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Artists of the East London Group

From Bow to Biennale

David Buckman

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849949279

Hardback publication date: 14 May 2026

Category: Art & Illustration

Hardback price:

£ 80.00

An exclusive, limited edition reissue of the first study of the East London Group, telling the remarkable story of how a group of untrained London artists became an art world sensation in the interwar years.

Although the East London Group achieved commercial success and huge media coverage in the late 1920s and early 1930s, their story is relatively unknown today. Their atmospheric paintings depicting scenes from everyday life, their London surroundings and scenes from further afield are now highly sought after. Inspired by the charismatic teacher John Cooper, its artists, mainly working-class people with little art world experience, achieved shows at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Tate Gallery, and around the UK. Then, amazingly, two of them reached the dizzying heights of the Venice Biennale in 1936. Their fans included such luminaries as Arnold Bennett, Joseph Duveen, Aldous Huxley, Ramsay MacDonald, Walter Sickert and Osbert Sitwell.

This fascinating book is based on correspondence and interviews with the last group members plus primary and secondary archival research over many years. It includes extensive artist biographies plus chapters covering the group members’ involvement in film, the stage and poster work, alongside stories of their mentor John Cooper’s mosaic revival and his wife Phyllis Bray’s huge murals for the New People’s Palace in Mile End Road, London.

Artists of the East London Group is the first study of this important group of artists, first published in 2012. Richly illustrated, the group’s story is examined in captivating detail, with biographies of all the artists and a list showing where you can see their paintings today. This exclusive limited edition is beautifully produced with a cloth-bound cover featuring foiled detail.

ABOUT THE Author

David Buckman has been a journalist and author for over 50 years, writing for numerous magazines and newspapers, and has also made several hundred radio and television broadcasts. After the first edition of his dictionary Artists in Britain Since 1945 appeared in 1998 he has concentrated on arts writing. He contributed to Macmillan’s Dictionary of Art and Brian McFarlane’s Encyclopedia of British Film. Monograph subjects include J B Manson, Leonid Pasternak, Martin Leman and Glyn and Katherine Walne; Charles Debenham’s East AngliaIndependent and the Guardian. He is an advisor to the Public Catalogue Foundation.

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The Typography of Protest

Revolution and rebellion in protest art

Theo Inglis

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849949101

Hardback publication date: 1 October 2026

Category: Design

Hardback price:

£ 25.00

A timely, compelling and affecting history of graphic design being used as a form of rebellion and resistance.

Design has long been a means of self-expression, but it is also a fundamental vehicle for change in an increasingly visual world. The Typography of Protest is an illustrated history of how famous designers and determined individuals have used art to dismantle hatred and ignite change.

The designers, groups and collectives featured in this book differ in age, race, gender and belief but all are resolute in confronting political and social injustice and inequality through their design and typography. From the bold feminist collages of Barbara Kruger to Emory Douglas’s defining posters for the Black Panther Party during the Civil Rights era and Keith Haring breaking the silence surrounding AIDS, to Guerrilla Girls exposing racial and sexual inequality in the art world, typography has long been a powerful tool for upsetting the status quo. 

This thought-provoking book shines a light on the often revolutionary work of artists involved in a diverse range of social and political movements.

ABOUT THE Author

Theo Inglis is a design writer and graphic designer who specialises in post-war design. He writes regularly for online design magazine Grafik and for Monotype, the world’s leading font company. Additionally, he holds an MA in Critical Writing in Art and Design from the Royal College of Art. He also runs the Tumblr account Midcenturymoderndesign, which has over 30,000 followers. He is based in Norwich.

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A Nature Poem for every Autumn Evening

Jane McMorland Hunter

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849948623

Hardback publication date: 12 September 2024

Series: Seasonal Poetry

Category: Poetry

Hardback price:

£ 14.99

Poems to celebrate autumn.

A companion volume to the successful winter and spring titles, this anthology of poems is as sweet as pumpkin spice and warming as a roaring log fire. With one poem for every autumn evening, it’s the perfect literary companion as the days begin to shorten. Whether you keep it on your nightstand for some evening reading, or in your bag for when you come across the perfect cosy coffee shop, this collection of poems is bound to make you feel ready for big scarves and crunchy leaves. 

With classics from Katherine Mansfield, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Shelley, William Blake, William Morris and more, you won’t be sad that summer’s over: you’ll be celebrating because autumn has begun. 

