Over the past twenty-five years, Christian Liaigre has built his reputation on the refined quality of his furniture and interiors. With a keen sensibility for space and light, design inspiration drawn from local cultures and traditions, an affinity for artisanal work, and meticulous attention given to the sourcing of materials, the designer combines the art of understatement with great elegance. According to Liaigre, interior architecture and design should not be a reflection of fashion and trends, but should instead embody timelessness, tranquil beauty, and subtle luxury. For Liaigre, comfort resides in delicacy and rareness. Featuring private and public spaces from Nantucket to Malibu, from Athens to Korea, and from the Caribbean to London, this book takes the reader inside his rarefied world to reveal his signature style. Highlights of his freshest creations encompass the full range of his talents in furniture and interior design. This handsome large-format volume is a visual feast of exquisitely reproduced images, offering inspiration for professional architects and interior designers, as well as home chic aficionados.

Famous not only for his passion for antiquities but also for his much-lauded and internationally famous interior design work, Jacques Garcia purchased the imposing Chateau du Champ de Bataille twenty years ago in a state of virtual ruin and lovingly restored it to its former splendor. The chateau is now a treasure house of seventeenth and eighteenth century architecture, furniture, and garden design, to which Garcia brought his considerable expertise gained from numerous restoration projects including rooms at Versailles and the Louvre. Every detail from the library with its collection of priceless books, to the grand dining room with its rare collection of Sevres porcelain, to the hall of taxidermy has been carefully studied and interpreted through the prism of Jacques Garcias extraordinary eye and inimitable style. This superbly illustrated volume, documents the meticulous research and epic restoration undertaken by Jacques Garcia. Informed by history and imbued with the exquisite beauty of the chateau and its priceless collection of paintings, sculptures, porcelain, silver, and furniture, Garcias masterpiece will be a revelation to specialists on French art and a delight and inspiration to anyone interested in interior decoration and restoration.

From Sloane Square to Notting Hill and from Spitalfields to Piccadilly, discover the most original and exceptional homes that London has to offer. Barbara and Rene Stoeltie take readers on a diverse and personalized journey through London in this selection of the most elegant, quirky, bold, and original residences of the capital city. Take a tour through the homes of the interior design elite, from Christopher Gibbs's classic English home on Cheyne Walk to David Gill's cavernous renovated glove factory in Vauxhall; from Gabrielle Cross's extensive collection of inherited art to Sera Hersham-Loftus's ultra-feminine Victorian house in St. John's Wood; and from Anthony Redmile's antique-filled abode to Duggie Fields's post-modernist art collection housed in Earls Court. Readers can integrate ideas into their own home, as the Stoelties, true connoisseurs of the world of interior decoration, dissect the style of each home in concise and enlightening texts accompanied by exquisite photography. This volume presents an exclusive array of London homes that perfectly reflects the diversity and eclecticism of the city's inhabitants and will also provide a source of inspiration for contemporary interiors.

18 histoires qui mettent en scène des animaux et des enfants dans des histoires pleines d'humour pour sourire ou rire aux éclats avec les petits. Le Monstre de la jungle Hip hip hip, sorcière! Petit Âne veut être un loup Pas bêtes, les poulettes! Pira, le rat pirate Sauve qui peut! Loup ne sait pas compter Le Petit carnet d'Archibald Gare à Edgar! Le Monstre que personne n'a vu Ma maîtresse est une ogresse! Vite vite au loup! Hubert et les haricots verts Je ne suis pas un lapin! La Maison toute de travers Petite sorcière a peur de tout Chic le Père Noël! Le Plus féroce des Loups!

Decouvrez Les merveilleuses histoires du Pere Castor.

Devant le palais du roi de Perse, le Conseil et la vieille Reine sont gagnés par l'inquiétude: qu'est-il advenu de Xerxès et de son armée, partis soumettre la Grèce en franchissant audacieusement l'Hellespont? Mais voici un messager, qui s'en vient annoncer l'issue des combats... Avec Les Perses, Eschyle compose une tragédie unique et paradoxale: en prise sur l'histoire immédiate, presque sans action, elle se déploie en un somptueux tissu de récits et de plaintes, et la joie du vainqueur y balance subtilement la compassion pour le vaincu.

«Pour les hommes du 231e régiment d'infanterie, les différences d'âge et de condition sociale n'importent plus. Tous sont venus s'enterrer dans les tranchées boueuses de Crouy, sous la pluie et le feu de la mitraille allemande. Leur seule certitude face aux armées ennemies: «I'faut t'nir». Barbusse fut l'un des leurs. Tiré de ses carnets de guerre, ce roman, prix Goncourt 1916, révéla à ceux de l'arrière le quotidien des poilus: leur courage, leur camaraderie, leur argot, mais aussi la saleté, l'attente et l'ennui. Cette guerre, l'état-major, le gouvernement et la presse patriotique la censurent. Il faudra un roman comme Le feu pour en dire toute la barbarie mécanique, mais aussi l'espoir: celui de s'en sortir vivant.»

