"My life is like so much smoke drifting on the horizon. It shifts in the breeze, dissipates, and is gone. Was it caused by any glowing embers that once burned? I might well think so, but I might equally be misled by the terror of insignificance. I don’t pretend that my existence has altered the flow of human history, or even rippled the surface of events. It’s as small as any other life that hasn’t been boosted by fame or notoriety. But our small lives still have some meaning, even if only to those who love us. We owe it to them to whisper our words. Small lives have value. Our small ambitions, regrets, dishonesties, accomplishments, disappointments, friendships, jealousies, commitments – none of them are empty of meaning." Memoir of New Zealand author, filmmaker, playwright, and social activist Mike Riddell. Born in humble surroundings, Riddell recounts his adventures including becoming a minister of religion, a university lecturer, a social activist, and a full-time writer.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 349

Dimensions: 152 x 229 mm

Publication Date: 20-12-2020

Oh Christ, a bloody ½ witted student, for purposes of an essay, has just come in to ask me what I and Baxter write verse for, and if we mean what we say, or is there something deeper; could we write better verse in England, or here; or do the critics and professors just read a lot into what’s said that isn’t there? So much. And I have been very rude indeed. – Letter to John Reece Cole, 16 August 1949 Nothing about this excerpt from a letter by Denis Glover will surprise anyone who knows him by reputation. He – and his letters – could be witty, intelligent, alarmingly frank and frequently highly entertaining. A widely admired poet, honoured naval commander, gifted printer and typographer, Denis Glover was founder of the Caxton Press in Christchurch. For 15 years from 1935 he directed a publishing programme that did much to define New Zealand literature for its day, and for much of the rest of the century. His literary work was suspended for war service in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, during which he earned a DSC for his activities in the Normandy landings. But he was also a serial philanderer and prodigious drinker, and his private life increasingly disintegrated around him, more and more publicly. And yet his energy as a correspondent appeared never to wane, and almost to the end he confided openly, prolifically and entertainingly to hundreds of acquaintances and confidants. In this magnificent volume Sarah Shieff presents around 500 of Glover’s letters to around 110 people, drawn from an archive of nearly 3000 letters to over 430 recipients. Many now recall Glover as little more than a misogynistic old fart, a court jester. These letters should give readers the opportunity to revise – or at least complicate – those dismissive categorisations.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 800

Dimensions: 230 x 150 mm

Caught in the clutches of addiction, Denise Cloughley knows what it's like to visit the depths of hell and stay for a while. From blackouts to forced institutionalization, her life was a maze of twists and turns that cost her nearly everything and sent her on the run from police, family, and the shady rehab facility that hunted her like a dog. With her business, family, and friends gone, there was nothing left but her addiction that threatened to permanently extinguish the light in her eyes. How can anyone survive the grip of its tentacles that pulls its victims back to the very behaviour that destroyed their happiness? Her addiction seized it all: work, families, and health. Then it threatened to take the last of what was left of her shattered life. Hundreds of millions of people are currently battling addiction worldwide. "Poured Me a Glass of Life" is an explosive expose of the ugly side of addiction rehab. In a perfect blend, she shares her life story, offers analysis of the fatal flaws of rehab, and offers inspiration and real-world advice about overcoming adversity. Whether you have suffered from addiction or love someone who has, this raw and authentic look will have you on the edge of your seat. It is painfully honest without ever been depressing, far from it. Although it describes moments of crushing desolation it is extremely engaging and beautifully written read with a direct and personable style that quite often provides laugh out loud moments. Most importantly, you will walk away from this powerful read challenged and changed. The inspiration it offers is priceless and will last long after you read it.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 232