This beautiful and collectable anthology of poems derives from the popular A Poem for Every Night of the Year and features poems about every aspect of autumnal nature.

ABOUT THE Author

Jane McMorland Hunter writes and edits books on the good things in life: gardening, nature, cookery, craft and poetry, whilst also working part-time at Hatchards Bookshop, London. She has written and edited several books, including 100 Happy Poems, A Happy Poem to End Every Day, Ode to London, Favourite Poems of England, A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year and Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year. She lives in West London and can be found on social media at @alittlecitygarden.

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A Nature Poem for Every Summer Evening

Jane McMorland Hunter

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849948616

Hardback publication date: 8 May 2025

Category: Poetry

Hardback price:

£ 14.99

Poems to celebrate summer.

Pour out a long drink, take a seat under a shady tree, and lose yourself in this sublime collection of nature poems for summer. From William Shakespeare to Emily Dickinson, John Keats to Isaac Rosenberg, some of the finest poets that ever put pen to paper describe the slow, langorous, glowing evenings of the season.

With one entry for every summer day, from 1 June to 31 August, this collection of 92 poems will provide the perfect backdrop to those balmy summer evenings in the garden, from Christina Rossetti’s ‘larks hang singing, singing singing over the wheat-fields wide’ to Eugene Lee-Hamilton’s ‘rich, hot scent of old fir forests heated by the sun’, Samuel Palmer’s evocative descriptions of summer twilight to Rachel Field’s whimsical musings on butterflies.

This beautiful and collectable anthology of poems derives from the popular A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year and also features summery poems from Geoffrey Chaucer, Amy Lowell, Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Blake and many more. 

ABOUT THE Editor

Jane McMorland Hunter writes and edits books on the good things in life: gardening, nature, cookery, craft and poetry, whilst also working part-time at Hatchards Bookshop, London. She has written and edited several books, including 100 Happy Poems, A Happy Poem to End Every Day, Ode to London, Favourite Poems of England, A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year and Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year. She lives in West London and can be found on social media at @alittlecitygarden.

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100 20th-Century Sports and Leisure Buildings

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849949408

Hardback publication date: 5 June 2025

Category: Architecture

Hardback price:

£ 30.00

eBook ISBN: 9781837330508

eBook publication date: 11 June 2025

Category: Architecture

eBook price: £ 19.99

  Our price: £

A showcase of Britain’s most architecturally significant sports and leisure buildings from the twentieth century and beyond.

100 20th Century Sports and Leisure Buildings gives a fascinating insight into the spaces where we play: from swimming pools and skate parks to ice rinks and cricket pavilions. These structures are not only an intensely evocative part of our shared social heritage but some of the most architecturally innovative constructions of the past century – as seen here in buildings by architects including Edwin Lutyens, Walter Tapper, John Burnet and Zaha Hadid.

The twentieth century saw a rapid expansion in the public provision for sports and leisure as workers won the right to paid holiday, prompting a boom in the construction of municipal lidos, pools and sports grounds. Later in the century leisure centres brought together facilities for a whole range of sports with an emphasis on family fun, combining environmentally controlled environments with soaring engineering and playful pop imagery. Space-age geodesic domes, diamond-glazed pyramids, castellated forts, brutalist elephants and Moorish postmodern palaces are just a few of the highlights of this idiosyncratic genre showcased here.

Expert essays on particular building types, including Alan Powers on lidos and Simon Inglis on sports stadiums, give further context to these spaces. Also included is an introduction with a strong campaigning element – with the decimation of local authority budgets forcing the closure of many centres and pools, this is a timely exploration that provides a crucial record of this key part of our cultural heritage.

Knit Club

Knit and crochet your own sustainable wardrobe

Janina Kuronen

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781837330706

Hardback publication date: 10 December 2026

Category: Knitting & Crochet

Hardback price:

£ 25.00

Knit Club is a fun and colourful collection of fashion-led crochet and knitting patterns to build your own sustainable wardrobe.  

Author Janina Kuronen began making her own designs when she became frustrated at the lack of crochet and knitting patterns available for the kinds of clothes she actually wanted to wear.

Soon after her company ‘Puikottaa’ was born and compiled here are the results of her work with patterns for every level and covering a huge range of garments including bags, hats, scrunchies, vests, tops, dressed and even a pair of crocheted trousers! Also included are practical accessories such as cases for electronics and water bottle holders.

