Book Design: Decorative Endpapers

It's a shame that few modern books feature decorative or marbled endpapers, even if they are lithographic reproductions of marbled papers or original patterns and designs.

From a privately printed volume of sporting poetry (1894) 

From Nonesuch Press edition of William Morris' writings, 1934. 

Endpapers reproduced from

a wallpaper design by William Morris. 

The Culture Business

Report, Culture Means Business (pdf)

"Improving trade and business opportunities is a priority for the UK in today’s economy, and to ensure future economic prospects, the UK should also look to make the most of cultural opportunities.

‘Culture Means Business’ finds that potential business leaders around the world are much more likely to pursue trade links with the UK if they have visited the country on an educational exchange, studied for a UK qualification or attended a major UK arts or cultural event".


Creative Industries

"Our creative industries are a real success story. They are worth more than £36 billion a year; they generate £70,000 every minute for the UK economy; and they employ 1.5 million people in the UK. According to industry figures, the creative industries account for around £1 in every £10 of the UK’s exports. With the right support, they have the potential to bring even more benefits to our culture and economy".

Carla Bruni TV Interview

Amusing (?) Anglo-French chat show banter (YouTube)

Learning to Swim (Graham Swift story set on a Greek Island)

I have always thought  that Graham Swift is one of our finest writers. The opening of his powerful story, Learning to Swim, illustrates his talent (from the outstanding collection of short stories, Learning to Swim):

Greek Bathing Waters, water quality

Corfu, 21 May, Ionian Islands, Enosis with Greece

Watched the 21st May parade live transmission upstreamed on Corfu-TV online

21st May marks the Union of the Ionian Islands with Greece (and independence from Britain). 149th anniversary.

Next year should be special! 150th Anniversary of Enosis (Union)

Declaration of Union with Greece (1863)

Farewell to the British Garrison in Corfu, 1864

Reproduced from Britain's Greek Empire, by Lord Michael Pratt, Rex Collings, 1978
Out of print, secondhand copies here

Ethiopia, Growth Rates and British Aid (George Alagiah)

BBC report
(George Alagiah)

Car tyres into shoes

Ethiopia has one of the world's fastest growth rates.

See Opportunities and Missed Opportunities