Books From University Presses

If fashion is your narrative, you'll find "100 Dresses" a sartorial treasure trove. It's like traveling through time via the art of couture, each page turning back the clock with a rustle of taffeta, a whisper of silk. For the dreamers who picture themselves in the sweep of a gown, this book isn't just a history lesson—it's an invitation to the grand ball of fashion's past, accessible from your own cozy corner.

"Asia in the Making of Europe" is a must-read for history enthusiasts, scholars and anyone interested in the cultural exchange between Asia and Europe. The book provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the profound influence of Asian societies on Western culture during the sixteenth century. The author has meticulously sifted through virtually every European reference to Asia published in that century, providing a detailed survey of Asian life and society and its reflection in European literature and art. This monumental achievement provides a balanced perspective of world history while offering new insights into the complex dynamics of cultural exchange.

If you have an appreciation for fashion history and the classic elegance of Ivy League attire, "Ivy Style: Radical Conformist" is a must-read. It's not just a history lesson; it's a visual journey through the evolution of an iconic fashion trend that has withstood the test of time. Patricia Mears expertly guides you through the subtleties that made this style a radical form of expression within the conformist bounds of tradition. It might just inspire you to add a touch of class to your own wardrobe.

While the Beethoven string quartets are to chamber music what the plays of Shakespeare are to drama, even seasoned concertgoers will welcome guidance with these personal and sometimes enigmatic works.This collection offers Beethoven lovers both detailed notes on the listening experience of each quartet and a stimulating range of more general Who has the quartets' audience been? How were the quartets performed before the era of sound recordings? What is the relationship between "classical" and "romantic" in the quartets? How was their reception affected by social and economic history? What sorts of interpretive decisions are made by performers today?The Companion brings together a matchless group of Beethoven experts. Joseph Kerman is perhaps the world's most renowned Beethoven scholar. Robert Winter, an authority on sketches for the late quartets, has created interactive programs regarded as milestones in multimedia publishing. Maynard Solomon has written an acclaimed biography of Beethoven. Leon Botstein is the conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra as well as a distinguished social historian and college president. Robert Martin writes from his experience as cellist of the Sequoia Quartet. And the book is anchored by the program notes of Michael Steinberg, who has served as Artistic Advisor of the San Francisco Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra.

For the past century and a half, extensive looting and illicit trafficking of Southeast Asia's cultural heritage have scattered art objects from the region to museums and private collections around the world. Today, however, power relations are shifting, a new awareness is growing, and new questions are emerging about the representation and ownership of Southeast Asian cultural material located in the West. This book offers a timely consideration of object restitution and related issues across Southeast Asia, bringing together a range of viewpoints, including those of museum professionals and scholars in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as Europe, North America, and Australia. The contributors address legal, cultural, political and diplomatic issues involved in the restitution process, and they also look at the ways object restitution is integral to evolving narratives of national identity. Ultimately, the book’s editors conclude, restitution processes can transform narratives of loss into opportunities for gain, building knowledge and reconstructing relationships across national borders.

"The Cinema of Eisenstein" is an excellent read for film enthusiasts who want to delve into the history and theory of cinema. David Bordwell masterfully analyzes and brings to light Sergei Eisenstein's unique contributions to cinema, from his early silent film, "Strike", to his banned work, "Ivan the Terrible". With detailed attention to the artist's writings and theories, the book offers rich insights into Eisenstein's artistic influences, from Marxist Modernism to Socialist Realism to Symbolist poetics. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the history and art of cinema.