can it be made in Italy? And what makes it significant and different from the universally recognized world of Italian Renaissance Art, where the term 'art' is always capitalized?
Well, the truth lies pretty much with all of the above. As Snyder shows, several distinct cultures fall into this very large historical category. If you're buying this book as a student for a class, I can only hope you have more than one semester to give to the material. Northern Renaissance Art covers an enormous time period and many countries. It approaches in diversity the far better known works and ideas of the Italian Renaissance. No one seriously discusses the Italian Renaissance in a single semester - the material is taught in a series of classes. The same limitations and requirements should apply to teaching the Northern Renaissance. Art history today no longer focuses on aesthetic questions of style; as a result a student faces a lifetime's study of a period's culture and history.
However, there are some basics. If one word could define what separates the two worlds of the Italian and Northern Renaissance - that word would have to be naturalism. Northern European artists revel in achievements of realism that far surpass the Italians, who, while perfectly capable of such stylistic work, prefer a more intellectually formalized approach. Indeed, Michelangelo dismissed northern artist's attention to nature and care for photographic details as incidental, and excessively ephemeral, when contrasted to his Italian art which used images for projecting deeper spiritual values. The public, however, was delighted with the landscapes, and their non-abstract openness. Many artists from the north specialized in landscape, and it became a manner so associated with them that it was not uncommon for Italian painters to hire Northern artists to fill in the 'less important' landscape backgrounds of their larger canvases.
The Italian Renaissance differed also in that it was singularly connected to the revival and reappreciation of ancient 'pagan' works of art. These antiquities provided a challenge, as well as a reawakening, for the artists and thinkers of Italy. In the north artists did not have at hand magnificent works of ancient architecture or sculpture: as a result intellectual challenges were quite different; though initially tied to the Italian thinking, the northern artists more and more shifted focus onto their own immediate world. As the fifteenth century closed they became attuned to newer discoveries from the exploration of new (not ancient)worlds by sea, and the individuals emancipation brought about through the beginnings of Protestant thought. For moderns this means that the Northern Renaissance often appears closer to us and our own post photographic record of the world. The artist's sense of intimacy with nature seems little different than what most of us know as landscape art. Their religious works also convey a striking ease with space less contrived than our eyes find the representation of space in most Italian painting of the same era. All made the more attractive for being so accessible. Some of this difference marks profound religious and philosophical differences - northern art has about it some of the fervor of emancipation - there is here a reflection of the Armana naturalism revolting against the old art of a more dogmatic less individualistic Egypt. Eventually Italian artists would adapt to this new naturalism, especially in the north of Italy in Venice, in the works of Bellini, Giorgione, and Titian.
This book introduces the reader to the early Flemish master painters, such as Van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden, the later great German artists, such as Durer and Holbein and Grunewald, and the strange inner universe of Bosch. Topping off the age are the works of one of the grandest of all humanists, Pieter Bruegel the elder. And these are just some of the great painters! There remains a wealth of sculpture and architecture, drawing and craft work. Moreover, the Northern Renaissance is also an artistic universe filled with fresh new theories and a milieu profoundly effected by the great religious upheaval of the Reformation.
Snyder gives as good an overview of so much material as one could hope for - his work replete with an enormous number of images, many of which have for nearly half a millenium been accepted as iconic. The text treats the material with a practised consideration, born of many years study. However; the impetus of the book is to direct the reader further afield, and this is indisputably the author's greatest achievement and the point of such a survey work. The real jewels for readers will be enlarging these discoveries by travel and on site awareness, these efforts made more satisfying through study of specific texts directed at the new artists whose work transforms your view of what the Renaissance was.

Odd Nerdrum is a painter who polarizes viewers and critics. This very beautifully designed and produced and written tome shows more than just an enormous amount of paintings by the Norwegian giant; this book contains one of the finest essays by Richard Vine about the artist and his place (or misplace!) in contemporary art. It is provocative, haughty, seductive, and honest and as such gives a realistic picture of one of the enigmatic artists of today.

Nerdrum decided early on that he wanted to paint in the fashion of the Renaissance painters and though he had formal training, he soon progressed to self-taught techniques to enter his world of artic terrains which harkens back to the beginning of man as the hunter, gatherer, and sexually obsessed monolith.

