The Bibliophile: what Philip Hooper is reading this month
1/4Against Nature by Joris-Karl Huysmans
Some books do not need illustrations to fire the imagination. In this 1884 novel, we are taken on a journey of fin-de-siècle excess, with descriptions of rooms, colours and scents that leave you giddy. Who would not want to have a jewel-encrusted tortoise crawling over their Ziegler carpet to heighten its colour?
Against Nature by Joris-Karl Huysmans (Penguin Classics, 2003)
2/4Jacques Grange: Interiors by Pierre Passebon
Jacques Grange is one of my heroes. This first volume of his interiors charts his work with Yves Saint Laurent and others. The eclecticism of Jacques’ work and his ability to juxtapose old and new, modest and precious, is stunning. I love it all – chicer than chic.
Jacques Grange: Interiors by Pierre Passebon (Flammarion, 2009)
3/4Living by Design by John Stefanidis
John was my mentor and teacher in my formative years. I had the great privilege of staying at his Dorset home, Cock Crow Farm, on several occasions. Living By Design is a triumph, showing that, in order to create balance, you have to have total conviction in everything that you surround yourself with. Attention to detail is everything and the photographs show that every corner is considered.
Living by Design by John Stefanidis (Rizzoli, 1997)
4/4An Illustrated History of Interior Decoration by Mario Praz
The paintings and drawings in this book are an invaluable source of historic decoration for those working on period houses. The illustrations are often by amateur artists, so there is a requirement to look hard to understand the details. It is very important to gain a comprehensive knowledge of historic decoration.
An Illustrated History of Interior Decoration by Mario Praz (Thames & Hudson, 1964)
