Book picks similar to
Tiaras - A History of Splendour by Geoffrey C. Munn
non-fiction
royalty
jewelry
jewellery
Rick Steves Rome 2018
Rick Steves - 2014
Rome is called the Eternal City, and ancient ruins and Renaissance masterpieces still dot this modern metropolis: with Rick Steves on your side, Rome can be yours!Inside Rick Steves Rome 2018 you'll find:Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring RomeRick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favoritesTop sights and hidden gems, from the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel to corner trattorias serving crispy fresh pizza and that perfect scoop of gelato How to connect with local culture: Savor a plate of cacio e pepe, celebrate with the locals at a festival, or chat with fans about the latest soccer (calico, to locals) match Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insightThe best places to eat, sleep, and experience la dolce far nienteSelf-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums Detailed neighborhood maps and a fold-out city map for exploring on the goUseful resources including a packing list, Italian phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended readingOver 500 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you downAnnually updated information on Central Rome, Vatican City, Trastevere, and more, plus day trips to Ostia Antica, Tivoli, Naples, and PompeiiMake the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Rome 2018.Spending just a few days in the city? Try Rick Steves Pocket Rome.
After Diana: William, Harry, Charles, and the Royal House of Windsor
Christopher Andersen - 1999
I think I've changed that." --DianaFor all that's been written about the People's Princess, no one has yet penetrated palace walls to reveal what has really happened to the Royal Family she left behind ten years ago--until now. In the manner of his No. 1 New York Times bestsellers The Day Diana Died, The Day John Died, and his bestsellers Jack and Jackie, Jackie After Jack and Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen draws on important new sources to paint the first full portrait of a Royal Family still haunted by the ghost of Diana.All the compelling elements of a true dynastic saga are here: power, sex, wealth, intrigue, betrayal, tragedy and scandal. But so too is the Princess's legacy of love and compassion--alive in the sons who have grown and are now forging legacies of their own.Among After Diana's stunning revelations:The many times Diana predicted with uncanny accuracy how she would die; why she feared for Camilla's life as well; the surprising, never-before-revealed identity of the woman Diana really felt might one day be Queen.New details about the days after Diana's death--Charles's reaction the moment he saw Diana's body, how Camilla dealt with suddenly becoming the most hated woman in the world, her secret eight-year campaign to replace Diana.How William and Harry have dealt with the public and private pressures--from drugs to Nazi uniforms to lap dances and barroom brawls, fresh details about the Princes' wild behavior and the demons that still haunt them.How Charles cheated on Camilla as well as Diana; the intriguing other women in the Prince of Wales's life.Inside Operation Paget, Scotland Yard's ongoing probe into Diana's death--why, ten years after, investigators were still shocked by what they found.The day Charles was asked point-blank by Scotland Yard if he killed his wife--and what he said.The many beautiful young women in the lives of William and Harry over the past ten years--including Will's longtime love Kate Middleton, her chances of one day becoming Queen and why he fears she may meet the same fate as his mother.William's obsession with speed; Harry's hunger for risk-taking; a thirst for battle that could lead both Princes to combat in Iraq.New information on whether the Queen plans to step aside and who she wants to see succeed her on the throne.Sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, always riveting, After Diana is more than just the first comprehensive, compelling biography of the House of Windsor as it is today. It is a bittersweet tale of love, loss, duty, and destiny. It is the story of a family.
Our Rainbow Queen
Sali Hughes - 2019
Featured in Vanity Fair, New York Post and The Atlantic This riotously colourful book takes a photographic journey through Queen Elizabeth II’s ten decades of colour-blocked style.The photographs, which span the colours of the rainbow and a century of style, are gloriously accessorised with captions and commentary by journalist and broadcaster Sali Hughes.From the dusky pinks the Queen wore in girlhood all the way through to #NeonAt90, by way of that hat she wore on the announcement of Brexit, and not forgetting her trusty Launer handbag ever at her side, this must-have collection celebrates the iconic fashion statements of our longest reigning and most vibrant monarch.
Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera
Ron Schick - 2009
Working alongside skilled photographers, Rockwell acted as director, carefully orchestrating models, selecting props, and choosing locations for the photographs -- works of art in their own right -- that served as the basis of his iconic images. Readers will be surprised to find that many of his most memorable characters -- the girl at the mirror, the young couple on prom night, the family on vacation -- were friends and neighbors who served as his amateur models. In this groundbreaking book, author and historian Ron Schick delves into the archive of nearly 20,000 photographs housed at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Featuring reproductions of Rockwell's black-and-white photographs and related full-color artworks, along with an incisive narrative and quotes from Rockwell models and family members, this book will intrigue anyone interested in photography, art, and Americana.