The book is generously graphic, giving not only full page and two page spreads of the large works, but accompanying pages of details from these massive canvases. Nerdrum's characters and scenes have changed little since his foray into the tundra landscapes populated by limbless warriors, infants, hermaphrodites, couples and choreographed folk who dance to Nerdrum earthy tunes. The most recent works shown and discussed reveal a loosening of his brush technique but little else changing in the works of the past 25 years.

The term 'kitsch' is usually used as a derogative adjective, but not so with Nerdrum. He feels that most paintings today have nothing to do with gut level reality and it that sort of representation is 'kitsch', then he proclaims himself the king of kitsch. Use that information as you will: critics are still debating the issue. But no matter the titles or the content or the repetition of the themes, there is no denying that Nerdrum has become a household word in the art salons, and this fine monograph certainly justifies much of the clan-like adoration he has gained.
Grady Harp, December 2004

Amazing. One or probably the most impressive paintor's book I have. Not easy subjects sometimes, but anyway, always beautiful.

It's difficult not to become sentimental about Odd Nerdrum's work. Of course, that's the idea. If you feel that you've wandered through the sort of strange, barren landscapes he paints, do not be surprised. Nerdrum speaks about his personal life through is obsessively re-worked paintings, some of which have been in production for over a decade.

The themes are universal and eternal -- love, loss, paternity, commerce, birth, and death ...

This is the greatest collection of Nerdrum's work thus far. My only complaint is I wish there were more drawings featured, but the details of the paintings are so beautiful that I quickly excuse the oversite.

I'm a graduate student at the New York Academy of Art, where rendering the figure in the manner of the Old Masters is paramount. Odd Nerdrum is revered among my classmates and myself as more than the greatest living painter in the world -- he truly is the "Prophet of Painting."

I came upon his name by accident when I was reading about some other painters.

Scoffed and rejected by the 'modern-art' world (which is just fine with me), Odd's work is beautiful to look at and become a part of. The stark landscapes that he places his figures in are peaceful yet convey an uneasiness. I can't wait to visit Iceland to see if it's really as beautiful as he paints it.

This is a comprehensive collection (and heavy!!!). Well worth the money.

Well, if so-called modern art makes you sick/laugh/sigh (or whatever), here's one artist you may like, as long as you appreciate sur-realism combined to the works of the Old Masters. Try this book that seems to be the best among the few, with clever lines that explains the approach of the painter and fine and numerous reproductions. Last but not least: go to see his exhibitions (big formats to fill up your eyes) and try his own book "On kitsch"

The pictures are creative and wonderful. This is a great book to sit back and enjoy if you enjoy looking at great art.

An excellent book showing a wide variety of full body painting images. The entire body has been used as a canvas. The painting itself tends to display a course nature, in that there is a lack of crisp and sharp lines, the painted segments tend to merge. The images cover the entire body of the models and are shot in a variety of poses. There are about five pages of arranged photographs displaying the model for each artist. A must for the coffee table and one to definitely weigh it done.

This collection of body paintings reveal incredible skill, and also lots of luscious ideas and provacative thoughts whether or not you have any special interest in Body Painting. Each model has been painted in unique ways which reflect the depth and richness of talent of each artist who painted them. Some take a whimsical approach, and others move in the world of political statements, and then there are those who really move off of this plain of existence into imaginary worlds of the spirit and the soul. This is book not only for body painters and make-up artists, the work here is for all of those interest in contemporary visual art, dance, costume, image, and more. In time, this art form will stand alone as a truly "new" form of cultural sculpture.

Painted Bodies is not a book to read in, but to look at. It includes a wonderful collection of 45 different artists, showing their own interpretation on the subject. The manner Roberto Edwards photographed them is the best compliment a body painter can expect. Above all, the marvellous layout makes the fantastic finishing touch to this great book. Absolutely recommended!

Caution: This book primarily contains images of female and male models, including one pregnant woman, who are mostly adorned only with paint. If such exposure offends you, avoid this book.

If you buy only one photography book this year, you would probably be very pleased with this one!

