Book Description
The Griffin & Sabine saga has sold over 3 million copies worldwide, led to 12 international editions, and spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. Both longtime fans and new readers will be thrilled to see the series in an exquisite boxed edition. The Morning Star trilogy (The Gryphon, Alexandria, and The Morning Star) is now available in a stunning red slipcase-a handsome complement to the Griffin & Sabine 3-Volume Boxed Set. A fantastic gift for lovers of art, mystery, and romance, here is an essential purchase for both new and tried-and-true Nick Bantock fans everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Bantock scores another win with this trio!
Anyone who was captivated by the first three books in Bantock's imaginative Griffin & Sabine series--whether for the quality of the storytelling, the imagery, or even just for their creative design--owes it to themselves to check out these three followup volumes, which are every bit their equal on all counts. Even readers who are entirely unfamiliar with the Griffin & Sabine saga will, I think, find this trio a real treat and well worth the purchase price.

Griffin and Sabine live on!
This continuation of the Grifin and Sabine trilogy is fantastic. I read all three books in one sitting.

Well played Nick, you took our money and didn't deliver.
City girl and I recently read the six books.It was a delightful, warm, fun time, drinking wine and reading a book a night by the fire.I read aloud the male parts and she the female.We would laugh and wonder and hypothesize and puzzle over the meanings.They were wonderful memorable evenings.



My opinion of The Books:

He should have stopped at the first one!!

Like a movie company that sees dollar signs after a successful first run, Nick wrote a sequel that was a shadow of the original.The subsequent books prove to be good evidence that he had very little in mind as far as a story line goes and with the judicious application of vague, confusing and nonsensical teasings, he told us nothing.Just as "Jaws XXI" and "Halloween XVI" still brought the teenagers to the box office, so will "Sabine Becomes Cleopatra" and "Griffin Returns to Pleades" bring bring the Bantok herds stampeding into Barnes and Nobels.The cash registers will ring, Nick will smile, and the faithful will say, "May I please have some more?"

I didn't like his artwork either.

storyline doesn't quite live up to the artwork
About ten years passed for me between the time I first discovered the Griffin & Sabine trilogy and this Morning Star box set.It's hard to judge this work without comparing it to the merits of the first trilogy.The lovers in Morning Star are far less interesting and their passion seems to be more about physical tension rather than the loneliness and searching that brought Griffin and Sabine together from their vastly different worlds.The villan from the 3rd G&S story is back, but why he's interested in this new couple and how they relate to G&S is only vaguely hinted at.

You still get the guilty pleasure of reading someone else's mail, but because the two lovers already know each other, there isn't a sense of the story tensely unwinding as they are trying to figure out who they are in relation to each other.This trilogy seems to sacrifice the romantic tension and suspense of the first trilogy for a more philosophical statement about the connections between people.Nick Bantock's artwork is still amazing, but the story and characters in this series aren't as compelling as the images in the book.

Resistantto change
I was a huge fan of the first 3 books. I even got a tattoo based on one of the drawings but these last 3 somehow didn't have the same magic. I fell in love with Griffin and Sabine and their relationship but could never embrace the 2 new characters we meet in the later 3 books. The artwork is just as wonderful as the original 3 but to me some of the magic of the love story was lost in the last 3. They are still fun to read and worth owning, especially if you enjoyed the original 3. ... Read more

Book Description
With three million copies in print, the Griffin & Sabine Trilogyhas captivated readers worldwid with the saga of two unlikely lovers and the conspiratorial thrill of reading their private correspondence. It has been said that Nick Bantock's innovative fusionof lush illustration, creative storytelling, and pioneering paper technology created a new genre of fiction.To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this landmark publication, Chronicle Books and Nick Bantock have created this limited edition of Griffin & Sabine, available only while supplies last.It includes never-before-seen artwork, a special postcard, and a letter from Nick Bantock himself, all in a new binding.Whether reading it for the first time or the first time in ten years, the magic of Griffin & Sabine continues to weave its spell.A tribute to a legacy, Griffin & Sabine: Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition is destined to become a collector's item.

