Decorated with fine art, antique sculptures, and lavish furnishings, the dining room was governed by strict dining etiquette and social rituals. It was expected for guests to eat and drink to excess, so it is perhaps unsurprising that in the Georgian era we see the development of supposed miracle cures for obesity, alcoholism and related illnesses.

Drawing on previously unpublished contemporary accounts of feasts at Holkham Hall, Hardwick Hall and Blenheim Palace, among others, Amy Boyington brings the Georgian dining experience to life and charts how the dining room encapsulated the intricate cultural and political dynamics of the 18th century.

'Diverting and illuminating' Guardian

'Cruickshank’s enthusiasm for England’s vernacular architecture shines through every infectious sentence of this glorious book… A triumph.' – The Times

'A mine of information presented in an effortlessly accessible style. Unlike many books that merely convey stories attached to buildings, this is social and architectural history delivered with forensic insight' – Country Life

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This is the story of the superbly elegant early eighteenth-century Pallant House in Chichester. It’s the story of 19 Princelet Street in Spitafields, built for a Huguenot silk-weaver, ultimately a synagogue. It’s also the story of – among others – a row of two-up, two-downs in Toxteth, a block of flats in London’s East End, and what Ideal Home‘s magazine described in 1926 as Britain’s ‘first modern house’ – in Northampton.

Together these buildings reveal the ways in which English homes have developed and changed over the past few centuries. At the same time, as Dan Cruickshank shows, they have much to tell us about the lives of their first occupants: their aspirations, their struggles, their place within society and relationship with their local community. The English House brilliantly weaves these two strands together, blending architectural and social history to create a series of brilliantly observed portraits of fascinating buildings.

This is the story of the superbly elegant early eighteenth-century Pallant House in Chichester. It’s story of 19 Princelet Street in Spitafields, built for a Huguenot silk-weaver, ultimately a synagogue. It’s also the story of – among others – a row of two-up, two-downs in Toxteth, a block of flats in London’s East End, and what Ideal Home‘s magazine described in 1926 as Britain’s ‘first modern house’ – in Northampton.

Together these buildings reveal the ways in which English homes have developed and changed over the past few centuries. At the same time, as Dan Cruickshank shows, they have much to tell us about the lives of their first occupants: their aspirations, their struggles, their place within society and relationship with their local community. The English House brilliantly weaves these two strands together, blending architectural and social history to create a series of brilliantly observed portraits of fascinating buildings.

Praise for Dan Cruickshank

‘Genial, erudite and companionable . . . this heroic and heartfelt book caps a career devoted to [Spitalfields’] heritage.’ ? Spectator

‘With beguiling erudition, TV historian and local resident Cruickshank tells the story of Spitalfields from Roman times to today . . . This is people’s history at its tastiest.’ ? Sunday Express

‘A passionate, scholarly energy and involvement with every era of the district’s long history come off Spitalfields’ pages . . . Absorbing detail.’ ? Times Literary Supplement

‘Cruickshank writes perceptively and honestly . . . As well as being a fascinating account of a unique area of London, Spitalfields is a timely warning that helps us to appreciate what the city and country risk losing.’ ? Country Life

‘A delight to read . . . Teaches one how to use one’s eyes more intelligently.’ — Jean Seaton, Chair of Judges, PEN Hessell-Tiltman History Prize

Most houses are the product of multiple layers of norms and expectations built up over time, whether methods, materials, and technologies or social, cultural, economic, and political pressures. Yet at various moments houses have been built that break with the past and do something different-houses that stand outside of these expectations and instead are conceived to embody whole new theories or agendas. We call these “manifesto houses.”

For the first time, this compelling thread in the history of architecture is surveyed by Owen Hopkins. He brings together a collection of twenty-one such manifesto houses, exploring the visions for architecture conjured by Andrea Palladio, Eileen Gray, Frank Lloyd Wright, Harry Seidler, Lina Bo Bardi, Anupama Kundoo, and Sou Fujimoto, among others. The Manifesto House looks in detail at the ideas and ambitions embodied in each house, the contexts that shaped them, and their impact and influence on the future of architecture.

The story of Britain is revealed through its buildings, and yet the language of architecture is a mystery to all but a few. In this enlightening history, spanning castles and cathedrals to factories and railway stations, Jenkins translates the hidden narratives infused in the facades we walk past every day.