Painted Bodies is a unique art book in my experience. The vision began with the photographer, Roberto Edwards, who persuaded 45 Chilean artists to paint human models in honor of Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492, where he found Native Americans wearing body paint. But the heritage of painting bodies goes back much earlier than that.

Skin, hair, and human protuberances accept paint in ways much different from canvas. Some of the artists sought to create a canvas-like experience, while others built on the uniqueness of the human base. The designs were everything from literal internal body parts to faces, to literal objects (including simulated clothing), to calligraphy, to various abstractions. In some cases, props were added to transform the model into a magical being only remotely related to a human. Some designs sought to obliterate and obscure the body, while others used parts of the body as a visual pun (turning a nipple into a nose). In some cases, the body became a sculpture. In other cases, the body was a dancing performer, caught in poses like what a strobe light potrays of motion.

Some of the models have unusual bodies which become part of the artistic appearance. In other cases, the models are remarkably beautiful and are transformed into idealist creations and concepts. Some models have personalities that burst forth from beneath the paint, and add an important note of acting ability in other instances. For example, many of the models are portrayed as mimes . . . and are shown in the characteristic poses of mimes.

To all of this variety, the photographer added another important layer of art. He has arranged the images starkly against large white and black negative spaces to help focus your attention on the creation. The models are usually followed through for at least 5 pages, and sometimes as much as 8 pages to show a flow of the artistic expression. The order, angle, and superimposition of images are quite interesting of themselves. So there's also the design of the book's layout to enjoy and consider.

What is most impressive is that all of these layers of art are well done, culminating in very fine paper and reproduction quality for the images.

This show originally appeared in 1991, and was remounted as a series of large murals. Traveling in the latter form, over one and a half million people had seen the show by 1996 when this third edition was created.

The essays could have been stronger, but the images speak so eloquently that not much introduction is needed. So just glide onto enjoying the images!

I thought that all but four of the artists did a remarkable job. Many really impressed me including the work by Roberto Geisse, Francisco de la Puente, Jose Basso, Lucia Wiser, Benito Rojo, Ricardo Maffei, Cristian Abelli, Paulina Humeres, Eduardo Garcia de la Sierra, Gracia Barrios, Gonzalo Mezza, and Carmen Aldunate. If you are like me, you will be interested in learning more about their work. The book contains brief biographies of each artist.

I also came away very impressed with the quality and variety of art that was represented by these artists from Chile. I felt encouraged to visit Chile so that I might see more of that country's art, which is seldom included in shows that I visit in the United States, Canada, or Europe.

How else can the arts interact with one another to create additional levels of refinement? I came away wondering what could be done with a video version of this concept, to include original music as well.

See the full potential of creativity around and within you!

There are over 177 miles of man-made tunnels and old quarries under the streets of Paris - and they aren't completely abandoned in modern times, but have become a focus for urban culture and art. For over 300 years visitors have chosen these tunnels to comment on events above ground: Caroline Archer & Alexandre Parre's Paris Underground charts both old and new material over the decades, providing an important survey of the history leading to the evolution of an 'underground alternative gallery'. Packed with images and examples, Paris Underground is an essential guide for any who would fully understand ALL the art of Paris.

Caves as a source of civilization sources have long been a part of cultural studies: what men and women do in the dark underground spaces to communicate their feelings, responses, fears, sensual pleasures. political reasons for escaping the world above at times tell us more than the formal written word. Such may just be the case of this excellent monograph on the tunnels and quarries that weave below the cit of Paris (the City of Light!) by journalist, writer, graphic artist Caroline Archer and architect, photographer Alexandre Parre.

While novels and films (such as Les Miserables) have informed us about part of the underground webs beneath Paris, the more than 177 miles of tunnels that have provided sanctuary for anonymous and illicit visitors for some 300 years. Whether the 'artists' of creation were in hiding from danger or political fears or merely graffiti creators on the rampage since the 1970s when the tunnels were 'discovered' more widely, the status of this underground gallery of art and history is a fascinating source of investigation into urban culture and outsider art.