Visit griffinandsabine.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Great for reluctant readers
I discovered this book years ago and often give it as a gift; now I've discovered that it teaches well too.This mythic love story combines romance, mystery, fantasy, and art while making voyeurs of us all.My reluctant readers -- at-risk high school students -- find the story compelling, the art intriguing, and the open envelopes tantalizing.There's lots to discuss and write about, and the artwork just makes the classroom experience that much richer.The students remained involved from beginning to end, and once we finished the first book, they demanded to read the next two. Griffin and Sabine gets them reading and seeing the world in different ways.

How fun!
I just purchased this book.It is beautifully written and illustrated.It was fun seeing what I would be reading next whether it be a post card or a letter stuck in an envelope.Even though it does not take long to read, you could spend even longer examining the pictures.It was so intriging reading these letters that I almost felt like a voyer reading them, like it was none of my business.I am glad that after this book being published over 10 years I finally got my hands on it.I am readily waiting to get the next in the series!

Extraordinary masterpiece of literature & art
I already had a copy of the book and bought it once again as a gift for a friend since it is both a splendid piece of literature and work of art.

picture perfect
Griffin & Sabine is an engaging little art concept book.Nick Bantock presents an eclectic set of drawings, humorously juxtaposed as a correspondence between a post-card maker (Griffin) and his psychic amanuensis (Sabine).The story - told in the form of facimile letters - is forgetable.But the pictures and accompanying detail work are well worth the price of the book.

Across time and space...
Griffin and Sabine are located on opposite ends of the earth -- Griffin is a lonely artist in England, while Sabine is a mysterious native of the elusive Sicmon Island chain in the South Pacific. Somehow, these two unique souls manage to find one another via a postal correspondence, and it is this correspondence back and forth which comprises the Griffin and Sabine books. Griffin and Sabine come to realize very quickly that their lives are inextricably bound up with one another, and that their coming together, face to face, is of utmost importance, not only for their own sanity, but possibly for the fate of the very world. Unfortunately, meeting face to face is more difficult than each of them could ever have imagined, and their quest to reach out to one another in a world of smoke and mirrors forms the backbone of these books.

I have loved these books since I first read them several years ago, and I keep coming back to them and rereading them over and over. They are truly able to transport you from Sabines sun-drenched paradaisical island home, to Griffin's rain-soaked isolation, and into other realms that are far less easy to describe. Excellently wrought and wonderfully creative, I encourage anyone with an imagination to read this trilogy: "Griffin and Sabine," "Sabine's Notebook," and finally, "The Golden Mean." ... Read more

Amazon.com
Nick Bantock first burst onto the literary scene in 1991 with hisremarkable illustrated novel Griffin & Sabine--which was as much art as it was artifice. While chronicling the correspondence between two mysterious lovers, Bantock peppered his book with visual delights--macabre post cards, intricately designed stamps, exquisite envelopes that open to disclose hand-written letters. Sabine's Notebook and The Golden Mean soon followed to complete the trilogy. In many respects, The Museum at Purgatory resembles its predecessors, mixing metaphysics and art in a way meant to both puzzle and delight its readers. The narrator offers the basic premise early on: "My name is Non, and as Curator of the Museum here at Purgatory I am required by statute to facilitate, without judgment, the progress of all collectors assigned to these halls. It is my responsibility to act as their souls' guardian, as well as preserver of their accumulated treasures." Non then goes on to give a brief overview of the layout of Purgatory, a city that "takes a meditative, non-partisan view of reality" and where visitors are "faced with fundamental questions of self-worth" that must be resolved before they can move on.

In other words, this stopping place between heaven and hell is one big analyst's couch. Non's introduction to Purgatory scans like the overly formal, academic language one finds on informational panels in natural history museums--no doubt Bantock's intention. Unfortunately, this can become wearing after a while, and it isn't until the second half of the book when Non tells his own story (as opposed to the histories of the various "collections" under his care) that the prose loosens up somewhat.

