Ebook279 pages4 hours
In Miniature: How Small Things Illuminate the World
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this ebook
Bestselling, award-winning writer Simon Garfield returns with an enthralling investigation of humans’ peculiar fascination with small things—and what small things tell us about our larger world.
“[Simon Garfield is] an exuberant truffle-hound of the recondite and delightful factoid.” —Sunday Times (London)
Simon Garfield writes books that shine a light on aspects of the everyday world in order to reveal the charms and eccentricities hiding in plain sight around us. After beguiling fans with books about everything from typography to time, from historic maps to the color mauve, he’s found his most delightful topic yet: miniatures.
Tiny Eiffel Towers. Platoons of brave toy soldiers. A doll’s house created for a Queen. Diminutive crime scenes crafted to catch a killer. Model villages and miniscule railways. These are just a few of the objects you will discover in the pages of In Miniature.
Bringing together history, psychology, art, and obsession, Garfield explores what fuels the strong appeal of miniature objects among collectors, modelers, and fans. The toys we enjoy as children invest us with a rare power at a young age, conferring on us a taste of adult-sized authority. For some, the desire to play with small things becomes a desire to make small things. We live in a vast and uncertain world, and controlling just a tiny, scaled-down part of it restores our sense of order and worth.
As it explores flea circuses, microscopic food, ancient tombs, and the Vegas Strip, In Miniature changes the way we perceive our surroundings, encouraging all of us to find greatness in the smallest of things.
“[Simon Garfield is] an exuberant truffle-hound of the recondite and delightful factoid.” —Sunday Times (London)
Simon Garfield writes books that shine a light on aspects of the everyday world in order to reveal the charms and eccentricities hiding in plain sight around us. After beguiling fans with books about everything from typography to time, from historic maps to the color mauve, he’s found his most delightful topic yet: miniatures.
Tiny Eiffel Towers. Platoons of brave toy soldiers. A doll’s house created for a Queen. Diminutive crime scenes crafted to catch a killer. Model villages and miniscule railways. These are just a few of the objects you will discover in the pages of In Miniature.
Bringing together history, psychology, art, and obsession, Garfield explores what fuels the strong appeal of miniature objects among collectors, modelers, and fans. The toys we enjoy as children invest us with a rare power at a young age, conferring on us a taste of adult-sized authority. For some, the desire to play with small things becomes a desire to make small things. We live in a vast and uncertain world, and controlling just a tiny, scaled-down part of it restores our sense of order and worth.
As it explores flea circuses, microscopic food, ancient tombs, and the Vegas Strip, In Miniature changes the way we perceive our surroundings, encouraging all of us to find greatness in the smallest of things.
Author
Simon Garfield
Simon Garfield is the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen acclaimed books of nonfiction including On the Map and Just My Type. A recipient of the Somerset Maugham Award for nonfiction, he lives in London.
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Reviews for In Miniature
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
2 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to read this, having long been fascinated with things originally large are made small. It starts with the Eiffel tower, where for the first time, from a great height, looked down on a world made small. The tower would also be the inspiration for the popularity of the souvenir. Divided into chapters one is treated not only to some trivia but an interesting history lesson pertaining to the subject. Small villages, popular in England, some still visited during our current time. Road America in Pennsylvania, which I have visited. The exquisitely decorated and designed miniature room at the Art Institute in Chicago. The popularity of the flea circus, " They live off me, and I live off them" Prof. William Hecklers fleas at Hubert's Museum on West 42nd Street.The reasons for some of the miniatures made, such as slave ships, made to show how terrible these ships were. Toy trains, popular with Rod Stewart and Neil Young. Young started his hobby to have something he could share with his son who was born severely disabled. Just fascinating, this book includes so much and is wonderfully presented. Quite an interesting read.ARC from Edelweiss.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In Miniature: How Small Things Illuminate the World by Simon Garfield is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I am one of the millions of people that love miniatures.This book talks about why people like them, the history, the types, and examples. I loved looking at all the various types. From models cars, train, towns, planes, houses, and ships to microminiature art in the head of a sewing needle! Mini books, art, food, people, towers, and so much more! Lots of pictures and informative history along the way! They even talk about miniature dogs! Yes, I have those too! I even own a Smart car! Great book!
Book preview
In Miniature - Simon Garfield
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