As well as the world of high fashion, including clothing commissioned, worn and collected by the royal family and their circle, discover nonelite dress and a surprising abundance of objects that tell a story of revolution: Queen Charlotte adopting the aprons traditionally associated with working-class dress and the Prince of Wales wearing Whig buff and blue inspired by American Revolutionary ideals.

From textiles and techniques of production, cleaning and dyeing to the Georgian shopping experience, enter the world of fashion for Georgian men, women and children, cosmetics and hairstyles, court ceremony and ritual, clothing worn in battle and influences from Europe and afar, including Britain’s love–hate relationship with France and materials imported from China and beyond.

Published to accompany an exhibition opening in March 2023 at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, this book also serves as a standalone guide to the dress of the Georgian period.

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The textiles featured include men’s, women’s and children’s garments, hats and headdresses, mosque curtains and prayer mats, floor coverings, tent hangings, hand towels and cushions, storage sacks, purses and cosmetic pouches, dolls and souvenirs, animal trappings and amulets. Focusing on the British Museum’s remarkable collection, this book offers a wealth of creative inspiration and will be essential reading for anyone interested in textiles and the cultures of the Middle East and Central Asia.

Table of Contents

Introduction • 1. Childhood • 2. Status and Identity • 3. Marriage and Ceremony • 4. Religion and Belief • 5. House and Homestead • 6. Politics and Conflict

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‘Magisterial’ Kathryn Hughes, The Sunday Times (A Sunday Times Book of the Week)

‘Rich, authoritative and highly readable, Andrew Pettegree’s tour de force will appeal to anyone for whom, whatever the circumstances, books are an abiding, indispensable part of life.’ David Kynaston

Chairman Mao was a librarian. Stalin was a published poet. Evelyn Waugh served as a commando – before leaving to write Brideshead Revisited. Since the advent of modern warfare, books have all too often found themselves on the frontline.

In The Book at War, acclaimed historian Andrew Pettegree traces the surprising ways in which written culture – from travel guides and scientific papers to Biggles and Anne Frank – has shaped, and been shaped, by the conflicts of the modern age.

From the American Civil War to the invasion of Ukraine, books, authors and readers have gone to war – and in the process become both deadly weapons and our most persuasive arguments for peace.

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From the Chevrolet Bel Air to the Ferrari Testarossa, this stunning book showcases the most iconic and important classic cars from every decade since the 1940s.

Few things ignite such reverence as a classic car. With more than 250 iconic models from the 1940s to the early 1990s, photographed from every angle, this title is a glorious celebration of the stars in the classic car firmament.

The Classic Car Book brings you the story of more than 20 great marques, including household names Bentley, Mercedes, Ferrari, Cadillac and Aston Martin. Its lavish photography reveals every detail in close-up of models that range from the 1940s giant two-ton Daimler DE36, which ferried royals about in style, through to sleek Ferraris from the 1980s capable of smashing the 200mph barrier. It puts you in the driving seat of such icons as the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Thunderbird, and the Mercedes 300SL, and brings you the designers of these amazing machines and the story of their manufacturers.

This ultimate guide to classic cars further features:

– A comprehensive catalogue that draw out the key features of each important model, with detailed profiles and specification.
– Feature pages broaden the scope of the book, covering everything from the designers and manufacturers who created them to their evolution over the decades.
– Stunningly shot DPS images add an extra layer of colour and flavour to the book.
– Written by award-winning author and expert on all aspects of motoring, Giles Chapman, Editor-in-Chief of DK’s The Car Book, which has sold over 550,000 copies worldwide to date.
– Updates will include the key models that have grown in popularity since the last edition.

Whether you dream of owning one of these super-cool cars, or you are a collector already, The Classic Car Book is set to become a treasured favourite.

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First produced in Oxford, England, in 1924, MG cars proved instantly appealing, with a cheeky spirit that would win the hearts of millions around the globe, not least of all in the United States. This was due in no small part to the fact that the price was as attractive as the styling and the performance. Inexpensive and fun became quintessential MG traits. In this installment of Motorbooks’ Complete Book series, author Ross Alkureishi offers a chronological model-by-model marque history. Narratives discuss design, production, and technology, while specification tables highlight key technical and performance data. Hundreds of photos illustrate the vehicles and even include detail shots of engine bays and interiors.

Originally formed as a side business, MG became one of the world’s most recognized car brands. From prewar saloons to fast and affordable two-seat sports cars in the pre- and postwar periods, MG has exuded fun, thanks to models like the Midgets and Magnettes, the traditionally styled T-Types, and the vehicles that would become the marque’s most recognizable: the MGA, MGB, and MGC. MG would undergo several ownership changes throughout the years, and Alkureishi expertly shows how different ownership groups affected MG cars, good or bad. Along the way, the company competed on racetracks around the world, and Alkureishi describes the most successful of these exploits in complementary sidebars.

The Complete Book of Classic MG Cars is the essential guide to this important chapter in the history of motoring.

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