But it's the illustrations that make Bantock's books special; it's unfortunate that several of them look as if they've escaped from a Dorling Kindersley guidebook--photographs of objects on stark backgrounds with a caption explaining their significance or use. Yet this museum contains some lovely examples of its author's art. As always, his stamps and postcards are exquisite--and how many cards are postmarked Nirvana or bear stamps from Inferno? This book may not equal the mystery or sheer beauty of the Griffin & Sabine trilogy, but Nick Bantock fans will still find plenty to intrigue and amuse. --Alix WilberBook Description

From magic carpets to miniature mummies to a room simply containing "obscure objects," Curator Non overseas all that is housed in the Museum at Purgatory, and afterlife way station where artists and collectors comb over their lives, trying to discover whether they are headed for Heaven or Hell.As Non takes readers on a fascinating tour through each of the Museum's rooms-- along with its contents and their owners -- he picks up clues about his own forgotten life, piecing together a past that finally allows him to conclude his own story.

Customer Reviews (13)

Not what I had hoped for
I have to say after all the great reviews on here, I expected more.I guess I prefer his more story form fiction to this which was more like a catalogue....but what's not for me is apparently for many others. :)

artistic pennance
Actually 3 1/2 stars.

Nick Bantock's Museum at Purgatory is an art concept book in which eclectic collections of drawings and found-art are tied together by a curious story line.The various collections are supposed to illustrate the eccentricities and struggles of dead souls.The concept is the same as Bantock's earlier Griffin & Sabine.But this larger book suffers from too much overblown prose and artwork that is mostly insipid.It's as if Bantock's back room had become cluttered with unused images, so he shipped everything off to Purgatory, hoping that they might benefit from our indulgence.

The museum at purgatory
One of the best books I read recently. Bantocks magic reigns free and''artsy'' in a absolute brilliant way. The curator take us into a journey through the museum chambers, while we get to know the contributors & their lives and the curators owntragical history. Althought its a fantasy book it makes us wish that someday we end up on a ever changing place, where good and evil had finnaly reached equilibrium, to find out if we really made the best of our lives. Even if all passages through Purgatory are not so happy, Bantocks artpieces(spread all over the book) make it sure more stylish.

A personal mythology
Bantock has a wonderful style, and this book may be my favorite among the ones I've seen.

Like the Griffin and Sabine books, it has a definitely mystical side. As the name says, it's about purgatory, but not Dante's. This is a place where people have work to do, and our protagonist works as a museum keeper. That sets the scene for a series of peculiar vignettes, the kind that make just a little too much sense.

Also like G&S, there's a distinctly autobiographical sense about the story. The last section is explicitly a fictional autobiography. Somehow, though, the stories have a grounded feeling that doesn't let me believe they are pure fantasy.

As much as I like the G&S imagery, I like this better. Bantock has moved his improbable talent for assemblage and collage into 3D. He has created several series of fictional artifacts, are as complex and multifacted as his works on paper. These images, so many being photos, have a clarity that G&S sometimes lost.

This is a brief but very enjoyable book, and one worth re-reading. The pictures just get better with each reading, and the stories seem to stay fresh.

A book to relish..over and over again
This book was a most wonderful experience for me.With each turn of a page, my imagination was stroked.A nice little tome to keep at bedside, when you need just a few moments of fasination before sleep. ... Read more

Book Description
When his grandfather dies, Armon inherits the family home in Ronda, Spain, and finds himself trying to unravel the surreal conundrum his grandfather has left for him. Armon begins to remember his childhood art lessons, and gradually, as his grandfather's studio takes hold of him, he finds himself pulled, day by day, toward a most extraordinary elliptic link with his past.

Binding art and text in a narrative marriage, Nick Bantock takes us to the Forgetting Room, where he teases us through a tale of discovery, revenge, alchemy, and Moorish legend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Blech.
Thank goodness this was a library copy, or I'd have felt most cheated.

The writing was clumsy, and strained at many instances.One can feel that Bantock is trying to be witty at times, but his 'set-ups' are so obvious it's paintful.
The pacing was off.There's a big lag in the middle.
The few pieces of 'art' seemed to have been thrown in because the whole story was so boring and self-indulgent.
Rich in symbolism?I find the whole exercise ponderous, and utterly contrived.

Borrow, don't buy this.

