FROM THE OLD BOOK SHOP series I

A bibliophile's heart lies in OLD BOOK SHOP. As the number of serious reader declines, the classics become less affordable. Its indirectly proportional, I learned. During my visits to various cities on a holiday, I always find some time to visit low-profile, shabbily decorated old book shops situated at rather awkward places away from the tourist destinations. And believe in me, I am and I will be rewarded at all such visits. The books I have with me now is surely a book-borrower's (who never return books after finishing them) envy. You will be surprised to know the price I paid for each of them. Many of them are one-twentieth of the recent price but yes, with a bit of compromise (dust filled, rotten covers, defaced pages are only a few of them to enjoy). If you are eager to know the names of my innumerable second wives, I will not deprive you.

1. VAN GOGH Life and Work by Dieter Beaujean published by konemann from bonner strasse, Cologne. The English translation was published in 2000 and has 96 pages in total with an excellent collection of Vincent's drawings in colour. Its a book from a  series called 'art in hand' and is a significant reading for those  not from the field of art. The chapters chosen are so dedicated and scientifically laid down one after the other that a single read will provide you with the basics of Van Gog's life. 'Encounter with impressionism' and 'What makes Van Gogh' are the two chapters which employ scientific views and rationality in explaining the science and arts of  this ill-fated master painter. When you are buying an art book filled with paintings the pages of the book must be of good quality glossy art paper to reflect the true value of the pictures. This book though a small one fulfills this criteria. It contains some rare pieces of art not much seen in other costly VanGogh books like, line drawing of 'Dr Gatchet in death bed' (1890), Etching of 'Dr Gatchet' (1890), 'Iris' (1889) and a half -page print of 'Potato eaters' (1885) which is of no less importance than VanGogh's 'Sunflower'. 'Potato eaters' reflect Van Gogh's darkest moments of thought and is to me the penultimate drawing which one must appreciate in understanding how different he was from others. His charcoal sketch 'The long walk (Avenue) (1874) is one such important inclusion away from his oil colours.

2. TRIO by W. Somerset Maugham is a collection of three stories brought out by William Heinemann Ltd. The three stories are 'The Verger', 'Mr Know-all' and 'Sanatorium'. Mere luck brought me a first edition of this book published in1950. This 145-page book contains three short stories together with their screen plays. One must start with the stories ending with the film-script. Maugham's interplay of free flowing words, his subtle analysis of human behaviour  and  when these two turns into a film, is a thing to note in this book. Those who have a fascination for good films and for those who appreciate the value of a good script when at par with a good literature, this book is a God's gift. I came to know from this book that Maugham also wrote cinema scripts together with R.C.Sherriff and Noel Langley in those days.

3. LANDMARKS OF  THE WORLD'S ART is one series of book which we all had dreamed of  owning since our adolescent days. It is a costly book in hardcover and is meant for a library and never to be a part of personal collection from my economical stature. Its an excellent, authentic book containing verified data from history. It is published by Paul Hamlyn, London. Presently this second hand old book is selling at a price of approximately Rs 1100 (Indian currency) from Antiqbook. I remember buying this book at Rs 100 in 2006 from an old book shop at Gariahata at Calcutta. One of the books in this series 'THE ORIENTAL WORLD' is written by two knowledgeable persons Jeannine Auboyer, Chief Curator,Musee Guimet, Paris and Roger Goepper, Director of the museum of Far Eastern Antiques in Cologne. It contains 228 illustrations of which 112 in full color. This book is in two  parts as 'India and south-east Asia' and 'China, korea and Japan'. Dividing Oriental Art in two definite parts imply that the writers are masters in their own field. This book was published in 1967 and never came up later. A flow chart of ruling dynasties at the beginning of the book helps the reader to follow the development of art in the Eastern world. Now rare, photographs from some Ajanta panels is book owner's envy. These panels of fresco seco are missing from Ajanta caves in  Maharashtra, India.