“[Julie Halls] does a lovely job investigating the social and cultural back stories that led to the design of an Improved Pickle Fork and a Bona Fide Ventilating Hat, to name just a few, revealing the Victorians to be not just ingenious but wildly insecure about their social status, their bodies and their safety.”
— The New York Times
“Many of the contraptions may seem silly today, such as a current-cleaning machine or a 'portable smelting apparatus' that would allow you to meld metal on the run. Still, notes Ms. Halls, the devices vividly illustrate the era's rising consumer demand and fascination with innovation and practical science.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“Shows us that we were always obsessed with technological innovations that promised to make our lives better.”
— Fast Co.Create
“While no single gadget in [this] books changed life as we know it, collectively they shaped an outlook on innovation that exists even today.”
— Smithsonian.com
“A remarkable collection of design drawings for inventions long forgotten.”
— The Miami Herald
“Covering everything from home and garden to sport and safety, these misfit inventions tell as story that grew curiouser and curiouser. This is the perfect book for your quirky uncle who spends too much time tinkering in the basement.”
— The Washington Post
“Whether or not all the inventions stood the test of time doesn't matter so much; the culture of amateur inventing as a whole can be credited for creating an environment that encouraged tinkering, discovery, and therefore progress.”
— Wired.com
“Sometimes an idea isn't as wonderful or useful as its inventor thinks. Halls takes you on an illustrated tour of some of the most unique and unusual inventions registered in Britain in the 19th century.”
— New York Public Library
“A gorgeous compendium of crackpot ideas, reminding us that design is a Darwinian struggle—only the fittest inventions survive.”
— Fast Co.Design
“Looks at the forgotten side of the Victorian age of invention—not the steam engine or the light bulb but the Improved Sausage Machine, the Epanalepsian Advertizing Vehicle, and the Moustache Protector…And everywhere, there’s the firm belief in social progress through technological innovation.”
— Quartz
“More than just a fun and beautifully printed collection of odd and curious patents. The author’s knowledgeable commentary gives an interesting cultural account of the demands for, and uses of, these Victorian-era gadgets…Highly recommended.”
— Choice
“A rich collection.”
— Islamic Horizons
“An exemplary and detailed practitioner account of Islamic pattern design…the lush photographic images are accompanied by visualized formal analysis that gives the patterns conceptual depth…Highly recommended.”
— Choice
“An extremely effective and thorough work on the geometric designs found throughout Islamic art and architecture and the process by which these designs were created…Well written, well-thought-out, and extremely well-illustrated. Enthusiastically recommended.”
— Library Journal
“This visually stunning look conveys the beauty and complexity of Islamic patterns …”
— Saudi Aramco World
“A hybrid of coffee-table, informational, and how-to book.”
— Protoview
“Uniquely comprehensive…Clearly written so that a total understanding of the material is possible for specialist and novice alike.”
— American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences
“Excellent… Traces the evolution of single-family houses across eight decades, focusing as much on the people who live(d) in the houses than the architects who designed them… [Naomi Pollock's] most important and best book to date… Compelling and vivid.”
— A Weekly Dose of Architecture Books
“Fascinating… [Captures] beautiful images of some of the country’s most innovative homes, as well as architectural drawings, resident interviews, and descriptions of the circumstances surrounding their construction. ”
— Dwell
“Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill adds a quiet new dimension to the story we thought we knew about Holiday. With Jerry Dantzic, she revealed homier sides of her life which needed no explanations and invited no judgments: at home with her husband or her dog, or visiting her co-author and her godchild. In these images and in Mr. Dantzic's performance shots, she is not the tragic torch singer of myth but a middle-aged woman finding simple comforts from the maelstrom, no longer as sharp in her voice but undiminished in her ability to command a stage.”
— New York Times' Lens
“Recommended for photography enthusiasts, fans of Holiday, and jazz history buffs. Dantzic's intimate portraits honor this period in Holiday' life, just two years before her untimely death at age 44. Often shooting indoors and with a slow shutter, he captures a good deal of motion blur that give the images a gritty look and feel. When Holiday is performing, Dantzic frequently shoots from a low vantage point to emphasize her larger-than-life stature. Dantzic also provides a rare view into the everyday life of this mythic performer, which includes playing with her Chihuahua Pepi, walking in New York City, interacting with friends, and cooking in her West 68th Street apartment.”
— Library Journal
“[A] remarkable set of images of one of America's greatest artists. If you're a Holiday fan, it will be hard to resist seeking out this book that so candidly captures her late in her life and career. The images are intimate but not prurient. Too often fans want to see the flaws, the scars and wear-and-tear of a well-documented difficult life, as if those struggles alone defined Holiday. The book shows us much more. Likely influenced by Dantzic's relationship with William Dufty (her friend and the co-author of her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues), Holiday gave the photographer nearly unprecedented access.”
— Jazz Times
“For the first time, the history of Galliano's Dior is being celebrated in full… Reveal[s] the drama, behind-the-scenes moments, glamour and genius of one of the most revered designers of our time.”
— The Face
“Fairer's images accurately capture the heady backstage drama, superlative mannequins of the era and most of all Galliano's creations in finest detail. Essential for fans of the house of Dior's arguably most exuberant period.”
— Glass
“Captures the designer's extraordinary creations during his tenure at the French fashion house in previous unseen behind-the-scenes moments.”
— Business of Fashion
“A must-own for any fashion connoisseur.”
— Society Texas Magazine
“Visually stunning.”
— Vogue
“Capture[s] the designer's wildly imaginative runway shows and dramatic, colorful creations.”
— AnOther
“Fairer's backstage photos capture not only the designer's uninhibited creations, but also the behind-the-scenes frenzy at his shows… stunning.”
— Daily Mail
“From Paris to Rome, Hamburg, and beyond, the places Karl Lagerfeld lived were as considered and compelling as the clothes he designed… If you never scored an invitation to dinner, this might just be the next best thing.”
— Town & Country
“Serves not only as visual proof of his talents across multiple mediums, but also a fascinating glimpse into the interconnectedness of his great creative mind.”
— Vogue
“The places Karl Lagerfeld lived were as considered and compelling as the clothes he designed. Here, the late fashion impresario's homes are opened (some for the first time) to showcase the imaginative and incredible ways he lived. If you never scored an invitation to dinner, this might just be the next best thing.”
— Town & Country
“Lagerfeld sustained his need for transformation not just through fashion but with décor… Each of Lagerfeld's properties served as a canvas with which to explore a singular obsession.”
— Air Mail
“Details the domestic life of the late German fashion designer [and] showcases a series of photos of his eclectic interiors.”
— Forbes