Each item feels contemporary and thoughtful – this book is perfect for slow-fashion enthusiasts who want to create and curate their own personal style.

Maps of London Myth and Legend

Adam Dant

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781837330638

Hardback publication date: 12 November 2026

Category: Travel

Hardback price:

£ 50.00

Explore the myths, legends and folklore of London in this stunning new collection of fine art maps from leading British artist Adam Dant.

Maps of London Myth and Legend provides an idiosyncratic take on London’s history in an all-new collection of intricate, absorbing and beautiful maps. Giving a unique view of London, artist and cartographer Adam Dant surveys the city’s past, present and future from his studio in the East End. Beautiful, hugely imaginative and packed with eye-catching detail, his astonishing maps offer a compelling view of the capital’s history, lore and myths. Highlights include:

  • Creatures of London Legend, including Father Thames, the Barbican minotaur and the tiger of Edgware

  • Londog, a canine cartography of the capital

  • Ghosts of Olde London, such as the clown Grimaldi, whose disembodied face is said to float around the Theatre Royal

  • Hell is the Northern Line, Dante’s inferno transposed onto the London Underground as a Tube ride descent through the circles of hell according to station depth

  • Lies to Tell Tourists, for example that the River Thames has the same alcohol content as London Pride ale

Accompanying text by the artist gives the background to each cartographic artwork, revealing his inspirations and artistic process and outlining the folkloric tales that inspired them.

This beautiful collection offers a unique view of our history and life today, and is perfect for London enthusiasts, art lovers, folklore fanatics and history buffs alike. Reproduced in large format, the maps invite the reader to study all the astonishing and densely packed detail within, guaranteeing hours of happy browsing.

ABOUT THE Author

Adam Dant studied at the Royal College of Art, London and the MS University Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda, India. He creates dense, elaborate narrative drawings that examine and depict public contemporary life, space, mythologies and histories. These works are thoroughly researched, with the artist drawing on a deep well of historical and visual sources to create his wittily perceptive detailed drawings. Dant lives and works in London.

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Imagination, Faith, and Desire

Art and Agency in European Prints, 1475–1800

Sandra F. Racek

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781785516535

Hardback publication date: 15 October 2026

Category: Practical Art

Hardback price:

£ 36.00

Stunning collection of early prints, exploring how they transformed art, belief, power, and the spread of ideas.

This richly illustrated volume offers fresh perspectives on iconic Renaissance and Baroque prints and their enduring impact on viewers. Featuring outstanding examples of over 100 prints by celebrated artists such as Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, and other Old Masters, the book explores how printmaking sparked imagination, deepened faith, and elicited desire across four centuries.

The book also traces the technical evolution of print media and explores how prints became powerful tools of mass communication, fundamentally altering how ideas and knowledge spread. Its thematic focus reveals the striking ways prints shaped devotional practices, political critique, artistic self-promotion, and class- and gender-based identities in the pre-photographic world.

James Stirling: Office Drawings

Marco Iuliano

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849949972

Hardback publication date: 3 September 2026

Category: Architecture

Hardback price:

£ 50.00

This monograph on celebrated architect James Stirling provides a fascinating insight into the drawings of some of his most famous projects, as well as a peek into everyday life in an architectural office.

James Stirling, after whom the RIBA Stirling Prize is named, was born in Glasgow and raised in Liverpool, and became one of the most inspiring designers of the twentieth century. Alongside partners James Gowan and Michael Wilford, the Associates Laurence Bain and Russell Bevington and other office members, Stirling created some of Britain’s iconic buildings. These include the Leicester University Engineering Building, the History Faculty Building at Cambridge University and Number One Poultry in London, which was listed by Historic England as a masterpiece of Postmodern architecture.

The fascinating drawings included in this book reveal the collaborative nature of architecture and the relentless process from idea to completion, fluctuating between doodles and technical drawings. There is a playfulness and irreverence that pervades many of the drawings, doodles and notes that communicate Stirling’s intelligence and ironic inclinations. This beautifully produced, cloth-bound book provides an insight into everyday life in an architectural office before the advent of the computer, which appears more varied and collaborative than one might imagine. 

The Book of Corduroy

A visual history of a classic fabric

Eric Musgrave

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781849949866

Hardback publication date: 12 November 2026

Category: Fashion

Hardback price:

£ 40.00

An illustrated guide to the history and use of corduroy in fashion.

