A beautiful and informative gift book devoted to designs by William Morris that incorporate flowers—a central motif in his oeuvre and one that played a part in the majority of his designs. The leading figure of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris (1834–1896) is one of the best-known and most popular of all British designers. A passionate advocate of craftsmanship over mass production, he designed a huge variety of objects, but it is his spectacular carpet, fabric, and wallpaper patterns that have continued to capture the popular imagination and influence interior designers and the decorative arts. Around six hundred such designs are attributed to Morris, most of which are based on nature, including trees, plants, and flowers. This beautifully designed, accessibly priced gift book offers a wealth of designs by Morris where flowers are the principal motif. The text traces the origins of Morris’s flower-based designs: his own gardens at the Red House in Kent; sixteenth- and seventeenth-century herbals; illuminated medieval manuscripts; late medieval and Renaissance tapestries; and the range of decorated objects, particularly from the Islamic world, that Morris studied at the South Kensington Museum, now the Victoria and Albert Museum. Authored by Rowan Bain, senior curator at the William Morris Gallery, and lavishly illustrated with over one hundred color illustrations, William Morris’s Flowers will both inform and delight.

Quilt artist, Rosemary Makhan returns with more exquisite appliqué creations in five elegant new projects. Lush blossoms, twining vines and bluebirds come to life in colors inspired by authentic antique quilts. Choose from large medallion quilts and wall quilts that offer options for beginning and advanced appliquérs.

A beautifully illustrated survey of the premiere Arts and Crafts artist.

Published to accompany an exhibition of the same name held at the National Portrait Gallery, London, October 16, 2014-January 11, 2015.

Widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement when published 50 years ago, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring had a profound impact on our society. As an iconic work, the book has often been shielded from critical inquiry, but this landmark anniversary provides an excellent opportunity to reassess its legacy and influence. In Silent Spring at 50: The False Crises of Rachel Carson, a team of national experts explores the book’s historical context, the science it was built on, and the policy consequences of its core ideas. Their findings: much of what Carson presented as fact was slanted, and today we know much of it is simply wrong.

Each chapter with a brief narrative introduction preceding the poem. Most chapters are accompanied by a hand-colored steel engraving.