For the avid reader, art buff and real Edward Brooke-Hitching fan,
a like-new, signed and dated 1st UK edition / 1st printing hardcover copy of
Edward Brooke-Hitching
Love. A Curious History in 50 Objects
Simon & Schuster, London / UK, 2023
"From the author of the critically acclaimed The Phantom Atlas and The Madman’s Library (Sunday Times
Literature Book of the Year) comes a magnificent new illustrated work.
From prehistoric carvings and ancient Egyptian statues, to medieval
spell books and Victorian code-writing, this unique collection gathers a
wealth of curious objects and surprising stories to trace the story of
love through the ages.
Discover the royal marriage that
crossed the boundary of death in 14th-century Portugal, the judicial
duels between husbands and wives in Early Modern Europe, the love spells
found in medieval manuscripts, and the romantic codes hidden in some of
art’s greatest masterpieces. Meet the feared ancient Greek army
regiment comprised entirely of male couples; the French pirate queen
avenging her murdered husband; the first woman to sail around the world;
and the quack sexologist who conned 18th-century London with his
musical mechanical bed. Here are ancient gods, mythical monsters, the
Elizabethan portraits of smiling men on fire and the erotic paintings
hidden beneath the ash of Pompeii, as well as Nigerian wedding chains,
Welsh love spoons, cryptic postcards and the centuries-old cartographic
tradition of mapping the heart.
A curiosity cabinet of romantic treasure, Love: A Curious History in 50 Objects
draws on a wide range of sources to form a collection perfect for fans
of beautiful illustrated works and curious history, while also forming
the ideal romantic gift." (simonandschuster.co.uk)
"Edward Brooke-Hitching is the author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling books The Phantom Atlas (2016), The Golden Atlas (2018), The Sky Atlas (2019), The Madman's Library (2020) and The Devil's Atlas (2021), all of which have been translated into numerous languages; he is also the author of Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports (2015). He is a writer for the BBC series QI. A fellow
of the Royal Geographical Society and an incurable cartophile, he lives
surrounded by dusty heaps of old maps and books in Berkshire." (simonandschuster.co.uk)