"Forgetting Room" by Nick Bantock
This book is like a breath of fresh air!!! It has amagic in a very heart felt story and its intriguing surrealistic symbolism. Aesthetically it is quite outstanding and made even more so in the intimate format of the book. I am now very eager to visit the small Spanish town of Ronda! I am sorry that it has taken me so long to discover the books of Nick Bantock, which I might add I am now collecting. As an artist I particularly identify with the author's work and have purchased additional copies of "The Forgetting Room" to share with others. The perfect word to discribe this book is that it is a treasure in its total sum of aesthetic worth and the revelation of the story!

Confusing
A beautifully designed book...not as much so as the Griffin and Sabine trilogy, but beautiful nonetheless. But this book has too many things that, to me, don't really have anything to do with the story. The concertina pages of questions for example. Even after he discovered the answers to them....what do they have to do with anything? I can't see where they fit into the storyline, except to add a bit of mystery to it. There is also the page with the instructions for the Forgetting Room. None of which were used or mentioned in the story. I know the book is meant to be surrealistic and mysterious, and it is most definately that, but it did leave me a bit confused and wondering about things. Like what was the point of the beautiful scar faced woman, Ceres. She adds nothing of worth really to the story. And why is the letter "A" the pass letter? Pass letter for what? Well, maybe this is what Bantock planned to do from the beginning, and that is to confuse the heck out of his readers. Well he succeeded with me. But I will read other books of his as it does give my brain a workout.

Beautiful!!
A beautiful book with a magical story....makes me want to paint!

Blood is thicker than water
I love the disclaimer about García Lorca's quotes, in which Nick Bantock blames any inaccuracies on his characters' faulty memories!

This story takes place in Ronda, a beautiful city in Malaga, Spain.The descriptions of the city are great, and the famous bridge ("El Tajo del Coño") is central to the story.I wish that the original painting that Armon makes of it had not been so obscured by the other elements of the collage.There were a few more things that bothered me.Paolo and Francesca are Italian names, not Spanish."Casa", not "cassa", is Spanish for "house".The appearance of Ceres is rather superfluous, and i do not know that she provides much to the story, other than to reiterate that Rafael was a special kind of man, and we already knew that.The ghostly images and hallucinations that Armon experiences in the final chapters are also a bit over the top.

Armon goes into a meditative mode once he arrives in Ronda.Reading between the lines, it is suggested that he was ripe for the epiphany he experiences towards the end.However, the transformation he suffers, the happiness and thirst for life that envelop him so rapidly, are far-fetched.You cannot shed your skin like if you were a snake at molting time.The very essence of you remains always with you, and Armon's melancholy is Armon himself.

The best part of the book, to me, is the analysis that Armon makes of his family relationships.The introspection that he experiences in the solitude of the studio is described in an exquisite way.I wonder how much autobiographical stuff is in Armon.

This novel is to me much more satisfying that the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy, despite discrepancies, artifice and Italian vocabulary.Armon's conversations with himself make this book worth it.One of the editorial reviews calls it a 'fairy tale', and that's right on the money. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Enticing mystery
In the tradition of Nick Bantock, it is an artful mystery more complex than many of his other works (all of which I intend to collect).It is short and combines both the metaphysical and curious ancient artifacts from other cultures.I am taken on a journey and led to think of possible connections between the items.I am sure I will reread this work many times.Each time finding something new.It's a journey in intimate archeology.I wonder what someone would think of me if they looked through my life's souveniers?

Beautiful and atmospheric
For those of you trying to get hold of this (as of 2005) out of print volume, I recommend ebay or abebooks. I paid only US$12 for a very nice used copy and I treasure it.

From an artistic point of view it's really a breathtaking little volume. Bantock really does put a lot of care and thought into his constructions and collages and you can spend hours examining them (as an engineer I like that sort of art!)

I did cheat and look up the answer, but for puzzle fans I would recommend sticking with it a while. I did notice that all the drawers had different patterns on the edges which appeared to be coordinates, and figured out that Ln and Wd meant lenght and width, but besides that some of the clues were truly puzzling. But then I worked on Riven for weeks and finally had to look up a cheat to finish it...