A true classic, corduroy is the unsung hero of many an outfit. From country lanes to the salons of the intelligentsia, corduroy has secured its place as a reliable and unmistakable fabric; everyone has a memory of a cherished piece of corduroy clothing.

A staple of many a wardrobe, it comes in many weights and widths, and its ridged profile is instantly recognisable: from sports jackets with elbow patches (a professor’s classic) to dungarees, corduroy has a popularity probably only rivalled by denim. 

In this book, there are over 200 colour photographs documenting the long life of corduroy, accompanied by essays from Eric Musgrave who has been a fashion writer for over 25 years. Discover its roots, its position in the high fashion world as well as the workwear sphere, and where it is destined to go. Whether it is in or out of fashion, it’s a look that is unmistakable and enduring.

ABOUT THE Author

Eric Musgrave has written about fashion for over 25 years. An award-winning editor-in-chief of Drapers, the UK’s top fashion business weekly, he has also held senior roles at Men’s Wear, International Textiles (Amsterdam), Fashion Weekly and Sportswear International (Milan). He was the launch editor of men’s style mag, For Him Magazine (now FHM). He is now a consultant to the fashion business and writes for many publications.

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Feng Shui Fix It! 100 Solutions for a Happier Home

Cliff Tan

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781837330744

Hardback publication date: 10 September 2026

Category: Lifestyle & Gardening

Hardback price:

£ 16.99

Reimagine your house (and your life) using tips from internet feng shui expert Cliff Tan

If you’re not happy with your home – fix it with feng shui! How you live affects your mood and your life, and in Feng Shui Fix It! Cliff shows how you can use his easy-to-follow tips and tricks to clear the clutter, place furniture in your rooms, and add colour and decor to achieve your ideal home. The ancient practice of feng shui is full of practical advice to improve your space and Cliff explains the 100 most important feng shui beliefs about your home, what they mean for our modern context, and how you can fix any faux pas in your house.

For the past six years, Cliff has helped millions of people across the world fix their homes through his social media videos and his one-on-one client meetings – and now he’s bringing the most-asked questions and answers together here, alongside his own drawings explaining each concept. Cliff’s aim is simple: he wants you to feel happy to be home the moment you step foot inside your front door. 

If you’ve ever wondered:

  • Where to place your bed for the best night’s sleep 

  • How to fit your work desk into your house

  • How to make your entranceway feel more welcoming 

  • How to create a money corner 

  • How to make your bedroom ready for a partner 

  • What to do if your living room faces a cemetery

  • Why it feels uncomfortable to have a bathroom above your bedroom

Cliff will answer your queries and more, along with explaining the principles of feng shui. Now there is no excuse not to fix it and live a better life. 

‘There are reasons behind each feng shui rule. Indeed, moving furniture around can actually change your life – as long as you understand how and why’ – Cliff

Lost Poems

Extraordinary Tales of Literary Survival

Nicholas Bateman

Batsford

Format:

Hardback ISBN: 9781837330058

Hardback publication date: 1 October 2026

Category: Poetry

Hardback price:

£ 20.00

Lost Poems is a rich collection of poems from history that were unearthed through archaeology, accompanied by compelling stories of how they survived.

The poems in this book nearly didn’t get into print – every one of them was lost to history at some point in time. But, due to the efforts of archaeologists and historical researchers, they were all rediscovered. Spanning 35 centuries from the very earliest times to the advent of the printing press, this beautiful anthology presents 70 poems, ranging from lengthy epics to mere fragments and snippets, that have survived against the odds and live to speak to us today.

You’ll meet a Sumerian priestess writing about war in 2200 BCE (possibly the earliest poem in existence), a grief-stricken Greek girl remembering her childhood friend, an Arab princess from 12th-century Spain embroidering verses on her robes, a lonely Irish monk addressing his cat, and a Byzantine court official complaining about mice. The poems encompass passionate love lyrics, laments for vanished youth, elegies for deceased friends and lovers, epics about death and destruction, and odes to fresh fruit and vegetables.

Alongside the poems are fascinating stories of how they were rediscovered: written on scraps of papyrus found in rubbish heaps, on sherds of pottery, inscribed on 60-foot statues or 1-inch finger rings, poems on fragments of paper used to wrap mummies or repair Bibles. Arranged chronologically throughout the centuries, this book is a captivating exploration of how words endure.

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