The book is well designed with copious photographs of the many 'treasures' found and described by the authors. The art ranges from sculpture, to human remnants, to written word, stolen signs and tracts imbedded in the walls, to repeated images of 'Corps Blanc' (White Corpse) that appears to be some sort of mask-like signal to distract visitors' attention or summon fear to exit. Here are recreations of famous art done in incredibly expert fashion as well as some very strange gargoyle like carvings, three dimensional human forms emerging from the walls, clips of historical numbers and data, and both fine original art as well as lurid graffiti. It is an endlessly interesting and puzzling trek to follow Archer and Parre through these spaces.

Not only is the design of the book of the highest quality, the photographs and the writing are first rate - intelligent, informed, and entertaining. This is a book to return to whenever the urge for discovery of the hidden treasures of civilization arises. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 07

There are over 177 miles of man-made tunnels and old quarries under the streets of Paris - and they aren't completely abandoned in modern times, but have become a focus for urban culture and art. For over 300 years visitors have chosen these tunnels to comment on events above ground: Caroline Archer & Alexandre Parre's Paris Underground charts both old and new material over the decades, providing an important survey of the history leading to the evolution of an 'underground alternative gallery'. Packed with images and examples, Paris Underground is an essential guide for any who would fully understand ALL the art of Paris.

Paris Underground By Caroline Archer with photos by Alexandre Parre is a book I wish had been published before my most recent trip to Paris, France. Little known to the average citizen of or visitor to Paris, the city was built over the quarries from which stone for the buildings was cut. As the city grew, so did the caverns beneath it until on one fateful day during the reign of King Louis XVI on Dec. 17, 1774, an entire street (near today's Place Denfert-Rochereau )collapsed into the abyss. The King's council to investigate was formed and the finding were so alarming that within three years architects and inspectors set about building reinforcements in the form of inspection galleries, which ultimately (by the mid 1930's) resulted in 177 miles of underground tunnels within these quarries to make the city safe. Although entering these underground passages is forbidden except with express permission, for three centuries artists, musicians, writers, performers, and curious, daring cataphyles have found the lure into the depths irresistable and have made their way through clandestined passages. Through the centuries, because everyone needed to mark his or her way in order not to be lost, and because the bare walls beckoned to be decorated, the passages and quarries became an underground, daring art gallery. This book incorporates a remarkable attempt to catalogue the surreptitious art found beneath one of Europe's most thriving cities of the arts. The historic events, since the earliest graffiti in 1671, have been charted or commemorated, pictured, or commented upon, with drawings, writings, paintings, sculpture, and music created within the labyrinth. While most is primitive art "just for the fun of it," some is quite skilled and reveals great talent. For three centuries the underground has been the location for secret love affairs, hiding criminals, storing beer and champagne, and many other illegal activities, while also providing the stone canvas and dark inspiration for hundreds of artists and performers of all kinds. You'll want to read and study the photographs in this fascinating book.

Some people here may remember the news about the La Mexicaine de la Perforation's underground cinema in Paris last year (http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1299444,00.html). This story has never really been far from my mind since reading about it. Truly fascinating stuff. When I found out that a book was being released about the world below the great city I had to get a copy just to see what's actually under Paris.

Paris Underground by Caroline Archer & Alexandre Parre (published by Mark Batty) is a great new book dedicated to the Parisian underground art. A history lesson - Quarries started to be dug under the streets of Paris during the twelfth century to provide the raw materials needed to build the city above. At the time no attention was paid to the amount of rock being removed so when one quarry was depleted the workers moved on to dig another. This practise continued on and off till December 17th 1774 when the inevitable happened. The space left by the removal of the stones that built places such as Notre Dame finally gave was as one of the city's streets collapsed into underground darkness. More collapses followed so digging was stopped and task-forces were then set up to check, chart and reinforce the abandoned quarries and the tunnels, of which there are a staggering 177 miles worth, till they were made safe.

