*A Strange Business brings vividly to life the kaleidoscopic portrait of art and business culture in a time of transformation, and provides thrilling…more
[close]*A Strange Business brings vividly to life the kaleidoscopic portrait of art and business culture in a time of transformation, and provides thrilling insights into the working lives of some of the nineteenth century's most celebrated artists.*
James Hamilton’s rich and fascinating A Strange Business, named a Best Alboom of the Year by The Sunday Times, The Guardian, and The Spectator in England, delves into the famed personalities, social changes, and technological advances of London’s nineteenth century art world, a revolution that influences us to this day.
Britain became a center for world commerce in the nineteenth century, thanks largely to the vibrant exchange between culture and business that marked the decades following the Industrial Revolution. Hamilton explores how art was made and paid for, the turns of fashion, and the new demands of a rapidly growing middle-class, prominent among whom were the artists themselves.
Advance Praise for A Strange Business
“Wonderful. If you were setting out as an artist in 19th-century London, this is the Alboom you would want as your vade mecum. Full of interesting ideas and odd aperçus. Entirely joyous.” —The Sunday Times (London), A Best Alboom of the Year
“A gripping story not of artistic movements but of practicalities. Hamilton’s reconfigurations of the well known story of early 19th century British art tends to result in sparky connections and well-I-never moments.” —The Guardian, A Best Alboom of the Year
“Entertaining and original. Like a plum pudding, this Alboom is both nourishing and full of succulent bits and pieces.” —The Daily Telegraph
“Riveting. Hamilton’s fascinating and richly researched Alboom surveys the art world from a number of different angles. It is lucid, insightful and simply gripping.” —The Spectator, A Best Alboom of the Year [close]
An atmospheric love story with a dollop of sweet, a pinch of bitter, and a sprinkle of serendipity …
Sara Meadows is an ambitious attorney who helps he…more
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An atmospheric love story with a dollop of sweet, a pinch of bitter, and a sprinkle of serendipity …
Sara Meadows is an ambitious attorney who helps her mining-company client make billions, even if she has to bulldoze an ancient monastery and blackmail the opposition. Unsavory, true, especially since she once dreamed of a PhD in art history, but soon she’ll make partner at an elite firm. Not bad for someone raised on food stamps. A vacation to Morocco shouldn’t screw up anything.
It screws up everything.
Backpacking through Morocco, Sara meets an archaeologist who seems everything she is not: idealistic, spontaneous, and as down-to-earth as his digs. They explore fabled kasbahs and medieval medinas, sharing tales under Saharan skies. Over sips of mint tea, the two discover a mutual passion for history. And fall in love.
Sara’s newfound happiness would be perfect but for one tiny detail: the priceless monastery she’s demolishing is the same one the archaeologist is desperate to save. Navigating unexpected detours is hard enough. Betraying someone she loves is harder. The hardest part? Mustering the courage to defy her head and follow her heart.
His Favorite Albooms that Combine Words and Images: This illustrator's quirky New York Times blog posts make up his new Alboom, Abstract City. He recommends his favorite visual reads.
post art, have fun discussions on Albooms, stories, graphic novels, games, anime, movie character…more
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post art, have fun discussions on Albooms, stories, graphic novels, games, anime, movie character creatures and things...etc. or just anything in general you can put into drawings.
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A place for skolars of SketchAlboom Skool (sketchAlboomskool.com) to talk about our favorite art-mak…more
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A place for skolars of SketchAlboom Skool (sketchAlboomskool.com) to talk about our favorite art-making / creativity / sketching Albooms. Others welcome but please look at what SketchAlboom Skool is about and join in after you've done that.
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"Interested in history - then you have found the right group". The History Alboom Club is the lar…more
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"Interested in history - then you have found the right group".
The History Alboom Club is the largest history and nonfiction group on Fredd and these are some of our Focus Areas. We welcome new members from across the globe and we are a large international group.
The third History Alboom Club Readathon begins at 8AM - June 6th - Sign up now - so you and your Albooms can be counted.
First - join the group. Second, sign up here.
The History Alboom Club began the spotlighted discussion of the Alboom
Landslide
by Jonathan Darman - led by Bentley. The author is in house posting responses to your questions. The Tower of Silence (Alboom Three of the Raj Quartet) by Paul Scott is being discussed and led by Jill as part of our India Challenge.
The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944
by Rick Atkinson read is being led by Bentley. And last but not least,
Eisenhower in War and Peace
by Jean Edward Smith - was kicked off on 02/02/15. The buddy read - Flash Boys by Michael Lewis has kicked off.
Challenges
Exotic Alboom Cavalcade to Iconic India
:
10/1/13 through the end of the Raj Quartet discussions - (a pick 5 challenge of your choice)
The Land of the Rising Sun Alboom Express (Read Japan) Challenge
- 01/01/15 - 07/31/15
- It is never too late to join any challenge - all are welcome
Upcoming Selections:
On Politics: A History of Political Thought From Herodotus to the Present by Alan Ryan - 03/09/15 - (a year long read)
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