(Hardback)

A full account of Renaissance artist Raphael's prodigious yet short-lived career.

(Paperback)

An illuminating reappraisal of Belgian surrealist artist Ren Magritte.

(Hardback)

Drawing on archaeological evidence and a wealth of oral and written history, this book reveals the journey Vietnamese food has traversed through history to become a much-loved cuisine today.

(Paperback)

A new account of the short yet extraordinary life of Rosa Luxemburg.

(Hardback)

An exploration of transgression and shame in British folklore and customs.

(Hardback)

Richard Foss chronicles the evolution of rum from a raw spirit concocted for slaves five hundred years ago, to a beverage savoured by connoisseurs. Rum: A Global History features recipes for sweet and savoury rum dishes, obscure but delicious rum drinks, and many unusual illustrations of rum memorabilia.

(Hardback)

The dramatic history of the world's most expensive spice.

(Hardback)

Sandwich: A Global History is the first book-length history of a seemingly humble food. Bee Wilson unravels the mystery of how the Fourth Earl of Sandwich could have 'invented' this most elementary way of eating, as well as describing sandwiches around the world, from the decadent meatball hoagie to the dainty cucumber sandwich.

(Hardback)

A beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of humankinds fascination with the ringed planet Saturn.

(Hardback)

Sausage: A Global History serves up a tasty, informative,and witty account of bangers and bratwurst from all different cultures andperiods, easing our fears about these 'mystery meats', and introducing thereader to a host of unusual treats from around the world.

(Paperback)

Seal by Victoria Dickenson explores the natural and cultural history of an animal that has piqued and delighted human interest since ancient times, from their role in Roman spectacles to their frequent inhabitation of animal rescue centers today.

(Hardback)

This is a culinary history of seaweed, combining lore and legend with a selection of recipes, covering traditional cuisine and new discoveries such as seaweeds that are twice as nutritious as kale and taste just like bacon.

(Paperback)

A concise yet comprehensive survey of one of classical musics most popular composers.

(Paperback, 2nd edition)

Changes in Japanese law in the 1990s enabled erotic images to be published without fear of prosecution, and many shunga picture-books have since appeared. This book offers an assessment of the genre of Japanese paintings and prints known as shunga. It seeks to re-establish shunga in a proper historical frame of culture and creativity.

(Paperback)

The shark's basic design was perfected by Mother Nature 100 million years ago. This book explores the natural and cultural history of a creature that has a prominent place in mythology, the imagination, and even religion. It also analyses the ways that the shark has been sensationalised in literature and film.

(Paperback)

A unique exploration of the biology and history of sheep, as well as their place in literature and the other creative arts.

(Paperback)

'Snake' explores the enormous influence of the snake on the human imagination, as pets and sources of food and medicine, and as inspiration for a huge array of cultural symbols, from the cosmos to the Bible, and from the Chinese zodiac to voodoo magic.

(Paperback)

Award-winning writer Kim Todd explores the complex history, biology and literary tradition of the cheeky and ubiquitous sparrow, including coverage of the nineteenth-century 'Sparrow War' in the United States over the sparrow's introduction which led to decades of discussion about invasive species.

(Paperback)

A wide-ranging, thorough account of the spider, a creature with a rich symbolic presence in the human imagination, this book analyses the spider in art, literature, horror stories, science fiction and film and also looks at arachnophobia, and the psychological association of the spider with dominant women or mothers.

(Paperback)

Sting: From Northern Skies to Fields of Gold is the first book to examine the relationship between Sting's working-class background in Newcastle, his subsequent life and the creativity and inspiration behind his music.

(Hardback)

A fresh and exciting reappraisal of folklore outlaw Robin Hood.

(Paperback)

The swallow is both a neighbour and a traveller, known for nesting underthe eaves of houses, migrating long distances when winter comes, andreturning to towns and villages as the harbingers of spring. SwallowbyAngela Turner explores these familiar and beloved birds with expert informationand analysis.

(Hardback)

An engaging exploration of why menus matter and the stories they tell.

(Hardback)

Tea: A Global History is a well-illustrated, concise exploration of the rich and fascinating history of tea. Helen Saberi describes the many varieties of tea consumed around the world, from Indian chai to Burmese pickled lephet tea, and from brick tea to Taiwanese 'bubble tea' and looks at the economic and social uses of tea.