Au début de l'été 1833, à peine âgé de seize ans, Vladimir rencontre l'amour pour la première fois dans la maison de campagne où il passe ses vacances. Mais la belle jeune fille qui l'a ébloui, plus âgée que lui, forte et indépendante, va bientôt le réduire au désespoir... En racontant la passion malheureuse du novice Vladimir pour la séduisante Zinaïda, Tourguéniev compose un émouvant récit d'apprentissage mêlé de souvenirs autobiographiques.

This homage to Paris by the great Magnum photographers reveals a multifaceted portrait of the city's effervescent character in 350 photographs. By documenting the everyday workings of the city, Magnum's photographers capture the essence of Parisian life. Their photographs show the city as it lives and breathes — from fashion shows to underground jazz clubs, from the bustling metro to outdoor cafes, and from the Art Deco Fouquet's hotel to the working-class Goutte d'Or neighborhood. Even celebrities appear as ordinary citizens encountered in their own milieu — from former President Francois Mitterrand to novelist Marguerite Duras, singer Edith Piaf to actress Catherine Deneuve, fashion designer Christian Dior to artist Giacometti. The city's rich history and traditions are inherent in images depicting the bravery of an unknown female resistance fighter, the exuberant joy upon the Liberation of Paris, the eroticism of burlesque dancers, or the excitement of the final lap of the Tour de France. Crusty baguettes, buttery escargot, glasses of wine, and abundant butcher cases attest to the gastronomic pleasures of the city, and all of the monuments — the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame — appear like cast members at curtain call. This book celebrates the myriad aspects of Paris in a volume as captivating for the lifelong Parisian as it is for the armchair traveler.

A dozen aristocratic French families invite readers to experience their elegant lifestyle, from the royal stag hunting tradition of Louis XI and Louis XIII at the Chateau de Champchevrier to Hubert de Givenchys elegant Parisian townhouse imbued with grandeur and comfort in the style of Napolean III. The featured houses, illustrated with specially commissioned photography, represent key periods of French decoration. The exquisite Renaissance architecture of Chateau dAnet and its sumptuous interiors with great fireplaces, silk upholstered sofas, and soft lighting exude the notorious ardor between Henri II and Diane de Poitiers. The hidden sanctuary of a Parisian manor reveals a dignified library and a harmonious blend of antique and contemporary fabrics and sculptures. A grand salon with Versailles parquet is illuminated by a Louis XVI crystal and amethyst chandelier. Meticulously planned gardens beckon contemplation and dining tables replete with crystal and silver are a visual feast. From the architecture, garden designs, furniture, textiles, and art collections, these exclusive private homes are a rich source of interior design inspiration.

The diverse oeuvre of Gustave Dore — illustrations, paintings, sculpture — combines with biography and critical essays and attests to the artist's enduring impact on contemporary culture. Proclaimed the most illustrious of illustrators, Gustave Dore is best known for his engravings, which appeared in editions of the Bible, Dante's Inferno, Poe's The Raven, The Adventures of Don Quixote, and even in Hollywood, from King Kong to Seven. Yet the extent of his genius remains largely unknown. Here, along with his renowned illustrations, his paintings and sculptures are also examined, bringing to light the rich diversity of his talent. Using watercolor, vivid oil paint, or sculpture, he demonstrated mastery in a vast scope of media, and in treatments ranging from monumental historical tableaux to landscapes to modest compositions. His work transcended techniques and eras, covering an inexhaustible range of subjects from Europe to the United States to Russia and revealing his insatiable curiosity. This comprehensive monograph accompanies an exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris from February 18-May 11 and at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa from June 12-September 14, 2014.

This striking monograph celebrates the beauty of Paris, Brassai's muse throughout his career. Hungarian-born photographer Brassai dedicated more than fifty years of his artistic creation to capturing his adoptive city in all its facets. From winsome children playing in the public gardens to an amorous couple on an amusement park attraction, from opera and ballet stars to prostitutes and vagrants, and from cobblestone alleyways to ephemeral graffiti, his photographs embody the very essence of Paris. In an interview shortly before his death in 1984, he explained how Paris had served as an infinite source of inspiration and had reigned as the unifying theme that characterized each phrase of his artistic work.

«Un retraité décroche son fusil lorsqu'il entend un intrus. Un rebelle surveille une plage, prêt à tirer «sur tout ce qui bouge». Un dandy impose à son majordome ses dangereux caprices. Un jeune de banlieue assiste sans broncher à un acte de torture. Deux adolescentes se lancent dans une «ronde» aussi violente que tragique... Les personnages de ces récits infligent ou subissent la cruauté ordinaire. Cruauté d'individus tyranniques ou inconscients. Cruauté d'une société inégalitaire qui engendre la violence. Cruauté du destin, qui transforme des personnes ordinaires en victimes et en bourreaux. En explorant la tragédie quotidienne du fait divers, les cinq auteurs de ces nouvelles interrogent la banalité du mal.»

