The Louvre in Paris has a phenomenal art collection. With more than 8 million annual visitors, it is the most popular museum in the world. The most famous painting there is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. There are more than three thousand paintings in the Louvre’s permanent collection. This official Louvre publication has voluminous information on many of the paintings. There’s also a DVD that contains images of every one of them. Just one quibble: Many of the images on the DVD are simply not large enough for this reviewer’s aging eyesight to fathom.
"Photographs by Axel Bahnsen" (Yellow Springs Historical Society, 108 pages, $28).
Axel Bahnsen came to Yellow Springs in 1924 to attend Antioch College. Over the next half century Bahnsen traveled the world taking exquisite photographs of people, places and the natural world. He maintained a base in Yellow Springs until his death in 1978. This impressive collection of black and white photos reveals an artistic vision that might take your breath away.
"Life Upon These Shores: Looking at African American History (1513-2008)" by Henry Louis Gates (Knopf, 488 pages, $50).
This profusely illustrated coffee-table volume is an immensely ambitious effort to do justice to the history of African Americans on these shores from the arrival of the first Spanish explorers up to the election of President Barack Obama. We are transported across five centuries, from slavery days to the birth of hip-hop. This book is massive, meticulous and meritorious.
"Steam — An Enduring Legacy: The Railroad Photographs of Joel Jensen" (W.W. Norton, 160 pages, $50).
Those gorgeous steam locomotives from our past seem to surge through these pages whistling for pure joy. What nostalgic memories! A train lover’s dream and some great essays, too.
"Lost Gold of the Dark Ages: War, Treasure and the Mystery of the Saxons" by Caroline Alexander (National Geographic, 240 pages, $35)
Terry Herbert wandered the English countryside with his metal detector searching for buried treasure. On July 5, 2009, he found it; a trove of Anglo-Saxon artifacts that had lain buried for 1,300 years. There were 3,490 items; gold, silver and garnet covered pieces, beautifully made. His fantasy came true. Here’s his story with lots of lovely pictures.
"Star Wars Art: Comics" (Abrams Books, 180 pages, $40)
The “Star Wars” movies have inspired some impressive comic books over the years. This large-format book has awesome “Star Wars” artwork. Twenty new images were commissioned just for this project.
"Vintage Postcards From Vanity Fair: One Hundred Classic Covers" (Penguin, 100 pages, $25)
It looks like a book. When you open it you find 100 different snappy postcards, classic illustrations from Vanity Fair magazines circa 1913-36, Art Deco designs and Jazz Age frivolities. Affix postage and share with your friends.
Vick Mickunas of Yellow Springs interviews authors every Friday at 1:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 11 a.m. on WYSO-FM (91.3). For more information, go online to www.wyso.org/programs/book-nook. Contact him at vick@vickmickunas.com.