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Dear friends, yesterday I received a remarkable book: "Sundial of the British Isles" edited by Mike Cowham. 1.450 grams, 300 x 225 mm, 272 pages and more than 500 coloured photos of sundials of the British Isles in good and very good quality by 51 photographers. There are 12 regional chapters (South West including Channel, , South and South East, London, East of England, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, North East, Scotland and Ireland), written by 30 authors, who either live in that regions or have a detailed and deep knowledge of the dial there. Each of them has done a tremendous job getting the various information together. And this is the charm of this fascinating book. The authors have its own personal view of the most beautiful and interesting sundials in his areas and describes its position, main feature and specific individuality. We find a lot of examples for regional styles of sundials : polyhedral in Scotland, Saxon in Northeast and slate dials in Wales and Cornwall. In addition to these area by area examples of sundials the books includes a specialist article (4p) on Early Dials of Britain, starting with Saxon and Scratch Dials. Another chapter describes the most beautiful vertical stained-glass sundials of historic buildings. 14 excellent photos of these rare and valuable dials. If your curiosity is aroused have a look at http://advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/. The editor himself has written a chapter of 6 pages, given a brief look at some portables sundials, made in Britain. 16 brilliant photos will lead you in temptation to sell his first book "A Dial in Your Poke". All dials chosen in regional chapters may be visited. This in not a technical book. Don't expect mathematical formulas. The appendix gives a glossary of terms on 2 pages, which sufficient to understand all the information, without being a sundial-enthusiast. The price is 49 . You pay less than 10 cents of each of the 500 photos and get a lot of useful information. You can use this book as a travel guide for your personal "sundial safari" in the British Islands. If I had a wish free: provide a slipcase, which protect the book in the car, when travelling in search for sundials. From my personal point of view: the book is a "must" for the enthusiastic sundial designer, collector and maker and highly recommended to those, who have an interest in the subject. And if I were rich man: I would buy two of the books as an instant gift for my two friends and another 99 for my acquaintances and customers, knowing that Christmas will come soon. A hint for those of you living outside the British Isles: join together for a collected order, e.g. post and package charge for one book to Europe is 13 . To Mike Cowham and all the contributors of this book : a big compliment from the continent. Peter
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