Michael Sadleir's Desolate Splendour is a historical novel of psychological and social refinement, set against the fading brilliance of aristocratic and cultivated life. Characteristically elegant in style, it combines acute observation of manners with a melancholy awareness of decline, exploring the tensions between beauty, privilege, emotional frustration, and moral exhaustion. The novel belongs to the English tradition of sophisticated early twentieth-century fiction, where aesthetic po...

Seemingly inspired by Fanny Hill, Fanny by Gaslight is the tragic life-story of a young girl born to two lovers and brought up in the seediest possible corner of Victorian London. Her early life as well as her adulthood is littered with pimps, prostitutes, drunkards and schemers but she herself stands apart from the degeneracy around her...

In "Excursions in Victorian Bibliography," Michael Sadleir presents an erudite exploration of the myriad literary and bibliographic intricacies that characterized Victorian literature. Through meticulous analysis and a keen eye for detail, Sadleir dives into the socio-cultural contexts that shaped the publishing industry during this transformative era. His literary style is marked by a blend of rigorous academic scrutiny and engaging prose, making complex bibliographic principles accessibl...

Barchester Towers, Trollope's most popular novel, is the second of the six Chronicles of Barsetshire. The Chronicles follow the intrigues of ambition and love in the cathedral town of Barchester. Trollope was of course interested in the Church, that pillar of Victorian society - in its susceptibility to corruption, hypocrisy, and blinkered conservatism - but the Barsetshire novels are no more `ecclesiastical' than his Palliser novels are `political'. It is the behaviour of the individuals wit...

A pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. Written by the famous non-objective painter Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), it explains Kandinsky's own theory of painting and crystallizes the ideas that were influencing many other modern artists of the period. Along with his own ground-breaking paintings, this book had a tremendous impact on the development of modern ...

In "Concerning the Spiritual in Art," Wassily Kandinsky articulates a profound philosophical framework for understanding art's essence and its emotional impact. Through a blend of theoretical discourse and artistic manifesto, Kandinsky advocates for the autonomy of color and form, emphasizing their ability to convey spiritual truths transcending the material world. Written in the early 20th century, amidst the burgeoning movements of abstraction and expressionism, this seminal work reflect...

"The Art of Spiritual Harmony" is a seminal work by the pioneering abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This influential book delves into the profound connection between art and spirituality, presenting Kandinsky's revolutionary ideas on the role of art in expressing the innermost emotions and transcending the material world.Kandinsky, a master of color and form, articulates his belief that art should go beyond mere representation and tap into deeper spiritual truths. He explores the ...

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) was a Russian painter credited as being among the first to truly venture into abstract art. He persisted in expressing his internal world of abstraction despite negative criticism from his peers. He veered away from painting that could be viewed as representational in order to express his emotions, leading to his unique use of colour and form. Although his works received heavy censure at the time, in later years they would become greatly influential.

In today's art world many strange, even shocking, things qualify as art. In this book, Cynthia Freeland explains why innovation and controversy are valued in the arts, weaving together philosophy and art theory with many fascinating examples. She discusses blood, beauty, culture, money, museums, sex, and politics, clarifying contemporary and historical accounts of the nature, function, and interpretation of the arts. Freeland also propels us into the future by surveying cutting-edge web si...

No library's complete without the classics! This new edition collects some of the most influential stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe.Edgar Allan Poe was a master of tales of the mysterious and macabre. From the eerie incantations of “The Raven” to the persistent fright of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” his stories and poems are unforgettable explorations of the darker side of life that still offer lessons and insight into human behavior today, making them an integral co...

A young New Yorker grieving his mother's death is pulled into a gritty underworld of art and wealth in this “extraordinary” and beloved novel that "connects with the heart as well as the mind" (Stephen King, New York Times Book Review), named a New York Times Best Book of the 21st Century.Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a weal...

This beautiful gift edition of The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien's classic prelude to his Lord of the Rings trilogy, features cover art, illustrations, and watercolor paintings by the artist Alan Lee.Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an epic adventu...