John Sandoe. The bookshop in London that looks like a magic box.

 

John Sandoe

John Sandoe (10 July 1930 – 29 December 2007) was a British bookseller, and the founder in 1957 of the bookshop John Sandoe Books in what had previously been a poodle parlour on Blacklands Terrace off King's Road, near Sloane Square.The Times called him "one of London's leading independent booksellers".

https://johnsandoe.com/about/

 

John Sandoe founded the shop in 1957: according to a customer who knew the shop in its infancy, it began with three planks laid on bricks on which were laid out “all the books one could ever hope to find in one place”. More books and more shelves followed, more floors and an expanding shop front too, but the original ethos remains the same.

 

Sandoe’s today is a general book shop with a bias towards the humanities – fiction, history, biography, poetry, art, architecture, decorative arts, music, theatre, cinema, photography, fashion, natural history, gardening, travel, cookery, science, reference, and an excellent children’s department.

We are on three floors of three adjoining – and small – eighteenth century shops, with gorgeous window boxes spilling down from the first floor. Books are crammed in everywhere, piled on tables and even on the stairs. No surface escapes its burden, except a few chairs and window seats. The somewhat old-fashioned and picturesque appearance is finely balanced with 21st century digital technology.

 

As well as regular local customers and visitors from abroad, we have a loyal clientele in the United Kingdom, Europe and around the world who receive our quarterly lists of recommended new titles. (See Browse Catalogues) We also have lively programme of events – talks by authors and book launches. (See Events) We have 5 full-time and 5 part-time staff to serve our customers. Orders may be placed by telephone or email, or via the website. We will try to find any book, even if out of print.

 

History

We are often asked what happened at 10-11 Blacklands Terrace before John Sandoe’s arrival. According to Dirk Bogarde, no 10 was ‘a seedy little tobacconist’ before the war. The shop was said by John to have been occupied during the war by ‘a man who sold antiquities to Popes and people in those big hats’ – although why Popes and people in huge, flaunting bonnets should have congregated in Blacklands Terrace in those days sadly remains a mystery. Downstairs was ‘a poodle parlour’, the charmingly named ‘Chloe of Chelsea’, and upstairs (our paperback room) was a secretarial agency. No 11 was a dress shop: our stock room still had the mirror on the wall until 2014. Soon after the war, Tom and Ros Chatto took over the ground floor of no 10 as a secondhand bookshop. The Chattos’ neighbour at no 12 was a vet, Anthony O’Neill. He looked after Churchill’s dogs, and he was there until 2013.

 

John Sandoe opened the shop on November 11th, 1957. His intention, which remains a fair description of what we still try to do, was to offer his selection of the best current books and to obtain any other books he might be asked for. His grandmother was shocked because he did not have blinds to pull down over the windows on Sundays. From the outset, he had a colleague, Felicité Gwynn, who was Elizabeth David’s sister. Felicité was remembered for many years for her contempt of those she regarded as fools as well as her formative influence on their reading. ‘She loved selling books and was liable to throw them at people on occasion in exasperation,’ said John. ‘But they would apologise to her, not her to them.’ She left in 1984.

 

John died in 2007, but he had retired from the bookshop because of ill health in 1989, selling it to Stewart Grimshaw, and to John (‘Seán’) Wyse Jackson and Johnny de Falbe, who had worked for John since 1979 and 1986 respectively. Seán left in 2003 to return to Ireland, four years after Dan Fenton had become a partner (he began working for Sandoe’s in 1992). Dan left in 2015.

