ARTS & HUMANITIES 100 black-and-white images. The 8x10 neg- aves oF these photos were about t0 be scrapped for silver in 1979 when Stravitz ought and “rescued” them from a retired New Jersey photographer. The full-page plates, identified in the back of the book, are preceded by an intraduction by New York ‘Times architectural writer Christopher Gray (Changing New York. who briefly discuss- es the Building's history. A more thorough text would have given the volume further value. Sill, the book i packed with visu- al information about early 20th-century eonsiction and the details of the daily life happening around it. For all New York City libraries and large public libraries. — Carolyn Kuebler “Library Journal “Troy, Nancy J. Couture Cult A Study in Modern Art and Fashion. MIT. Now, 2002. cd0p. illus. index ISBN 0-262-20140-2. $39.95. ears Troy (cha, art history, Univ. of Southern California) here offers the first thorough ‘going examination of the relationship be- tween modem art and high fashion. The hook locates the origins of contemporary hhaute couture in early 19th-century France, ‘pening with the observation that what we ‘now recognize as the interational fashion industry evolved from work done by ati sans in Parisian tailor shops. She traces the careers of a few savvy figures from Paris, ‘who made the business decisions and ori ral designs that helped to catapult the sim- ple dressmaking rade into an artform. Par ticularly intriguing is the role couturiers played! as art patrons and the way in which they utilized their artistic commections to amass wealth and build their house's ca- chet, Troy also considers the notion and im- port of authenticity in a trade demanding multiple copies of “original” designs—an industrial-era irony similarly confronting modem aniss, With & wealth of period photographs, trade material, and serials, “Troy's book documents the strong ainities between art and fashion and provides keen insight into the ives and social practices of the French upper classes. Recommended for all art, cultural studies, an socal histo- ry collections —Savannath Schl, Smith- sonian Instinaion Lil, Washington, DC Winters, Laurie. Leonardo da Vinci and the Splendor of Poland: A History cf Collecting and Patronage. ‘Yale Univ. 2002. 3$2p. maps. illus. bib- liog. index. LC 2002006970. ISBN 0- 300.09740-9, $60. PN arts ‘The catalog of an exhibition organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum that will travel to Houston and San Francisco from Decem- ber 2002 to May 2003, this book surveys the history of art collecting in Poland since the Renaissance. Falted by Winters, the muse- ums European art curator, itineludes essays by Polish curators and art historians that out- line the collecting of Polish and non-Polish art, always in the context of Polish history and geography (and helped by excellent ‘maps). With the disappearance of Poland from the map of Europe in the late 18th cen- tury, art, language, religion, and cult cee the means of Keeping the nation ‘About half the works discussed are Polish (largely 19th- and 20ch-century) and will be unfamiliar t9 many readers: the remainder are European works collected by Polish no- bility oF royalty, also largely unfamiliar be- suse they are less published than materials ‘Westem collections (with a few excep- tions, such as da Vinei's Lady with an Er- ‘mine). This work is different enough in scope and content from a 1999 exhibition catalog, Land of the Winged Horsemen: Art in Poland, 1572-1764, to merit inclusion in public as well as academic collections — Jack Perry Brown, Art Inst. of Chicago Lib. ‘Zhang Hongxing. The Qianlong Emperor: Treasures from the Forbidden City. ‘National Museums of Scotland, dst. by ‘Ant Schsartz 2002, €220p. maps. i lus bibliog ISBN I-901663-77-9,5349. With an exhibition and this accompanying og. the National Museum of Scotland ‘celebrates the life ofthe renowned e ‘Qianlong, who reigned from 1736 10 1796 and was a great patron and practitioner of the arts. The images gathered here: mar- yelously illustrate life during his reign. They include paintings by Westem artists who found themselves in China at the time (mainly Giuseppe Castiglione) and show a fascinating interplay of Eastem and Western sensibilities, We also lam about the emper- o's own attempis a art andthe cultural sig- nificance ofthis work, Many other pieces il- lustrate key historical events in the emper- ors life, Zhang, the maseum’s curator of Chinese collections, procures essays from respected members in the field of Chinese studies to expand onthe life portrayed inthe artwork. Included are maps of the empire, lists of rulers and dynasties, andl a summary ‘of historical events. Well worth the price, this lovely book provides valuable glimpse into China in the 18th century and is more thorough than Masterworks ofthe Ming and Qing Painting from the Forbidden City (1988). Recomended for ibrares special- izing in at history or Asian studies and for larger public libraries —Nadine Dalton Speidel, Cuyahoga Cty. PL, Parma, OH Literature Giving Their Word: Conversations with Contemporary Poets. Univ. of Massaciisets. Nov. 2002 288p. ed, by Steven Ratner, ISBN | 55849-3873. $29.95, ur ‘This compilation of conversations serves 2s a source of biographical information about the writing lives of 13 leading contempo- rary poets while offering instruction and in- spiration to writes of all kinds. Each con- ‘versation captivatingly interweaves the life of the poet with the writing process and the creativity that his or her poetry represents. ‘Consider even the chapter tit ‘Stafford: Opening the Moment.” “Cs lyn Forche: The Poetry of Witness" and “Don- which not only reflect each poet’ body of work but also hint atthe super’ content of each of the interviews Ratiner (himself a ‘poet has compiled, Commenting on his in- terview process with Force, he notes: “The story seemed to just tumble forth, gaining ‘momentum like a river coming down from high ground.” This could also describe Ratine’s expert interview process and the publication of this book, which is an ab- solute pleasure to read, Highly recommend. ed forall ibraries—Sue Samson, Univ. of Montana Lik, Missoula Greeley, Andrew M. & Mary G. Durkin ‘The Book of Love: A Treasury Inspired by the Greatest of Virtues. Forge: To Dec. 2002. 544p permanent paper ISBN 0-312-87183-X. $25.95. ur “This compendium draws from a wide array of universal religious texts, including the Bible and the Koran, as well as notable works by. Mark Twain, William Shake speare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Kahlil Gibran, John Keats, ara a host of others 0 explore the essence of love. Scripture, folk- Jore, sayings, songs, children’s stories, las- sic tales, poetry, and more are gathered un- der 12 broad themes that address love in varied manifestations, eg. “Friends “Family Love.” “Generic Love.” and * Place To Belong.” The result sa sumptuous anthology of seminal reflections on atopic important to us all. Greeley is both a priest and the celebrated author of many novels Durkin has published numerous books on ‘women, marrage, andthe family. Intended fora popular readership, this treasury will find an audience in all public libraries, specially those serving patrons with a religious predilection. —Richand K. Burns, MSLS, Hatboro, Pa Hall, N. John, Max Beerbohm: A Kind of Life. Yale Univ. 2002. reads like familiar leter, i. twill be ree erenced often for its facts, observations, charm, inviting style, sense of fun and whimsy, and contagious affection for its subject, Max Beerhohm—essayist, critic, and caricaturist. Both fair-minded and light ly satirical, Hall English, Bronx Comm ty Coll, and Graduate Sch., CUNY) offers fan astute analysis of Beerbohm’s writings and drawings, as well as his dandyism, friendships, antagonisms, and chaste m: riage, Hall offers insightful use of Beer ss LIBRARY JOURNAL/NOVEMBER 1, 2002Copyright © 2002 EBSCO Publishing