Kulturalis – serie

"This is a kind of poetics where precision of lyricism attains a meaning that crosses the boundary of language. And for that, I am grateful." — Ilya Kaminsky, contemporary poet and author of Deaf Republic and Dancing in OdessaPetr Hruška is widely considered one of the most important Czech poets.Based on 'The First Voyage around the World', written exactly 500 years earlier by Antonio Pigafetta, Hruška's I Caught Sight of my Face turns the glorious saga of Magellan's voyage of discovery into an unsettling exploration of human behaviour, showing how man remains an anxious, insecure, sometimes cowardly, evil, xenophobic and violent being.It is an uncomplicated, yet at the same time, deeply profound book, brought to life through illustrations by Jakub Špaňhel (1976), an acclaimed contemporary Czech visual artist, who creates an interesting dialogue between the text and its visual accompaniment.

The chance discovery of letters from Hester Thrale (1741–1821) to her daughter Sophia provides an opportunity to rethink our understanding of one of the key people in the life of the dictionary-maker and moralist Dr Samuel Johnson. Much-maligned after the death of her first husband for her decision to marry Gabriel Piozzi, an Italian musician and Catholic, Hester has often been portrayed as cold-hearted and lacking in the essentials of motherhood. These letters shed new light on her relations with her four surviving daughters (she gave birth to 12 children in 14 years). They also reveal her desire for recognition as a scholar and poet, and her keen awareness of her shortcomings. They provide a fascinating portrait of a complex woman, determining her independence and that of her daughters, in spite of family tragedy and vicious criticism in the press.

The Khalili Anīs al-Hujjāj (Pilgrims’ Companion) presents a ground-breaking new exploration of Safi ibn Vali Qazwini's richly illustrated manuscript dating from 1676-77. This beautifully produced volume, with a scholarly introduction by Qaisra M. Khan and translation by Michael Burns, documents the author's year-long journey to Mecca and Medina from Mughal India via the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.Commissioned by Zeb un-Nisa, the daughter of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, this delightfully vivid account belongs to a long-established tradition of guides to the Holy Sanctuaries. It gives comprehensive advice to prospective pilgrims on every aspect of the maritime journey, such as which ships to select, the best foods to consume, rituals to observe, significant places to visit and the people one might encounter.This volume extensively explores the original manuscript's detailed illustrations and text, providing an invaluable window into 17th-century religious practices, maritime travel, and the cultural landscape of the Indian Ocean world.

A lavishly illustrated book on Bayt Al-Greiza from its historical roots during Oman’s Portuguese era through to being rebuilt in the 1970s according to the vision of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id, as realised by the renowned architect Mohamed Makiya. Bayt Al-Greiza, once used by Sultan Qaboos to house and greet visiting Heads of State, has been fully restored and opened to the public, and its objects – furniture, art, gifts from visitors – have been collected, renovated and returned to their original position within the mansion. Part I gives a detailed history of the building up to its 1970s reconstruction. Part II begins by looking in detail at the restoration efforts involved in preparing Bayt Al-Greiza to be opened to the public. This is followed by a room-by-room and object-by-object walk-through of the restored building. Part III covers all the various ways in which Bayt Al-Greiza will be put to use in the future.

It is a perilous time for the Roman Republic. Victory over her nemesis Hannibal in the Second Punic War and the subsequent conquest of Greece have led to widespread debauchery and mayhem on the Italian peninsula. Into the breach steps Spurius Postumius Albinus, Consul of Rome in 186 BC, who turns detective to investigate a series of crimes attributed to the cult of the wine god Bacchus that, he argues, threaten the very heart of the State.Based on events recorded by the Roman historian Livy and confirmed by a surviving bronze plaque in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, Spurius is at once an ancient political whodunit and the first major treatment of a cataclysmic event in Roman history: according to Livy, some 3,500 Romans perished in the witch hunts resulting from Spurius’ investigation. In its finely balanced examination of freedom of belief and expression, and the manipulation of truth in times of national emergency, the novel has great relevance to today’s troubled world.Kulturalis’s edition of David László Conhaim’s Spurius gives the novel a striking and luxurious new treatment. Renowned Argentinian-born illustrator Jorge González’s vivid images - including full-page and double-page illustrations within the text and an arresting slipcase design - brings the graphic events of the novel to life. Based in Madrid, González previously illustrated the edition of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies published by Los Libros del Zorro Rojo and The Folio Society’s edition of Carlos Ruíz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind. Working hand-in-glove with González through Maria Cardelli’s IllustrationZone is award-winning hand-lettering artist Ruth Rowland who has designed album covers for Elton John, Kate Bush and Cliff Richard.

Ireland and the Irish identity have been shaped by migration. People left and still leave the island for many reasons, some pushed by circumstances at home, others pulled by opportunities abroad. No two stories are the same, but many emigrants are linked by common motivations and shared experiences. Today these emigrants and their descendants number over 70 million people. They can be found in all four corners of the globe. Published with EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, this book tells the story of the museum, its local partners and its home in the Dublin Docklands.