 

In 2013 the venerable Mr O’Neill retired from the vet next door and we were able to acquire the lease. With careful planning we were able to remain open throughout the eighteen months that it took to gut and renovate the entire premises, rolling the three units into a single shop. Although the floor space is in fact only increased by about one third, the shop feels spacious and light. Nevertheless, we are told that the atmosphere has not changed, and that Verlyn Klinkenborg’s glorious description of 2010 remains true:

 

“In a sense, John Sandoe Books Ltd looks like it belongs somewhere else in London, though perhaps not any actual London. There’s something uplifting and phosphorescent about the place, its windows and staircases crammed with books, one genre fading into the next, the occasional sense that the shelving here has been done by free association. .. the books at John Sandoe seem to belong to an extensive cousinage, a kinship of ink. It’s one of the few bookshops I’ve ever visited that made me feel I’d be happy reading any book on its shelves…. John Sandoe Books…made me feel discerning and capacious as a reader. But it did something even stranger. It made me proud to be a writer. If I lived in London, I could have a bad day at work—sentences eroding, paragraphs falling apart, word after word evading my memory—and it would all be made better by a short walk among the titles at John Sandoe Books, where only a short walk is ever possible. The books would look up at me and smile, knowingly.”

 

We have about 30,000 books here, of which almost all are single copies.

 

We would like to thank James Campbell for his kind permission to use his artwork on this website; also to Marzena Pogorzaly and Arabella von Friesen for their photographs; and to Ben John for his drawing. Copyright is retained in all cases by the artist.

 

Our grateful thanks too to Ilya Levantis for his help in building the site.

 

Testimonials

John Sandoe is an integral part of my life in London. It is quite simply the best bookshop anyone could wish for.

 

Edna O’Brien

 

The absolute love of books which this shop engenders is hugely joyous.

 

Dirk Bogarde

 

Sandoes… is short of space and therefore must stock discriminately, but the tabletop of new and recent books offers the best browse in London.

 

Sir Tom Stoppard

 

I’ll drop in to John Sandoe, a bookshop off the King’s Road that has great art and design editions

 

Luciano Giubbilei

 

My favourite bookshop is John Sandoe… [where] you can say: “What’s this book like?” and they will tell you, either because they’ve read it, or they know somebody who has.

 

Sir Richard Eyre

 

John Sandoes is, and always will be, THE best bookshop in London.

 

Alain de Botton

 

The best bookshop in London … is the divine John Sandoe

 

Philip Hensher

 

You’ll find plentiful prize bats in this glorious belfry!

 

John Cleese

 

If I ask for something in particular, the staff here will always find it for me. It is still the best bookshop in the world and has books that no-one else has.

 

Manolo Blahnik

 

I would like Father Christmas to pay my permanent account at John Sandoe Bookshop

 

Kathleen Tynan

 

John Sandoe …is a bookworm’s dream… the perfect bookshop in which to browse, where staff delight in making intelligent recommendations based on books you have read and enjoyed.

 

Terence Conran

 

A recent “find” is John Sandoe, a three-floor independent bookshop crammed with fiction, biography and coffee-table tomes on absolutely everything; I could spend hours there.

 

Nina Campbell

Greetings from London Fitzroy Square ! JEEVES and TRUDIE.

 

Fitzroy Square is a Georgian square in London, England. It is the only one in the central London area known as Fitzrovia. The square is one of the area's main features, this once led to the surrounding district to be known as Fitzroy Square or Fitzroy Town and latterly as Fitzrovia, though the nearby Fitzroy Tavern is thought to have had as much influence on the name as Fitzroy Square.

 

History

The square, nearby Fitzroy Street, and the Fitzroy Tavern in Charlotte Street have the family name of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, into whose ownership the land passed through his marriage. His descendant Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton developed the area during the late 18th and early 19th century.

 

Fitzroy Square was a speculative development intended to provide London residences for aristocratic families, and was built in four stages. Leases for the eastern and southern sides, designed by Robert Adam, were granted in 1792; building began in 1794 and was completed in 1798 by Adam's brothers James and William. These buildings are fronted in Portland stone brought by sea from Dorset.

