"Country" by Jasper Conran

"Country" by Jasper Conran is set to become a delight to have on coffee tables in the most fashionable of homes and can now be found at bargain prices!

As you may know Jasper Conran is a designer, familiar with fabrics, colours, shapes and textures and although that does not make him an expert on rural matters; possibly "when it comes to appreciating the texture of the countryside, I think it might help." says Jasper Conran

Jasper Conran lives, works in and treasures the countryside in England. In his first book; Country, he reveals his personal vision of what 'country' means to him in an arresting photographic story, captured during a whole year of encounters, explorations and insights.

Jaspers website says that "The allure of the countryside has a universal aspiration, but how do we achieve the dream? It is not about spending money, or prescribing to a certain style, it is about appreciation, self-expression, getting back to the root of what makes us tick and taking time to look at what is here and now." Jasper Conran.

Here, here Jasper, I couldn't agree more! We take so much for granted these days, that we forget the perfection in a leaf, the sheer majesty of a full grown tree and the freedom and beauty of the birds and animals that also call the country, home.

You might want to reinforce your coffee table...........

I wonder how many people realize just how big this book is? It is monstrous! For anyone thinking that the price tag is a little 'heavy', I will just say that pound for pound this book is MUCH cheaper than a newspaper :-).

Although undoubtedly an 'arty' book with lots of white space and often small text, it is absolutely filled with the most stunning photographs. Jasper captured perfectly the images that we all carry in our heads of that perfectly idealistic notion of what it's like to live in the country.

Thankfully Jasper confirms that if you take the time to look, that ideal still exists. It is clear to me that Jasper looked very hard indeed, often capturing shots that give away the amount of time he took to get it just right. Early morning mist or evening sun to perfectly frame a craft or scene, Jasper captured it.

Visitors to my house home in on it and can't resist hefting it before I lose them once they delve into its magical imagery. I find it an inspiration to do all of those 'real' jobs around the home too, growing herbs, baking, repairing, crafting and generally being useful to my family in ways that we are starting to forget in this 'super busy' age.

Did you know that 95%, yes 95% of people who look at "Country" by Jasper Conran on amazon buy it! That's pretty impressive for a first book.

In 'Country'" Jasper Conran, utilizes his own experiences, the landscapes and homes that are familiar to him, to portray a seductive way of life. The allure of the countryside has a universal aspiration for all of us. How can we achieve the dream? Conran argues that it is not about spending money, or even prescribing to a certain style, it's all about appreciation, self-expression and getting back to the root of what makes us tick. Moving from one season to the next, from interior to exterior, from detail to landscape, this is real life as it is actually lived in the country today. Conrans vision informs by captivating the senses and the imagination. "Country" is realistic, full of ideas and completely engrossing - an easy book to spend time with. Beautifully conceived, beautifully photographed and beautifully written, "Country" is a new kind of lifestyle book - it allows you to live the dream.

For a really great and in depth review of Country head over to the Telegraph article Jasper Conran's Country for the latest word on the inside of this great book.

The article describes how Jasper spent a whole year travelling through rural England, meeting many people who are keeping ancient crafts and traditions alive.

Review of "Country" by Jasper Conran

With Jasper Conran's "Country", you are so obviously getting a very superior book for your money. It's country living, country style, nostalgia, landscape, interiors, detail, still-life, colour, texture, shape, mood and reflection; a beautiful piece of book production that only needs to be seen to be desired. The breathtaking, beautiful photographs capture our yearning for living a simple country life, revelling in stunning landscapes, timeless interiors and close details of textures and objects. Yes it's a guide to country style, but its also a book of superb photography, a book to treasure and sheer balm for the soul.

Even in our straitened times, I'd ignore the high price of Conran's book. It's worth every penny and is an ideal candidate for a spot of handselling. The breathtaking beautiful photographs capture our yearning for living a simple country life, revelling in stunning landscapes, timeless interiors and close details of textures and objects. Yes it's a guide to country style but it's also a book of superb photography, a book to treasure and sheer balm for the soul.

Sue Barker - Bookseller

Jasper Conran is an internationally successful designer with a brand recognized all over the world. He is most recognized for his couture fashion and his diffusion line, J by Jasper Conran, for Debenhams. He also designs crystal and china for Wedgwood, glassware, homeware, fragrances, fabrics, jewellery, wallpaper and furniture. He has won numerous awards including British Fashion Designer of the Year and the Prince's Medal.

So far, Jasper Conran is probably more famous for his range of bags than as an author. Jasper Conran is a prolific designer and the current Jasper Conran Bag range numbers over 30 different designs.

You can order safely from Amazon.co.uk your favorite bookseller and all for just around £30 which is a generous discount.

If you are reading this in the USA you can get "Country" by Jasper Conran, right here.