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Pallas Athene publishes attractive, intelligent, beautiful non-fiction, focussing on art, such as the series Lives of the Artists. We also publish books about travel, history, illustration, literature, nature and food. Subjects include John Ruskin, William Blake, Venice, Rome, Paris, Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, William Turner, Carpaccio, Tintoretto, Velazquez, Caravaggio, Monet, Shakespeare, Friedrich, the nineteenth century, the pre-Raphaelites, Rodin, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Manet, van Gogh, Hogarth, Julia Margaret Cameron, George Stubbs, Aubrey Beardsley and Edward Burne-Jones.

 

The Book of Blokes, by William Nicholson (pre-publication copies)

The Book of Blokes, by William Nicholson (pre-publication copies)

£12.99

Special pre-publication copies shipping now. Buy in good bookshops from March 2026.

Hardback – 185 mm x 125 mm – 64 pages

Thirty colour illustrations

ISBN 9781843682783

William Nicholson's most eccentric book, The Book of Blokes, consists of thirty crayon drawings of men's faces, often with hats. There is no text, but the virtuosity of the drawing and the wit and economy with which Nicholson imbues each face with unmistakeable personality, remain compelling after many readings. It was a favourite book of Nicholson's, who often gave copies to his friends.

Originally published in 1929, this is the first time it has ever been reprinted. Published simultaneously with two other classic books of illustration by Nicholson, An Alphabet and The Square Book of Animals.

William Nicholson is the subject of a major exhibition at Pallant House, Chichester, opening in November 2025.

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