 

The Napoleonic Wars and a slump in the London property market brought a temporary stop to construction of the square after the south and east sides were completed. According to the records of the Squares Frontagers' Committee, 1815 residents looked out on "vacant ground, the resort of the idle and profligate". Another contemporary account describes the incomplete square:

 

The houses are faced with stone, and have a greater proportion of architectural excellence and embellishment than most others in the metropolis. They were designed by the Adams, but the progress of the late war prevented the completion of the design. It is much to be regretted, that it remains in its present unfinished state.

 

The northern and western sides were subsequently constructed in 1827–29 and 1832–35 respectively, and are stucco-fronted.

 

The south side suffered bomb damage during World War II and was rebuilt with traditional facades to remain in keeping with the rest of the square.

 

Present day

The square was largely pedestrianised in the 1970s, as part of a scheme designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe and undertaken as part of environmental improvement works. In 2008 the square was upgraded by relaying most of the surface at a single level, removing street clutter such as bollards, and further restricting vehicular access.

 

The square is at the heart of the Fitzrovia conservation area and is the subject of the Fitzroy Square conservation area appraisal and management strategy adopted by the London Borough of Camden in March 2010.

PITTI UOMO 105 STREET STYLE DAY 3

Pitti Uomo 105 /

A Preview of Men’s Fashion at Pitti Uomo 105

01/07/2024

https://www.magentaflorence.com/a-preview-of-mens-fashion-at-pitti-uomo-105/

 

Men’s fashion for autumn/winter 2024-25 will be unveiled at stands and on the catwalk during Pitti Uomo 105 from January 9 to 12 at the Fortezza da Basso.  Collections encompassing 835 brands — 43% from abroad — comprising accessories) will be presented to buyers and the press.  This edition marks the return of two iconic labels: Woolrich (knitwear) and Borsalino (hats).  Four geographical areas of production are highlighted at the following areas: _Detroitissimi (clothes designed and manufactured in Detroit, Michigan); _Promas (made in France); in addition to Scandinavian Manifesto and J∞Quality (Japan). Guess will be launching the firm’s new Guess Jeans line.

 

Special events will resolve around guest designers are Magliano and SS Daley.  Both are up-and-coming talents.  The styles of Magliano, recipient of the LVMH Karl Lagerfeld award, will be take center stage at the Nelson Mandela Forum on Wednesday afternoon, January 10.  Steven Stoker-Daley, founder and creative director of S.S. Daley, is being honored with a runway show focusing on his “Made in Britain” collection at the Salone del Cinquecento, Palazzo Vecchio, on Thursday, January 11.  He received the LVMH prize for young designers in 2022.

 

Influential American designer Todd Synder is spotlighted in the Designer Showcase.  His menswear is inspired by the bespoke fashion of Savile Row, military tailoring and New York style.  He was a designer at Polo Ralph Lauren and J. Crew before establishing his own label.

 

The trade fair is divided into thematic sections for easy access.  Included are Fantastic Classic; Futuro Maschile (contemporary menswear); Dynamic Attitude (sports- and streetwear; Superstyling (trendsetting fashion); I Go Out (environmentally-friendly sportswear); Vintage Hub Circular Fashion and PittiPets (designer coats and outfits, accessories, animal care products).

 

Florence will be in a buzz during Pitti Uomo, also thanks to special events, such as the live music party given by Blues Barber – Pro Raso and Captain Santors at the Manifattura Tabacchi (a converted industrial space at via delle Cascine 35) on Wednesday, January 10 starting at 6 pm.

Clare Brownlow, wildlife artist

 

Sporting Diana: Clare Brownlow

The Field

The Field November 22, 2023

The acclaimed wildlife artist creates beautiful paintings using a pheasant feather, a tool provided by the natural world that she has lived and breathed since childhood

https://www.thefield.co.uk/country-house/sporting-diana-clare-brownlow-51866

 

I have been out in the field or on a riverbank for as long as I can remember. My father and mother encouraged me from a young age to fish various rivers, romp up hills for quarry and forage along beaches. I would always have some paper and colours in my pocket, and sketch away wherever and whenever a moment arose. When looking at prep schools, I chose one in North Norfolk because it offered fly-tying as an activity. My father and I would take off to rivers across the UK, always with a picnic. (The best thing was my mother’s cherry cake, which was inevitably devoured before we even got to the bottom of the road.)

