A former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York chooses the 111 works of art--culled from the entire history of Western civilization--that have influenced him most, reproduced in full-color and complemented by his interpretations. Tour.

*NATIONAL BESTSELLER* “A lively adventure of the mind...The tone of the prose...is one of unqualified enthusiasm: energy, vigor, intellectual curiosity, and what might be called an ecstasy of imaginative journalism.” —The New York Times Book Review At the age of forty-eight, writer and film critic David Denby returned to Columbia University and re-enrolled in two core courses in Western civilization to confront the literary and philosophical masterpieces -- the "great books" -- that are now at the heart of the culture wars. In Great Books, he leads us on a glorious tour, a rediscovery and celebration of such authors as Homer and Boccaccio, Locke and Nietzsche. Conrad and Woolf. The resulting personal odyssey is an engaging blend of self-discovery, cultural commentary, reporting, criticism, and autobiography -- an inspiration for anyone in love with the written word.

National Bestseller and Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Oscar Feldman, the renowned figurative painter, has passed away. As his obituary notes, Oscar is survived by his wife, Abigail, their son, Ethan, and his sister, the well-known abstract painter Maxine Feldman. What the obituary does not note, however, is that Oscar is also survived by his longtime mistress, Teddy St. Cloud, and their daughters. As two biographers interview the women in an attempt to set the record straight, the open secret of his affair reaches a boiling point and a devastating skeleton threatens to come to light. From the acclaimed author of The Epicure's Lament, a scintillating novel of secrets, love, and legacy in the New York art world. "Mischievous...funny, astute...As unexpectedly generous as it is entertaining.... Christensen is a witty observer of the art universe." —The New York Times

The hundred books discussed here have radically altered the course of civilisation , whether they have embodied religions practised by millions, achieved the pinnacle of artistic expression, pointed the way to scientific discovery of enormous consequence, redirected beliefs about the nature of man, or forever altered the global political landscape. For each there is a historical overview, an analysis of the work's effect on our lives today and a lively discussion of the reasons for inclusion.

MAKE A SOUND INVESTMENT IN CLASSICAL MUSIC Who are the ten most important classical composers? Who in the world was Palestrina? Why did Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" cause a riot? Which five of each important composer's works should you buy? What is a concerto and how does it differ from a sonata? Maybe you don't know the answers to these questions; author Phil Goulding certainly didn't. When Goulding first tried to learn about classical music, he found himself buried in an avalanche of technical terms and complicated jargon--so he decided to write the book he couldn't find. The result is a complete classical music education in one volume. Comprehensive, discriminating, and delightfully irreverent, Classical Music provides such essential information as: * Rankings of the top 50 composers (Bach is #1. Borodin is #50) * A detailed and anecdotal look at each composer's life and work * The five primary works of each composer and specific recommended CDs for each. * Further great works of each composer--if you really like him * Concise explanations of musical terminology, forms, and periods * A guide to the parts and history of the symphony orchestra "This book uses every conceivable gimmick to immerse readers in the richness of classical music: lists, rankings, sidebars devoted to lively anecdotes, and catchy leads." --The Washington Post "One terrific music appreciation book...The information is surprisingly detailed but concisely presented. Goulding's writing style is breezy yet mature....[He] has raised music appreciation from a racket to a service." --The Arizona Daily Star

The Great Artists introduces readers to 100 of the world's most important artists, from the 13th century to the present, concentrating on their lives, works, ideas, influences, artistic development, contributions, creative output and where they fit in history. Concise and readable, The Great Artists is an interesting, informative and authoritative history of 700 years of fine art for the general reader. Writing with verve and passion, Susie Hodge presents, in chronological order, elegant and often affectionate biographical profiles of 100 of the greatest artists in the history of art. The biographies not only describe the life, development and creations of each artist, but also set these visual composers and their compositions within a broader historical and cultural context. Furthermore, shortlists of 'must-see' masterpieces for each artist give the reader all the information they need to appreciate and understand great art. From the great artists of the high renaissance art to the Dutch maters, and from the rococo and neoclassical movements of the 18th century to romanticism, modernism and contemporary art, the lives of the great artists are as varied and multifaceted as the works of creative genius they produced. A selection of featured artists includes: Mantegna, El Greco, Pissarro, Turner, Seurat, Bellini, Caravaggio, Leighton, Constable, Mucha, Botticelli, Rubens, Manet, Ingres, Klimt, Bosch, Gentileschi, Degas, Géricault, Munch, da Vinci, Poussin, Whistler, Corot, Kandinsky, Grünewald, Velazquez, Homer, Hiroshige, Matisse, Dürer, Rembrandt, Cézanne, Delacroix, Mondrian, Michelangelo, Steenwyck, Monet, Millet, Malevich, Raphael, de Hooch, Rodin, Courbet, Klee, Titian, Vermeer, Renoir, Bouguereau, Marc, Holbein, Canaletto, Gauguin, Rossetti, Picasso, Bronzino, Hogarth, van Gogh, Millais, Hopper.