An Unusual Journey Through Royal History, Volume I (Unusual History, #1)
Victoria Martinez - 2011
The table of contents reads more like a menu at a good restaurant, where there’s something for everyone’s taste. Each of the 18 chapters tells a unique story about an overlooked or unusual aspect of royal history, spanning centuries and countries, but in no particular order. From first to last, they will take you on a journey through royal history you’ve probably never seen or thought of before. In few – if any – other books will you find the British Monarchy compared to London’s sewer system, or read of the challenges of finding a suitable husband for a 200-plus pound Victorian princess who was nonetheless a “remarkably light dancer.” Rarely are the lives of historic and modern royals from Queen Victoria and Catherine the Great to Prince Charles and Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark “illustrated” not by paintings but by tattoos. Even more intimate topics, like the practice of circumcision among royals – including Princes William and Harry – are explored for the sake of inquiring minds. Chances are, even readers who usually find historic royalty boring and stuffy or modern royalty anachronistic and detached will find something to enjoy. Who wouldn’t feel a bit satisfied reading about a celebrated 19th century courtesan being paid to steal the thunder of an old and frumpy queen just to prove that queens are expected to be beautiful? It can also be quite amusing to find that a supposedly formal portrait of the current British Royal Family holds hidden, enigmatic clues to family dynamics and individual personalities that amuse and baffle.In short (much like the Court dwarfs you’ll read about), this book will leave you with a sense that you not only know royal history – and enjoy it – but that you have also journeyed through it and know the royals personally, from who exterminates their palaces right down to their infamous last words."I enjoyed these essays on royalty, which range widely from the beauty of Queens to court dwarfs and royal circumcision. Readers will find an impressively wide span of history enjoyably investigated." – Hugo VickersHugo Vickers, author of “Behind Closed Doors: The Tragic, Untold Story of The Duchess of Windsor,” is a writer and broadcaster who has written biographies of many twentieth century figures.
American Junk
Mary Randolph Carter - 1994
She introduces us to and takes us into the homes of these unusually creative people, who share her belief that thrift, economy, and ingenuity translate into high style indeed. There are before-and-after pictures, tips on repair and storage hints on how to bargain, ideas for themed collections and even a list of what to bring on junking expeditions. The author reveals the price of almost every one of the hundreds and hundreds of items pictured, and best of all provides a directory to more than two "junking sites" nationwide. American Junk is a one-of-a-kind book for those who appreciate the rare, the idiosyncratic, and the unexpected - those who realize that there are as many kinds of junk as there are individuals.
The King and Mrs. Simpson: The True Story of the Commoner Who Captured the Heart of a King
Erin Frances Schulz - 2008
Simpson recounts the extraordinary love story between the popular King and the enigmatic woman that began at a party in England and culminated with the downfall of his reign nearly six years later.The King and Mrs. Simpson reads like a story and is sized like a novella, but still captues the historical detail that makes their story one of legend. The King and Mrs. Simpson offers a reader the chance to learn their story in just a few hours. A reader does not have to love or even like history to enjoy this short book about the greatest romance of the twentieth century. The King & Mrs. Simpson is a concept the author terms "beach history": creative nonfiction that reads like a story, but retains the accuracy found in traditional texts. Finally, a new way of reading and learning about history has been launched!
Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961-97: A Tribute in Photographs
Michael O'Mara - 1997
Diana, Princess of Wales was certainly one of the most photographed women of all time; even in her childhood she was frequently photographed due to her father's interest in amateur photography.
Charles Faudree's Country French Living
Charles Faudree - 2003
Charles Faudree's Country French Living features his newest room designs. From the entryway to the dressing room to walls, dining rooms, and outdoor spaces, Charles teaches principles of design that make a house a Country French home:The importance of the bedroom and how to make it a soothing sanctuary, deserving as much attention to beauty and detail as the rest of the home.How to identify a pivotal fabric, a dominant color, or one magnificent antique that will dictate the style and design for a whole room.How books can create an inviting atmosphere and add a warmth all their own.How a valance is the ultimate decorating deceit, and how window treatments express the personality of a room and add a proper finish.How to use walls as they are meant--as a stage on which to display one's favorite collections.How to use symmetrical groupings that provide a sense if balance and order in a roomCharles Faudree's Country French Living also shows how to make the most of accessories like lamps, pillows, baskets, paintings, and more to finish a room and provide the charm and character so important in a well-designed French Country setting. Country French Living reveals that the true test of a beautiful room is in the details.Charles Faudree's clients are found throughout America as well as in Spain and Jamaica. Five individual homes designed by Charles, including his own, have been featured on HGTV. During his twenty-five-year career as an interior designer, his work has appeared in many design magazines and decorating books. Six of his own homes have been featured in Traditional Home magazine, where he was a Design Award Winner in 1995. He has also been featured in Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publications, Renovation Style, Veranda, Southern Accents, and House Beautiful. In 2002 he was named one of America's top 100 interior designers.