The Nordic people are often said to be hard-working, dutiful, open to innovation and equality, and trend-sensitive, with a ‘less is more’ attitude when it comes to clothes, furniture and interior design. Nordic histories and cultures have been intertwined for centuries, but what created their distinctive character? Was it the experience of Northern Europe’s four seasons, with cold, harsh dark winters, unreliable springs, bright summers when the sun never sets and beautiful autumns? In this book we meet 32 individuals, neither kings nor queens, but real people whose life stories give insights into historical events and everyday life in the Nordic countries over 500 years. Nordic Stories reveals much about the lives, beliefs and customs of Nordic people from the 16th century to the present day. It is based on diaries, letters and other personal testimony, illustrated with objects from Nordiska museet’s astonishing collection.

Focusing on Calouste Gulbenkian’s determination to preserve his cherished art collection intact after his death, this book tells the story of the creation of the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon. It begins with the efforts of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, founded in 1956, to reunite an exceptional art collection then dispersed between Paris, Washington D.C. and London. The book examines the legal, diplomatic and practical measures that made this mission possible and follows the planning of a museum shaped by the most advanced museological thinking of the 1950s and 1960s, whereby the artworks themselves guided decisions across architecture, exhibition design and museography. It also highlights the key roles played by the first generation of Portuguese women curators and international consultants, from cataloguing the works to trial exhibitions and final installation. Ultimately, the volume shows how the Foundation interpreted and translated Gulbenkian’s taste and character into museum form, resulting in a unique and enduring institution.

The Prague City Gallery (founded on 1 May 1963) is one of the key exhibition and collecting institutions in the Czech Republic; it manages approximately 16,000 items dating from the 19th to the 21st century. Today, its role is much broader than has traditionally been customary for institutions of this kind.Among its additional responsibilities is the care of the buildings entrusted to it, many of which are heritage properties of the highest quality. It also plays an important role in the field of education, organising around 900 programmes each year for children, young people, teachers, senior citizens, and people with special needs.In 2026, Magdalena Juříková will conclude her tenure as Director. This publication serves both as a reflection on an important period in the gallery’s history and as a personal perspective on the shaping of its current identity.

Justice for All brings together the most powerful insights from the Justice for All Series hosted at the Old Bailey. Drawing on keynote speeches, panel discussions and commissioned research, the book explores a central proposition: why justice for all is not only a moral imperative but also makes clear economic sense.Featuring contributions from judges, policymakers, academics, business leaders and those with lived experience of the justice system, the book examines how fair, accessible and effective justice systems underpin stable societies, functioning markets and sustainable economic growth.Capturing the ideas and debates from the series, Justice for All offers a forward-looking analysis of how justice systems must evolve to strengthen institutions and ensure justice works for everyone.

The Mosque in Mecca, arranged around the central Ka’ba, is the holiest site in Islam. Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed and now accommodates as many as tens of thousands of pilgrims in a single day. Pilgrims travel there from across the world in the annual Hajj, a key point in Islamic spiritual life. The Ka’ba is a symbol of unity, a structure of the greatest geometrical simplicity containing a single door. It is, however, considered to be feminine in gender and is draped in a covering of black cloth known as Al Astar to protect its modesty. This cloth, woven with gold, is replaced every year with a special ceremony. On this one day, the Ka’ba is left exposed and unveiled. Exceptionally, the authorities of the Great Mosque in Mecca granted Adel Al Quraishi permission to photograph the Ka’ba, the epicentre of Islam, in its undraped state.Text in Arabic.

The Mosque in Madinah, which houses the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed himself, is second only to Mecca as the holiest point of pilgrimage in the Islamic world. The Prophet was born in Mecca and died in Madinah in the seventh century. The great Mosque has grown around his tomb and continues to spread at the heart of the city. For centuries the tomb has been watched over by a group of Guardians, brought originally from Abyssinia, who form their own closed society and exercise authority throughout the Mosque, carrying the keys to the tomb. The current generation of Guardians will be the last: they will have no successors and a tradition almost as old as Islam itself will be replaced by modern forms of administration. Adel Al Quraishi began this extraordinary project by taking portraits of the Guardians, after which he was allowed to photograph the keys and finally, to photograph through the enclosing iron grill into the chamber itself. This unprecedented access led to this remarkable photographic record.

The Mosque in Madinah, which houses the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed himself, is second only to Mecca as the holiest point of pilgrimage in the Islamic world. The Prophet was born in Mecca and died in Madinah in the seventh century. The great Mosque has grown around his tomb and continues to spread at the heart of the city. For centuries the tomb has been watched over by a group of Guardians, brought originally from Abyssinia, who form their own closed society and exercise authority throughout the Mosque, carrying the keys to the tomb. The current generation of Guardians will be the last: they will have no successors and a tradition almost as old as Islam itself will be replaced by modern forms of administration. Adel Al Quraishi began this extraordinary project by taking portraits of the Guardians, after which he was allowed to photograph the keys and finally, to photograph through the enclosing iron grill into the chamber itself. This unprecedented access led to this remarkable photographic record.Text in Arabic.