Textiles: 5000 Years
True to its title, this book does cover more time periods and regions of the world than are usually treated in a single-volume history of textiles. Considering this breadth of scope, the text is surprisingly detailed, though a unique procedure of first explaining textile techniques aids in understanding the separate articles. Twenty-four British experts offer a multidisciplinary survey of the development and usage of textiles in daily life, with an emphasis on costume. Over 300 glowing color photographs of some of the loveliest cloth ever made profess the impulse to create beauty, common across cultures and throughout the ages. The bibliography lists mostly British and foreign-language sources, and a museum collection list and glossary are also included. This is an appealing beginner's textbook that should delight specialists as well. Highly recommended.- Therese D. Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling GreenCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.