Chosen and reviewed by Molly Malsom
THE GLOBEMAKERS Peter Bellerby
Most of us have someone in our lives for whom it is difficult to buy gifts – perhaps it’s a friend who already has everything, or a child with ever-changing tastes. For Peter Bellerby, it was his father who proved tricky to treat on special occasions, and a quest to find the perfect birthday present led him down the path of globemaking. As a former naval architect, Peter felt a globe would be something his father might really engage with. In his new book, he relays the journey that took him from renovating houses and travelling the world to convincing his friends to help him create bespoke globes that capture a timeless aesthetic but are still accurate (and useable) today. Each chapter covers a different part of the process, accompanied by charming illustrations and photographs, as Peter shares the discoveries, joys, trials and tribulations of crafting globes that balance beauty with practicality.
£25, Bloomsbury Publishing
JANE AUSTEN’S WARDROBE Hilary Davidson
The life of Jane Austen has been extensively researched, from the beautiful properties she once called home to her famous literary works. But in this book, dress historian Hilary Davidson takes a deep-dive into Austen’s wardrobe to explore her relationship with fashion, noting ‘she may not have been a fashion leader, but she maintained a respectable, informed balance between old and new clothes, and seems never to have actually fallen out of style’. Taking a mostly chronological approach, each page hopes to share with readers ‘how Austen’s wardrobe grew, developed and changed over time, and in response to significant personal and historical events’. From her gowns to her jewellery and accessories, every item discovered is brought to life throu