 

The time I spent with my father on the riverbank was incredibly special, as he was away a lot with the Army. These memories are precious, and now I have more to add with watching him and my own boys on the river. My husband, Charlie, and I encourage our two sons to be outside doing what they love as much as our own parents did with us. We’ve always happened to live within striking or casting distance to a river, which can lead to quite a lot of competition within the family.

 

Becoming a wildlife artist

We are surrounded by the most wonderful wildlife, which is so inspiring for my work. I have always painted but while I was at home in Norfolk with my parents when my son Harry was a baby, I picked up a pheasant tail feather from a stash that my father had and started to scribble with some ink. The result was full-on energy and great fun, so I continued down this road thinking nothing really of it and now am a full-time artist creating wildlife paintings all with the use of a feather.

 

Wildlife artist Clare Brownlow spent hours on the riverbank growing up

 

I have exhibited around the world from Los Angeles and New York to Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Edinburgh. I’ve also had commissions from and have collaborated with the likes of Purdey, Schöffel, Pol Roger and Patrick Mavros. I take the role of being a wildlife artist and wildlife lover in the same breath. We teach our children respect for the outdoors and the wildlife, and get them to be as aware and respectful as possible. I have donated many works to help charities such as the GWCT, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, and Tusk Trust. The work that they do is fundamental in making sure that future generations also have the opportunity to appreciate wildlife.

 

“I always felt that as a girl with a gun you had to be so much better than the boys”

 

Being invited to friends’ shoots is a joy but I would often be secretly nervous. I always felt that as a girl with a gun you had to somehow be so much better than the boys. On one occasion I was invited to a boys’ day (the first one without my trusted loader, teacher and critic – my father) where the first drive was across a muddy sugar beet field. Anyone familiar with the size of the fields in Norfolk will understand the pressure I was under. I was the middle gun with a wood in front of us. I had my boys flanking both sides and we were about 200 metres from the edge of the field. One solitary, very high cock pheasant flew right towards and above me. All eyes were on this one pheasant. If I missed it, I knew that I would never hear the end of it. Luckily, with one shot, I got it.

 

I was introduced to stalking with my father at an early age too and I think that it is the only time I have ever managed to be quiet. Those who know me will understand this is a rarity. I was once stalking in Norfolk and took a roebuck with one antler. I was extremely proud of this and my ‘unicorn’ now hangs on my studio wall. Harry, our eldest son, has been out with my father, and I now rarely get a look-in with Dad. I adore spending time in the Highlands stalking with friends and family, and appreciating the beauty that Scotland has to offer.

 

An artist’s tool provided by Mother Nature

Whenever I am in the countryside I’m frequently mesmerised by the scale and wonder of the ever-changing scenes around me. I have always wanted to capture it and spent a long time painting landscapes. Now, I am focusing on the detail of the wildlife it gives home to with a tool that Mother Nature herself gave to me – a feather.

Ferrari | Official Trailer | Starring Adam Driver and Penélope Cruz

Ferrari is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film directed by Michael Mann and written by Troy Kennedy Martin. Based on the 1991 biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine by motorsport journalist Brock Yates, the film follows the personal and professional struggles of Enzo Ferrari, the Italian founder of the car manufacturer Ferrari S.p.A., during the summer of 1957. Adam Driver portrays the titular subject, and co-stars Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Sarah Gadon, Gabriel Leone, Jack O'Connell, and Patrick Dempsey.

 

Ferrari was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on August 31, 2023. It was released in the United States on December 25, 2023, by Neon. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the National Board of Review.

 

Plot

In the summer of 1957, Enzo Ferrari, reeling from the death of his son Dino, the deteriorating marriage with his wife Laura, his struggled acknowledgement of his second son with his mistress Lina, and his company's impending bankruptcy, enters his racing team to the 1957 Mille Miglia.

