A few years ago as a high school student, I was given a 'book' as a Birthday gift from a great friend... It has certainly taken me these years and a few broken hearts later to realise that the gift was probably as much a lovely thing to give as it was a joy to receive. Because 'The Book of the Heart' by Louisa Young is an exquisitely written, beautifully presented, wonderfully illustrated study of the heart from every aspect: physical, artistically, emotional and historical...and after my broken hearts and those of the many, many men and women whose have broken in the times before me, I never stop wanting to learn about the magical muscle that seems to repair itself time and time again, from all types of adversity!
Below is a synopsis of my favourite book, which has been one of my top gifts I've received and something extremely special that I wanted to share with you.
"Why, when the heart looks, anatomically, like a fleshy whoopie cushion, is it so often portrayed as a scallop-topped, pointy-ended pink emblem with an arrow through and a declaration of love written across it? 'The Book of the Heart' is the lavishly illustrated story of the human heart through time and across the world, and divided - like the actual heart - into four chambers: the anatomical, the religious, the artistic and the romantic.
The first gives a history of anatomical knowledge of the heart, a factual account of its physical workings, a terrifying summary of diseases, and an overview of cardiac medicine from a Babylonian tablet of 2000BC until the era of transplant surgery.
The second chamber examines the heart as a religious and magical emblem. The Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Wounded Heart of Man, the Cult of the Sacred Heart, and Aztec human sacrifices are among Young's topics. So, too, is cannibalism, including Mike Tyson's threat to Lennox Lewis ("I want to rip his heart out and feed it to him"), and the doom of Sir Charles McCarthy, who ordered his regimental band to play "God Save the King" as a signal to Ashanti warriors to disperse, for which misjudgement his heart was ceremonially eaten on the banks of the Bonsu river.
The third chamber looks at depiction of the heart and their meanings, and includes a heartfelt defence of kitsch in religious art.
The fourth chamber celebrates lovers' heart juxtaposing the prophet Jeremiah with Al Green ("How can you mend a broken heart?"), and quoting Damien Hirst, Oscar Wilde, the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi and John Donne, among others. Blondie's "Heart of Glass", Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" and The Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul" jostle on the page with Matthew Arnold and a 15th-century King of Naples.
The book closes with macabre but gleeful notes on the fate of famous people's hearts. A cat ate Thomas Hardy's before it could be transferred to Westminster Abbey. Sir Nicholas Crisp's was put in a monument at Hammersmith, and given a refreshing glass of wine on the anniversary of its entombment – a practice that was continued for 150 years."
Its a MUST READ and after a quick google search I can see it is available to buy on Amazon or maybe try EBay or your local used bookstore!
Below is a synopsis of my favourite book, which has been one of my top gifts I've received and something extremely special that I wanted to share with you.
"Why, when the heart looks, anatomically, like a fleshy whoopie cushion, is it so often portrayed as a scallop-topped, pointy-ended pink emblem with an arrow through and a declaration of love written across it? 'The Book of the Heart' is the lavishly illustrated story of the human heart through time and across the world, and divided - like the actual heart - into four chambers: the anatomical, the religious, the artistic and the romantic.
The first gives a history of anatomical knowledge of the heart, a factual account of its physical workings, a terrifying summary of diseases, and an overview of cardiac medicine from a Babylonian tablet of 2000BC until the era of transplant surgery.
The second chamber examines the heart as a religious and magical emblem. The Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Wounded Heart of Man, the Cult of the Sacred Heart, and Aztec human sacrifices are among Young's topics. So, too, is cannibalism, including Mike Tyson's threat to Lennox Lewis ("I want to rip his heart out and feed it to him"), and the doom of Sir Charles McCarthy, who ordered his regimental band to play "God Save the King" as a signal to Ashanti warriors to disperse, for which misjudgement his heart was ceremonially eaten on the banks of the Bonsu river.
The third chamber looks at depiction of the heart and their meanings, and includes a heartfelt defence of kitsch in religious art.
The fourth chamber celebrates lovers' heart juxtaposing the prophet Jeremiah with Al Green ("How can you mend a broken heart?"), and quoting Damien Hirst, Oscar Wilde, the 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi and John Donne, among others. Blondie's "Heart of Glass", Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" and The Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul" jostle on the page with Matthew Arnold and a 15th-century King of Naples.
The book closes with macabre but gleeful notes on the fate of famous people's hearts. A cat ate Thomas Hardy's before it could be transferred to Westminster Abbey. Sir Nicholas Crisp's was put in a monument at Hammersmith, and given a refreshing glass of wine on the anniversary of its entombment – a practice that was continued for 150 years."
Its a MUST READ and after a quick google search I can see it is available to buy on Amazon or maybe try EBay or your local used bookstore!