In any case, as popular as Bantock's other works are I am surprised that it hasn't been reprinted recently. If I am decoding the publishers page correctly I think that mine is a third printing, but that is not a negative since I enjoy the book collectible or not.

WHY did I ever lend this book out?
It was never returned, and I mourn its absence.

To me, The Egyptian Jukebox is the "Myst" of book puzzles. With a central theme that mixes Egyptology with Rock & Roll, woven together with intriguing little trinkets, cryptic narration, and a deceivingly simple riddle to solve ("Where do my worlds join?"), it will draw in anyone who ever dreamed of solving an ancient mystery or unearthing a lost treasure.

Many with short attention spans will discard The Egyptian Jukebox before long. There are no instructions explaining how to even begin. But if you are a creative thinker and problem solver (and perhaps just a little obsessive), this puzzle will be both amusing and rewarding. The solution will amuse you, but like a favorite novel, will leave you wishing that the book never came to an end.

A fascinating, if not exactly stupefying, puzzle
If you enjoy puzzles which carefully interweave illustration and prose, this is a good pick. The puzzle is challenging enough not to be boring, but it's not mind-numbingly hard like some others (notably Christopher Manson's"Maze," the only book of this genre I've liked better than thisone). The illustrations are beautiful, and the aura of enigma created bythe puzzle enticing.The only drawback I would cite is that once you makea certain intuitive leap in the puzzle's trickery, a bit of busy work liesbefore you to finish.But reaching that leap is reward enough. A goodpick, if you can track it down.

Why arn't you people reprinting this book!
I want to read this book very much but it has told me the same this for months, that it is not avalible! If any one knows where to get this book else where email me! locust@snet.net ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

A smooth, suspenseful, fast and very satisfying read
This is the seventh of Nick Bantock's books which I have read, the other six being the Griffin and Sabine series. This is similar, but also altogether and completely different, yet equally mystifying and unique and brilliant. I found myself very surprised and pleasantly so by the twist in the story, regarding the wealthy stranger who contacts the heroine with his mysterious offer. I related easily with the main character and was captivated by the sequence of events, told expertly through emails, letters and journal entries. It is sensual, exciting, and easy to get lost in. I highly recommend this, as well as the Griffin and Sabine books, to anyone who loves letters, old-fashioned romance and mystery and exotic people, places and ideas.

Loved It!!
I have been a fan of Nick Bantock for a very long time!!I stumbled on this by accident, luckily!!The story captures you from the very first page!!I couldn't put it down.I loved the e-mail correspondence.

Venetian's Wife
I found the illustrations beautiful but there were times that I found myself too distracted by the artistry of the book to actually want to read the page I was on. The story seems secondary to the illustrations.

Different Type of Book, Great Read
This is a great book for anyone interested in art, computer science, the Renaissance and Italy, or Indian mythology and religion. Bantock strikes again with his "illustrated correspondence" in which he mixes technology and modern ideas with Renaissance intrigue and thought of the lost manuscript of an ancient Indian manuscript. The reader will find themselves lost in the emails and correspondence between Sara (the protagonist) and her mysterious mentor, as she finds the mystery behind the manuscript and finds herself in a sensual journey about the power of love.

An eerie story
... but I mean that in a good way. Sara, the heroine, receives cryptic messages from a (seemingly) all-knowing spirit. He hangs in the half-world between life and death, with some arcane task not yet finished. She helps him complete what was not completed in life, and then ...

That would be telling. The fact is, the spirit (Conti) is a friendly, chatty sort and offers fair pay for services rendered. He even arranges some interesting (and quite businesslike) travel. He also has some suggestions regarding her would-be boyfriend. As it turns out, the suggestions aren't needed. Something larger than Conti is also involving itself with Sara, and is quite the opposite of the ominous, evil force that Sara might have feared.

This story may be Bantock's finest. It includes all of the themes that seem to fascinate Bantock: the alternatives to life and death, exchange between the human and the supernatural, and the growth of intimacy as a force in itself. Also, the story is wholly contained in one volume. I like that: I can see how the plot plays out without waitinga year or two for the next chapter. Some people might feel that closure impairs the sense of mystery. That's a matter of personal taste, though, so I can neither agree nor disagree.