Mistress of the Elgin Marbles: A Biography of Mary Nisbet, Countess of Elgin
Susan Nagel - 2004
When Mary accompanied her husband to diplomatic duty in Turkey, she changed history. She helped bring the smallpox vaccine to the Middle East, struck a seemingly impossible deal with Napoleon, and arranged the removal of famous marbles from the Parthenon. But all of her accomplishments would be overshadowed, however, by her scandalous divorce. Drawing from Mary's own letters, scholar Susan Nagel tells Mary's enthralling, inspiring, and suspenseful story in vibrant detail.
Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Global History. Enhanced Edition, Volume I (with ArtStudy Online Printed Access Card and Timeline)
Fred S. Kleiner - 1926
Over 100 additional new images are integrated into Volume I, and appear online as full size digital images with discussions written by the author. These bonus images are complemented by groundbreaking media support for students including video study tools and a robust eBook.
The Women of Windsor: Their Power, Privilege, and Passions
Catherine Whitney - 2006
Their images have been with us on film and in print for more than a century, like priceless artifacts that call to mind a grander era. Seen at a distance, they appear unknowable. But each is an individual, a real woman, with an extraordinary story to tell. Now, Catherine Whitney reveals what happens behind the palace doors, giving us an intimate glimpse into the private lives of these public figures.Elizabeth, the Queen: Born to duty, adored by her parents, Elizabeth swore as a teenager to serve her country above all else . . . and she has lived up to her promise, even when her crown has been a burden. This once-lively young woman has sacrificed self-interest and personal joy for her subjects for over sixty years. In public, the queen never puts a step wrong. In private, she herself knows she has made many mistakes. She has sacrificed motherhood for majesty, and seen her four children each make errors with devastating consequences. Yet, no matter what happens, the queen perseveres.Elizabeth, the Queen Mother: Hitler was afraid of her, the English people adored her. Her kind, sparkling blue eyes and cheerful manner belied a backbone of steel, and few dared to cross her. She raised her eldest daughter to serve and her youngest daughter to sparkle. But while her love of the people, and of her family, has never been in question, the Queen Mother was made of much sterner stuff than anyone has ever known -- until now.Princess Margaret: Beautiful, talented, vivacious, and complex . . . Margaret was the Diana of her day. But the promise of her youth was destroyed when she was betrayed by her sister, now the queen, who needlessly forced her to give up the man she loved. Troubled and adrift, with only a slight role to fill, Margaret became the object of public ridicule, yet she was something her sister was not: a wonderful mother.Princess Anne: Her father's favorite, arguably the most intelligent of the queen's four children. Yet Anne is forever forced to take second place to her older brother, Charles. Hardworking, hard-headed, and hot-tempered, Anne has been dismissed as an acerbic frump more at home with horses than people, especially in comparison with her ill-fated sister-in-law, Diana. Yet there is a passionate side to this complex woman, one hidden from view.These four women have shaped the world, each in her own way. Now at last their stories can be told.
Frank Lloyd Wright: The Masterworks
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer - 1993
In entirely new photographs taken especially for this book by two leading architectural photographers under the direction of co-editor David Larkin, such internationally famous buildings as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater and Wright's homes Taliesin, Taliesin West, and the Oak Park Home and Studio are seen afresh, benefiting from the photographers' special access. Several lesser-known residences, such as Auldbrass Plantation in South Carolina, an array of wooden buildings that is Wright's American alternative to antebellum architecture, the William H. Winslow house in River Forest, Illinois, one of the architect's earliest and most surprisingly decorative houses, and the Kenneth Laurent house in Rockford, Illinois, a masterful curvilinear design, are seen in full color and demonstrate dimensions of Wright's work less often seen before. Public buildings, such as the dramatic concrete, glass, and steel Marin County Civic Center and Beth Sholom Synagogue show Wright as engineering virtuoso as well as creative architect. In addition to these existing masterworks, only the most famous of which are open to the public, the book covers buildings that have been demolished, notably the Larkin Company Administration Building, Midway Gardens, and the Imperial Hotel, which are represented here by drawings and rich archival photographs. Each of the buildings is presented from conceptual sketch, plan, or drawing to finished masterwork, andeach is accompanied by an in-depth essay detailing the development of the work. Extensive quotes from Wright's writings, unpublished talks, and private letters to the clients give valuable insight into the architect's own thinking about each commission. Never before has Wright's architecture been presented so elaborately in one volume.
Fashion 150 Years Of Courtiers, Designers, Labels
Charlotte Seeling - 2010
This book is devoted to the legendary world of fashion, from its origins in the late nineteenth century to the present. Which social, historical, and cultural developments coalesced to allow fashion to become what it is today? Which designers had especially significant impact on their fashion era with extensive portraits of the ground-breaking fashion icons and countless expressive photographs. The result is a comprehensive portrayal of the rapid development of fashion from the liberation of women from the corset all the way to the minimalist and luxurious, playful and sober, conservative and revolutionary creations of modern designers.
Queen Victoria's Family: A Century of Photographs 1840-1940
Charlotte Zeepvat - 2001
A photograph album of Queen Victoria's family exploring the lives, personalities, tastes and contributions of the Queen, her children and her children's children through four generations.