Britain’s history has been formed by its politics, religion and society and these influences can be seen in the architectural styles that have shaped its landscape. From pre-Roman and the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, Classical and Gothic styles surged and retreated from favour only to then be challenged by a new player: Modernism, a style that reflected the stunning technological advances of the second half of the twentieth century.

In this narrative history, Simon Jenkins – the bestselling champion of our national heritage – introduces us to the singular, eccentric and sometimes rather ordinary characters who shaped Britain. Jenkins teaches readers to see the world anew, demystifying the elitist language of architecture so that we can all appreciate the buildings around us.

The architecture of Britain is an art gallery all around us. From our streets to squares, through our cities, suburbs and villages, we are surrounded by magnificent buildings of eclectic styles. A Short History of British Architecture is the gripping and untold story of why Britain looks the way it does, from prehistoric Stonehenge to the lofty towers of today.

Bestselling historian Simon Jenkins traces the relentless battles over the European traditions of classicism and gothic. He guides us from the gothic cathedrals of Lincoln, Ely and Wells to the ‘prodigy’ houses of the Tudor renaissance, and visits the great estates of Georgian London, the docks of Liverpool, the mills of Yorkshire and the chapels of south Wales.

The arrival of modernism in the twentieth century politicised public taste, upheaved communities and sought to reconstruct entire cities. It produced Coventry Cathedral and Lloyd’s of London, but also the brutalist monoliths of Sheffield’s Park Hill, Glasgow’s Cumbernauld and London’s South Bank. Only in the 1970s did the public at last give voice to what became the conservation revolution – a movement in which Jenkins played a leading role, both as deputy chairman of English Heritage and chairman of the National Trust, and in the saving of iconic buildings such as St Pancras International and Covent Garden.

Jenkins shows that everyone is a consumer of architecture and makes the case for the importance of everyone learning to speak its language. A Short History of British Architecture is a celebration of our national treasures, a lament of our failures – and a call to arms.

Grand Designs has had a major impact on domestic architecture and design. As the programme celebrates its 25th anniversary, Grand Designs at 25 showcases Kevin McCloud’s selection of the most impressive and memorable self-build projects from the last 25 years.

From houses crafted from shipping containers to eco-builds and luxe constructions, these homes demonstrate the extraordinary power of design and of the imagination to create stunning living spaces.   In insightful commentary, accompanied by stunning images, Kevin highlights their key features and why the designs work. Along the way, he provides a fascinating view of how the design of our homes has changed to reflect contemporary lifestyles, and the important legacy of this award-winning programme.

‘Sturdy advice, delivered with humour and the occasional splinter’ Guardian

‘Gorgeous . . . contains fascinating insights about working with your hands, the nature of talent, and how to create a meaningful life’ A. J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Puzzler

‘Exquisite, purposeful, absorbing . . . a book with much to teach us all’ Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Homeland Elegies

‘People think I’m a genius because I remember my high school math’

When Mark Ellison left high school, no one thought he would go anywhere. A self-proclaimed ‘serial dropout’, Mark spent his young adult years taking work where he found it. Who would have thought that forty years later he would be regarded as a great carpenter, making a living out of building homes for the rich and famous?

Full of warmth, wisdom and irreverent humour, this is the story of what carpentry can teach us about the satisfaction and joy that comes from doing something well for a long time. From staircases that would be deadly if built as designed to algae-eating snails boiled to escargot in a penthouse pond, Mark exposes the messy wiring behind the pristine walls – and the mindset that any of us can develop to build our own impossible things. Written with refreshing candour, this is an essential book about building life on your own terms, and the possibilities that await when we forge our own path.

The intuitive design, sunlit spaces and tranquil vibe of Modernist houses still have an enduring appeal today. But can these homes be updated for contemporary living while maintaining the integrity of the original architecture?

The New Modernist House presents twenty-one mid-century homes respectfully restored and renewed for future generations to enjoy. Designs by some of the period’s heavyweights – including Anatol Kagan, Alistair Knox and Ernest Fooks – have been sensitively updated by today’s creative innovators.

Alongside the stories of passionate homeowners, architects and collaborators who have given these homes new life, there is a historical overview and a section on practical considerations to inform those drawn to a Modernist dream house. This colourful volume is both a useful resource for those embarking on their own renovation journey, and a sourcebook of inspiration to delight in moments of nostalgia.