Sad to say, the "Wife" includes less of Bantock's incredible artwork than any other book I've seen. His layered, complex story almost makes up for lack of his layered, complex art, but not quite.

Bantock fans: this a must-have. Bantock newcomers: you'll find more of his signature art in any of the other books published to date. ... Read more

Book Description
The mystery that began with a single enigmatic postcard reaches its dramatic conclusion in The Morning Star. Three million readers the world over await this last chapter of the best-selling Griffin & Sabine series, a volume of gorgeous artwork and passionate correspondence that crosses oceans and transcends realms. In these sumptuous pages lies not only the fate of Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims, but that of their unexpected kinship with Griffin and Sabine, as the long-distance lovers are drawn ever further from the safe haven of logic into a magical maze beyond the certainty of experience. Author and artist Nick Bantock draws on myth, memory, and his limitless imagination in a saga that has resonated with readers and lovers everywhere. The Morning Star marks the final destination on a journey across fabled landscapes and the uncertain terrain of the human heart-one to be savored and remembered long after the last page is turned.

Visit griffinandsabine.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

pleasing gift
Purchased the book as a gift to complete my husband's set. He was excited to get it and enjoyed reading and rereading it.

Perplexing
I could not resist getting the 2nd trilogy by Bantock but found it somewhat perplexing and or underwhelming.Maybe a book discussion group would help me understand this 2nd pairing better.

What happened?
As always, the artistic value is great, but what happened to the story? Although I did not find The Gryphon & Alexandria as compelling as the original trilogy, it still had a decent story line to follow.

I have to say that I was deeply disappointed with how the story concluded. There was no real closure, and it seemed that the ending was rushed and not really well planned out. I basically felt like this book was strictly to showcase the art rather than the text content. Such a sad thing.

It had the making of being something so classical and great, but fell flat on its face. I would recommend that readers stick with the original Griffin & Sabine trilogy and stop there.

Illuminated?? I'm still in the dark...
...either that or Bantock just forgot to hit the light switch. I must admit, despite the enigmatic characters, intriguing plot twists and refreshingly exotic artwork I've come to love from this series, what I was really holding my breath for with this final installment was clarification. Alas, it didn't deliver.

I have no gripes with the story, or the whole second series for that matter, up until the final two postcards. After six books and twelve years, did Bantock just write himself into a trap? Could it be that he lost direction in the end and saw no way out but to flash-cook up a conclusion in the guise of another puzzle for us to figure out? I doubt it, but I can't help feeling shortchanged. What exactly was Frolatti, and why was he so intent on keeping Griffin and Sabine subdued (wherever the heck they were)? After so much time, why was Matthew and Isabella's reunion so vague?

I love cliffhangers as much as the next person, but not when there's nothing more to look forward to. Disappointing.

The un-story
Frankly, I'm disappointed. The original Griffin and Sabine series had a wonderful spark of originality. This series is just too derivative.

I wanted to like this new trilogy. I like Bantock's art. There is so much in each picture that I can barely pull myself away for the text. I like the new plot elements that Bantock introduced. The cat with a name, Isabella's roar - these could have been rich new elements in the G&S mythology. They never went anywhere though, and left us re-reading the G&S story in somewhat different words.

If you're new to Bantock, the first G&S trilogy is your best bet. It's fresh, mysterious, and exciting. I just wish that this series could have deepened the mystery or sustained the excitement. ... Read more