 

Cast

Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari

Penélope Cruz as Laura Ferrari

Shailene Woodley as Lina Lardi

Sarah Gadon as Linda Christian

Gabriel Leone as Alfonso de Portago

Jack O'Connell as Peter Collins

Patrick Dempsey as Piero Taruffi

Michele Savoia as Carlo Chiti

Lino Musella as Sergio Scaglietti

Domenico Fortunato as Adolfo Orsi

Jacopo Bruno as Omer Orsi

Erik Haugen as Edmund "Gunner" Nelson

Ben Collins as Stirling Moss

Wyatt Carnell as Wolfgang von Trips

Andrea Dolente as Gino Rancati

Giuseppe Bonifati as Giacomo Cuoghi

Daniela Piperno as Adalgisa Ferrari

Tommaso Basili as Gianni Agnelli

Benedetto Benedettini as Alfredo Ferrari

Giuseppe Festinese as Piero Lardi

Marino Franchitti as Eugenio Castellotti

Valentina Bellè as Cecilia Manzini

Jonathan Burteaux as King Hussein of Jordan

 

Production

Michael Mann first began exploring making the film around 2000, having discussed the project with Sydney Pollack. In August 2015, Christian Bale entered negotiations to star as Ferrari. Filming was planned to begin in summer 2016 in Italy. In October 2015, Paramount Pictures bought the worldwide distribution rights for the film. Bale exited the film in January 2016 over concerns of meeting the weight requirements for the role before the start of production. The project stalled until April 2017, when Hugh Jackman entered negotiations to portray Ferrari, and Noomi Rapace as his wife with Paramount no longer involved. The project would again go dormant until June 2020. Mann and Jackman were still attached, with Rapace no longer involved and with STX International taking over international distribution. Filming was set to begin in April 2021.

 

In February 2022, Jackman had since left the film, with Adam Driver now starring as Ferrari. Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley also joined the cast. At the same time, STXfilms also secured domestic distribution rights for the film with a theatrical release planned.[14] In July, Gabriel Leone, Sarah Gadon, Jack O'Connell and Patrick Dempsey were added to the cast. Pre-production began in April 2022, with filming originally set to commence in July in Modena.

 

Principal photography began on August 17, 2022, in Italy. Filming occurred in Brescia in early October. Production of the film wrapped in late October 2022.

 

A first-look was released in October 2022, with two pictures. The film had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2023.

 

Originally scheduled to be released by STX in the United States, North American distribution rights to the film were acquired by Neon in July 2023, following a bidding war which also included A24 and an unnamed streaming service, and dated for wide theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2023.

The film is scheduled to be released on Sky Cinema and Now in the United Kingdom in 2023 with STX retaining all other international rights.

In the United States and Canada, Ferrari will be released alongside The Boys in the Boat and The Color Purple, and is projected to gross around $1 million on its first day.

 

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 124 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Sleek and well-acted, Ferrari overcomes its occasionally underpowered narrative to deliver a rousing and admirably complex biopic."[31] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

 

Marlow Stern of Rolling Stone praised Penélope Cruz's performance, writing: "There is an unstoppable force at the center of Michael Mann’s Ferrari. It is fast, fierce, and wildly unpredictable. One moment it has you in the throes of ecstasy; the next, fearing for your life. And when you see it coming around the bend, it’s curtains. Don’t even bother putting up a fight. You’ll lose. I’m talking, of course, about Penélope Cruz".

 

Damon Wise of Deadline Hollywood was more critical of Adam Driver's performance, stating: "Given what's at stake [in the film], a strangely unemotional lead performance from Adam Driver makes it hard to warm to this odd and deeply self-absorbed character. Add in the glacial pace of its narrative, and a film expected to take an early awards-season lead will struggle to hold that pole position."

 

Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino criticized the film for casting American actors to portray Italian characters, instead of Italian actors.

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