The first third of Paris Underground is dedicated to the history of the quarries (La Mexicaine de la Perforation gets a mention) and the official inscriptions that were created by the surveyors & builders. These are most made up of letters and numbers representing dates, depths, relevant engineer's initials and road signs indicating their actual whereabouts in relation to the Paris streets above. However, even this simple text and lettering is really interesting. No two appear to be the same due to the fact that the artists involved in their creation were not artists at all, they were just the builders and each individual writer had a different style. It actually makes for some really interesting studying of the letter forms and their accompanying text. Once the official parts are taken care of we are led to the underground world of the "clandestine visitors" art. Out of the original 276 entrances only a few remain but this hasn't stopped thousands of artists from illegally going underground and working in those inhospitable subterranean world. Over the years there have been innumerable pieces of art created inside the tunnels. These range from scribbles, sketches and tags to huge painted pieces, stone sculptures and mosaics, collectively known as Kata Art. The rest of this book is dedicated to their work. Perhaps the most interesting of these are the "tracts." These are hand written or printed documents that are hidden around the different sites. Some are used for communication between the cataphiles while others are just there for people to view their opinions, poems, short stories etc. These are considered the real treasures of the quarries as they don't last very long in the hot and damp atmosphere.

It's a really great book. I love it for so many reasons; it's not just because it's a beautifully bound and formatted book with fantastic text and photos, I love the art, I love Paris, and I am so much more than just intrigued by the tunnels them selves. The book weighs in at 192 pages, 8" x 91/2", case bound with dust jacket. Seeing as it's illegal for us to go underground in Paris and that the authors and photographer have done all the work legally I guess it'll be the only way that the majority of us will see what's down there so if this kind of thing interests you you could do a lot worse that hooking yourself up with a copy.

I love this book. If you enjoy cultural trivia you would enjoy this book which is made up of 3-5 paragraph stories. I started reading them to my 10 and 12 year old kids and they love them.

I have both This book and I believe its called More of the rest of the story. To give you an expample of why I loved this book Im going to give you a short preview of one of my favorite storys Im not sure which of the books its in but I liked both books equally

A man was engaged to a woman named Lucy she was the daughter of a Senator Who a President named Ambasador to Spain Lucy Broke off the engagement cause she went with her family History tells his This man killed this president for a different reason and he may have killed this president Anyway But could he have been thinking about Lucy too.

Paul Harvey of couse tells this story better I was trying not to give anything away But this story led me to go buy a book on this particular asassination.

It was a fun book, full of very short storys.

I read this book about 15 years ago and was delighted to find it on amazon. This is a keeper, one that you can browse through over and over again. It contains stories of little known aspects of the lives of very well known people and is rather like an encyclopaedia based on People magazine. The element of surprise at the end gives a delightful twist to each story.

As Napoleon indicated, History is the lies upon which we've all agreed. There is no such thing as a work of history that doesn't leave some important element out. Partly that's to make history more palatable for a new generation -- who really wants to know about dentistry in the Colonial era when we're reading about George Washington and his false teeth? No matter what the reason, though, once an item is left out of history it tends to disappear permanently.

Unless Paul Harvey Jr. gets his hands on it.

Paul Harvey Jr, who writes the short vignettes for his father's radio show "The Rest of the Story," has a gift for uncovering forgotten facts. Did you know there was another Three Stooges? Did you know Jack Benny was invited to join the Marx Brothers? Did you know one of our Founding Fathers kept his wife chained in the basement because of persistent congenital madness? I hadn't known that.

This book is an incomplete collection of Harvey's vignettes for his father's show. Some are published under the name "Paul Aurendt," and if you can find them, jump on them with both feet. However, this book provides a good primer for the forgotten corners of history, and also allows you to own copies of the vignettes Harvey has made famous over the last 25 years. One can only hope that Harvey's example will inspire more historians to investigate the forgotten corners of history and find what's been otherwise forgotten. I'd buy more of these books if more of them were available.

Paul Harvey is a master at condensing the essence of a story into a few short paragraphs. These transcripts of his popular syndicated radio program serve as great models for anyone looking to create intriguing little stories for business presentations and sales letters. Highly recommended.