The legendary photographer's quintessential portraits of Paris — including several previously unpublished works — in an affordable new paperback. Robert Doisneau's ability to infuse images of daily life with poetic nuance has given enduring popular appeal to his work. In this new volume, he leads us on an entrancing tour into Parisian gardens, along the Seine, and through crowds of Parisians. Workers, beggars, lovers, jugglers, children, dancers — Doisneau's lens captures all, in myriad lights and moods. Sometimes humorous, often ironic, and unfailingly tender, his oeuvre is iconic and reflects the Paris of our dreams. Composed, structured images are featured alongside impromptu snapshots of Parisian life, demonstrating the range of Doisneau's talent as both artist and photojournalist.

The notion of Parisian charm is ubiquitous, and the magic of the city's interior design is the gold standard. The quintessential Parisian home typically characterized as a top floor apartment in a Haussmannian building is inimitably chic with the most tasteful of details. And yet Guillaume de Laubier takes us behind closed doors inside the homes of the most respected designers and artists in the city, to discover the rich diversity of Parisian style. These interiors are rife with inspiration: from the radically kitsch design philosophy of Pierre & Gilles, to the powder-hued romanticism chez Vanessa Bruno, from the retro haven of Jean-Bernard Hebey's design temple, to Pierre Yovanovitch's contemporary chic apartment, and from Jacques Garcia's subtly reworked Empire interior, to Jacques Granges harmonious blend of period pieces in Colette's former apartment overlooking the Palais-Royal gardens. This book draws back the curtain on the world of Parisian interiors, and Guillaume de Laubier's photographs capture sleek Scandinavian lines, traditionalist opulence, modernist curves, and exotic accents, documenting each unique interior aesthetic with flair.

Georges de La Tour ranks with Vermeer and the Le Nain brothers among those seventeenth-century painters whose unmistakable talent is matched only by the aura of mystery that surrounds the artists themselves. Jacques Thuillier's groundbreaking monograph, first published in 1993, places La Tour's oeuvre in the specific context of the Lorraine region where he lived and worked, but also repositions La Tour alongside the greatest European masters. Available for the first time in paperback, this beautifully designed volume, complete with an illustrated catalogue raisonné and translations of key documentary sources, remains the essential reference work on this important and fascinating artist.

«A comprehensive history of high fashion in Paris from Madame Gres and Balenciaga to Yves Saint Laurent and Yohji Yamamoto, spanning all aspects from clothing and accessories to perfume. Ever since Charles Frederick Worth dressed the Empress Eugenie in the 1860s, launching a «golden century» for dressmaking, Parisian haute couture has been a source of endless admiration and fascination. Its emphasis on exquisite design and meticulous craftsmanship propelled it to the forefront of the fashion industry. The position and practices of haute couture may have evolved over time, but the work of many contemporary couturiers reveals a strong sense of continuity, from the creations of Jeanne Lanvin and Christian Dior, through to their modern counterparts in Jean-Paul Gaultier or Viktor & Rolf. This chronological study traces the history of the esteemed couture houses of Paris, examining the role of the designer and the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the finished creations, the place of haute couture in Parisian culture, and its influence in the wider fashion industry. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between haute couture and the client, as well as the dualities in modern haute couture — its sense of exclusivity and quasi-mythical aura countered by an ever-increasing reach into popular consciousness and attainability. This volume is richly illustrated with images of the most superb pieces created by exceptional designers. Various incarnations of Chanel's timeless quilted handbag, Fath's charmingly patterned silk scarves, and Poiret's elegant perfume bottles demonstrate that haute couture encompasses far more than just clothing.»

46 lettres sont adressées à un jeune homme. C'est le témoignage d'une femme amoureuse qui confesse ses sentiments. Touchée par la jalousie, elle tentera même le suicide. Confrontée à l'image obsédante de son amant disparaissant dans la calèche d'une autre beauté au sortir de l'opéra, notre héroïne tente de comprendre et de calmer les milles émotions qui l'assaillent. Au cours d'une nuit d'insomnie et d'une journée perdue à guetter un signe de celui qui -semble-t-il vient de la trahir, elle ne trouve d'autre consolation que de lui écrire. Quarante-quatre lettres pour dire vingt-quatre heures de fièvres, de doutes et de désespoir. Cet unique roman de Constance de Salm bouleversera tous les admirateurs de Stefan Zweig, de Marcelle Sauvageot, ou des Lettres d'amour de la portugaise, interprétées par la même Eveline Legrand chez Autrement dit. Poétesse et dramaturge, elle défendit ardemment la cause féminine et tint un brillant salon littéraire, ou se côtoyèrent Alexandre Dumas fils, Stendhal et tant d'autres grands talents.

L'action se déroule au XVIE siècle à la cour du roi de france Henri II. Le triangle amoureux inclut le prince de Clèves, sa jeune femme et de son amant, le duc de Nemours.