Dimensions: 152 x 229 mm

Publication Date: 16-12-2020

Publishing three times a year, this longed-for journal of articles and photographs returns, catering for readers with a wide range of interests in the gardening world, including: * Gardens and Gardeners * Plants and Trees * Landscape and Design * Garden History * Travel Experiences MARGARET LONG is a voracious reader on all aspects of gardening with a particular interest in trees and shrubs. Margaret’s knowledge and expertise and the joy she found in visiting gardens and sharing her knowledge saw her begin ‘Margaret Long’s Tours’, which ran most successfully over a period of twenty years. Margaret led groups to many European and Australasian gardens before the Covid era. Margaret published eight issues of The Gardener’s Journal in 2008 and 2009 until other commitments, including the tours and her own garden with its increasing number of visitors, led to her setting it aside for a time. Frensham has now been open to visitors for twenty-seven years. Margaret’s monthly newsletter Writings from Frensham is read by gardeners throughout the world. She is also Editor of the journal of the New Zealand Branch of the International Dendrology Society and author, with photographer Juliet Nicholas, of Frensham: A New Zealand Garden, chosen by The Listener as one of its 2019 “Top 100 Books of the Year”.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 112

Dimensions: 148 x 210 mm

Publication Date: 15-02-2021

From the beginning of human history, individuals across cultures and belief systems have looked to the sky for meaning. The movement of celestial bodies and their relation to our human lives has been the central tenant of astrology for thousands of years. The practice has both inspired reverence and worship, and deepened our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. While modern-day horoscopes may be the most familiar form of astrological knowledge, their lineage reaches back to ancient Mesopotamia. As author Andrea Richards recounts in Astrology, the second volume in TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica series, astronomy and astrology were once sister sciences: the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid at Giza was built to align with constellations, Persian scholars oversaw some of the first observatories, and even Galileo cast horoscopes for the Medicis. But with the Enlightenment and the birth of exact science, the practice moved to places where mystery was still permitted, inspiring literature, art, and psychology, and influenced artists and thinkers such as Goethe, Byron, and Blake. Later movements like the Theosophists and the New Agers, would thrust the practice into the mainstream. Edited by Jessica Hundley, this vibrant visual history of Western astrology is the first ever compendium of its kind, exploring the symbolic meaning behind more than 400 images, from Egyptian temples and illuminated manuscripts to contemporary art from across the globe. Works by artists from Alphonese Mucha and Hilma af Klint to Arpita Singh and Manzel Bowman are sequenced to mirror the spin of the planets and the wheel of the zodiac. With a foreword by legendary astrologer Susan Miller and wisdom from new interviews with astrologers like Robert Hand, Jessica Lanyadoo, and Mecca Woods, Astrology celebrates the stars and their mysterious influence on our everyday lives.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 520

Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 06-11-2020

The azure-blue Mediterranean restores the body, mind and soul! Discover the most breathtaking destinations and places to dream of in this updated, lavishly illustrated book: from the cave-like suites at Perivolas, in a majestic position high above the Aegean on Santorini, to the Hôtel Le Corbusier in Marseille, a place of pilgrimage for lovers of architecture. Every hotel is presented with spectacular photos, a short text and essential information such as the address and directions for arriving, as well as tips for books to pack.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 360

Dimensions: 238 x 302 mm

Publication Date: 31-10-2020

One of the most creative minds of the 20th century, Walt Disney created a unique and unrivaled imaginative universe. Like scarcely any other classics of cinema, his astonishing collection of animated cartoons revolutionized storytelling on screen and enchant to this day across geographies and generations. This expansively illustrated publication on Disney animation gathers hundreds of images as well as essays by Disney experts, taking us to the beating heart of the studio’s “Golden Age of Animation.” We trace Disney’s complete animation journey from the silent film era, through his first full-length feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Fantasia (1940), right up to his last masterpieces Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966) and The Jungle Book (1967). With extensive research conducted through the historical collections of the Walt Disney Company, as well as private collections, editor Daniel Kothenschulte curates some of the most precious concept paintings and storyboards to reveal just how these animation triumphs came to life. Masterful cel setups provide highly detailed illustrations of famous film scenes while rare pictures taken by Disney photographers bring a privileged insider’s view to the studio’s creative process. Each of the major animated features that were made during Walt’s lifetime―including Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians―is given its own focus chapter, without forgetting less-familiar gems such as the experimental short films of the Silly Symphonies series and under-appreciated episodic musical films such as Make Mine Music and Melody Time. Realizing the Disney style was a collective project and, as much as the master himself, The Walt Disney Film Archives acknowledges the outstanding animators and designers who influenced the style of the studio, among them Albert Hurter, Gustaf Tenggren, Kay Nielsen, Mary Blair, Sylvia Holland, Tyrus Wong, Ken Anderson, Eyvind Earle, and Walt Peregoy.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 512