This book has many, good-sized, excellent color reproductions of work with an interesting history of the New Hope artists. There are also succinct biographies of each of the major artists of this regional school plus a list with images of many of the lesser known people.
The last chapter of the book discusses the framemakers in the New Hope region who were part of the arts and crafts movement which is an interesting piece of art history in itself.
Mention is made of the "Pennsylvania 10", a group of the prominent women artists in this area, and a chapter could have been created to feature them, but they are worth a book unto themselves.
For anyone interested in American art, American Impressionism, and that period during the first half of the twentieth century as art moved from representational concepts to abstract and non-objective concepts, this book is worth having.
For artists who are working in this representational manner, they will find a wealth of ideas from these painters in terms of technique, design, and concepts.

Pennsylvania Impressionism opens with an introduction explaining the origins of painting in the area, followed by a somewhat pensive and personal mediation on art both, by Brian H Peterson; followed by two further discussions of art in Pennsylvania by Sylvia Yount and William H Gerdts respectively. Then comes the main colour plates section along with the artists' biographies. This is followed with entries for other associated artists and comprises brief descriptions accompanied by a representative thumb-nail illustration of each artist's work. The book concludes with two bibliographies and other lists.

This is a beautifully illustrated volume, the introductory chapters are illustrated, the colour plates section amounts to nearly two hundred pages, and along with the concluding section the full colour illustrations number three hundred and sixty nine. In the colour plates section they are arranged one and sometime two to a page and the standard is good, often revealing the quality and texture of the paint. However it should be noted that even the full page illustrations in fact rarely occupy more than half of the total page area, leaving the image surrounded by a lot of white space.

This is an attractively laid out and beautifully illustrated book, and the paintings themselves are absolutely superb.

This book provides a thorough survey of the Bucks County "Impressionist" painters. Plenty of good quality visuals, excellent as a resource. Particularly of interest to people in the Bucks Co, PA area.

Excellent history of an important period in American art. Outstanding production - paper, color plates and binding. Efficient processing from Amazon.

I'm an amateur painter and a regular subscriber to American Art Review where I've seen frequent references to Fern Coppedge's paintings. I just fell in love with her colourful work and looked on Google for a single book about her work but alas, there doesn't seem to be such a book. So, I Googled up a booklist and hit on this title, though I love the work of Edgar Payne and Birger Sandzen too. Colour is my own credo and this massive hardback gives plenty. I'd heard of Redfield, Folinsbee and Lathrop but not of Kenneth Nunamaker or Clarence Johnson. The book is bursting with snowscenes like Nunamaker's "Winter Fog" a minimalist view of a sluggish river in slate greys, olive greens and navy blues. Amongst the numerous colour plates, the oils in some of the Redpaths and Coppedges seem to ooze off the page and are visually edible. The potted biographies and wee articles on the many artists are by different experts and I shall be dipping into this beezer of a book time and again. The American impressionists started up slightly after the European school but I think their work is more realistic, darker, and maybe more realistic with reference to mankind in the works I've seen. I'm also a keen viewer of the Canadian Group of Seven, that's me - an old reactionary!

If you like this you'll like: J. Driscoll and A. Skolnick: The Artist and the American Landscape published by First Glance Books, Cobb, Cal. 1998 and

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., Ontario paperback 1989.

I do hope you can put this in your review pages as I so enjoy having this book: I'm in remission from bone cancer and, while I'm able to drive again, am unable to travel abroad and see these paintings at first hand.

Fiona Ross

As an art lover I was so excited to see this book and the others in the series. This one is my favorite, not only because I LOVE Monet, but because the rhymes are well written and go great with the paintings!! This book is a great way to share your love of art with little ones. This is my favorite baby gift to give at showers!! My four year old still gets it out and asks about the paintings and we try to read it together!!!

Beautiful pictures, a peaceful read. Leave this one out on your coffee table; kids won't be the only ones who love it!

This book is wonderful. The sentences are short and sweet and they rhyme, which catches my little boy's attention. This is one of his bedtime books. Other books in the MiniMaster Series that are just as good are "Quite Time with Cassatt" and "Sharing with Renior". We have all of the books in the series and these three are our favorites.

A cute book with great pictures, great rhymes, and it feels good to know that it is educational too. Never too early to appreciate great art!

My daughter is 17 months old and loves this series of books. The artwork is representative of the original work and the words do a great job of telling a story for each picture in a descriptive way without "squashing creativity" for the reader.