Windflower

If you like Nick Bantock,you will like this book. This is a beautiful book - the story and even the paper it is printed on!

I was very happy with the service and I would be happy to buy again. Thank you, Simon

In this mass age of books about alchemy, it is nice to experience a book that is alchemy. The gross weight of the pages balances the lightness of the images, giving it a fair shot at solving Herme's Secret. As far as the fans of the author go, there is much `hare' to delight: you can ponder the mokita he proposes, contemplate the meaning behind the number (216) of pages, explore the `Contiesque' element behind the work (although that will require exploring all of the medium the gentleman employs), wonder about the A/O nature of the first (and last) word, or just enjoy the way exposure to sunlight helps the images emerge and transform on the page. Still, there are questions left unanswered. What role did Joyce's "Advice to the Artist as a Jung Man" play in shaping the hero(ine)'s journey and switching voices to give us the experience of a dancer's awkwardness in learning a new rhythm? Should a book like this one come with a `see note' to working alchemists: `A serious play to solve the Emerald Tablet sets things in motion, so you will need to re-think your experiments.'? And what is the best way to serve artistic sole? Like water seeking its own level, the ideas in this book take time to sink in.

This is a departure from Nick Bantock's previous published work, in that the incredible images are drawn with words with only an intimation of artwork here. All the mystery and attention to detail is still present though, and the story has a different kind of depth and complexity, one that draws the reader in and evokes its pictures in the consciousness of the reader as the words unfold. This is a very lush, haunting, gorgeous story, a kind of hero's (heroine's) journey, beautifully written and quite inspiring. I do love Nick Bantock's artwork, and I also love his storytelling. This book shifts the balance toward the storytelling aspect and does so beautifully.