Dimensions: 156 x 217 mm

Publication Date: 16-12-2020

“It’s dangerous to be an honest man.” ― Michael Corleone, Godfather III As special photographer on the sets and locations of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy, Steve Schapiro had the remarkable experience of witnessing legendary actors giving some of their most memorable performances. Schapiro immortalized Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton in photos that have since become iconic images, instantly recognizable and endlessly imitated. Gathered together in this book are Schapiro’s finest photographs from all three Godfather films, lovingly reproduced from the original negatives. With contextual essays and interviews covering the trilogy in its entirety, this book contains over 300 colour and black-and-white images. Schapiro’s images take us behind the scenes of this epic and inimitable cinematic saga, revealing the director’s working process, capturing the moods and personalities involved, and providing insight into the making of movie history.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 512

Dimensions: 156 x 217 mm

Publication Date: 13-12-2020

The architecture of the 20th century is distinguished by an astonishing diversity. Just as the clash of aesthetic and commercial ambitions nevertheless produced many a happy symbiosis, so the purist and the expressive, the monumental and the picturesque came face to face. From lofty “starchitects” to lesser-known names around the world, this chronological overview takes you to the heart of the ideas, trends, and transitions that defined the 1900s. From Frank Lloyd Wright to Antoni Gaudí, Frank O. Gehry to Shigeru Ban and all the best stuff in-between, it’s all here. Organized chronologically, the 31 chapters put it all into perspective, illustrated by hundreds of large-format photos as well as a plenitude of drawings and floor plans. The biographical appendix covers all of the century’s greatest architects while celebrating today’s new talents, and the lavish illustrations include some of the best architectural photography in the modern era. For anyone interested in the zeitgeist and building design of the 20th century, this is your be-all-end-all reference work. The collection covers not only the architects but also the groups, the movements, and the styles that defined an era of construction. A must for all lovers of architecture!

Bind: hardback

Pages: 600

Dimensions: 250 x 340 mm

Publication Date: 30-10-2020

From the beginning of human history, individuals across cultures and belief systems have looked to the sky for meaning. The movement of celestial bodies and their relation to our human lives has been the central tenant of astrology for thousands of years. The practice has both inspired reverence and worship, and deepened our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.While modern-day horoscopes may be the most familiar form of astrological knowledge, their lineage reaches back to ancient Mesopotamia. As author Andrea Richards recounts in Astrology, the second volume in TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica series, astronomy and astrology were once sister sciences: the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid at Giza was built to align with constellations, Persian scholars oversaw some of the first observatories, and even Galileo cast horoscopes for the Medicis. But with the Enlightenment and the birth of exact science, the practice moved to places where mystery was still permitted, inspiring literature, art, and psychology, and influenced artists and thinkers such as Goethe, Byron, and Blake. Later movements like the Theosophists and the New Agers, would thrust the practice into the mainstream. Edited by Jessica Hundley, this vibrant visual history of Western astrology is the first ever compendium of its kind, exploring the symbolic meaning behind more than 400 images, from Egyptian temples and illuminated manuscripts to contemporary art from across the globe. Works by artists from Alphonese Mucha and Hilma af Klint to Arpita Singh and Manzel Bowman are sequenced to mirror the spin of the planets and the wheel of the zodiac. With a foreword by legendary astrologer Susan Miller and wisdom from new interviews with astrologers like Robert Hand, Jessica Lanyadoo, and Mecca Woods, Astrology celebrates the stars and their mysterious influence on our everyday lives.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 592

Dimensions: 250 x 340 mm

Publication Date: 09-12-2020