Amazon.com
With a fanciful combination of postcards and letters, author Nick Bantock takes you on a romantic and suspenseful tour of an imagined world. The Gryphon is the delightful follow-up to the wildly popular Griffin & Sabine trilogy. This sequel doesn't disappoint; it's as quixotic and cloaked in mystery as the trilogy, replete with similarly captivating foldouts and handwritten letters. Each illustration is intricately drawn with special attention paid to the tiniest details, like the faded postmarks on exotic stamps. Old-fashioned letters create an atmosphere of adventure, surrounding you with colorful images of ancient symbols. The correspondence between the four players flies off to real and mythical lands conjuring up dark forces and love affairs. It is impossible not to want to know what happens next. If you were charmed by Griffin and Sabine, then it's absolutely unthinkable to miss The Gryphon. --J.P. Cohen Book Description
Griffin & Sabine, Sabine's Notebook, and The Golden Mean have sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and spent over 100 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list. At long last, Nick Bantock brings us a new volume in the Griffin and Sabine story. The Gryphon is a tale rich in the artistry, mystery, and surprise that make the original saga so beloved. Although readers will be drawn into the book without ever having read the trilogy, The Gryphon begins to answer the question that fans have been waiting eight years to answer: "What happened to Griffin and Sabine?" As their remarkable fates are gradually revealed, we are introduced to Matthew and Isabella, long-distance lovers who find themselves entwined not only in each other's lives, but also in a perilous and alluring intrigue. The drama literally unfolds from postcard to richly decorated postcard and as provocative letters are pulled from real envelopes. The Gryphon features stunning new imagery, offering glimpses of mythic dreamscapes and surreal creatures as only Nick Bantock could have imagined. For those meeting Griffin and Sabine for the first time, here's an introduction that will have them yearning to explore the earlier volumes. And for those who have already entered the enchanting world of Griffin and Sabine, The Gryphon is a delightful rediscovery of a truly extraordinary correspondence.

Visit griffinandsabine.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

More than just a book
There's a lot to like here. This book opens a series that is sequel to Griffin and Sabine, one of the most imaginative sets I've ever seen.

Like G&S, we see our characters only through their correspondence. This gives a delicious sense of voyeurism, of peeking in on unguarded moments between intimates. The book presents the postcards at standard size, usually with images on one side and text on the other. The letters are separate sheets, in envelopes that are built into the book. This creates a distinctive reading experience - the physical interaction between book and reader is very different from normal turn-the-page, and evokes a sense of personal involvement.

The imagery is rich and layered, in Bantock's signature style. The best of these pictures contain many elements, where each retains a distinct identity within the whole. Sometimes, though, the different components seem overworked and run together, an effect I find murky.

The plot is cryptic and eerie as in G&S, partly because this extends G&S. As in real life, the story moves forward in uneven increments, a step forward by this character, then a step by that one. It holds my attention, but doesn't seem to carry the drama of the original series.

This is a wonderful book and an uncommon experience in reading. Bantock struck sparks in the original Griffin and Sabine series that he tries to recapture here. 'Gryphon' continues the story capably, but lacks the freshness of G&S. Still, I'm looking forward to the next books in this set.

What took him so long!
I knew there was more to be written by Bantock than just the third book of G&S trilogy and sure enough after all this time he does it again.However, I was wanting more about Griffin and Sabine and I had hoped the baby picture at the end of the third book was an indication of more about them.Instead, Bantock begins with a new trilogy, with new lovers.But thank God he kept with his unique stlye of writing with letters and intriguing pictures and art work that varies through out the book making him a writer in his own class. His work is excellent and I started reading him years ago when I saw how beautiful his trilogy looked on a book shelf.That has led me to buy all his books including his address book and notecards and now my friends collect his stuff also.
If your not sure you want to read this book or the Griffin and Sabine trilogy than at least pick up the "Venetians Wife" and I guarantee you will change your mind. All of Bantock's books have an unusual theme filled with mystery, some romance and intrigue enough to make me read the books in one sitting.Please give one of his works a try especially if you are bored with the standard form of mystery writing.Bantock's books are a delight not only to read but to look at, even if you don't like this type of reading.BEWARE OF ALL THE CLUES AND TWIST IN HIS BOOKS.

Missed hearing from Griffin and Sabine
Once again, as he did in his Griffin and Sabine trilogy, Nick Bantock combines, in a most clever manner, both mystical thoughts and ideas using letters and postcards in his newest book, The Gryphon.With wonderful illustrations of stamps from far away places and beauiful calligraphy on notes which fold out from actual envelopes, the author engages his readers with further tales about Griffin and Sabine.While this book isa bit darker than his others and also engages two more characters in the search for Griffin and Sabine, overall this title is a welcome addition to the first three books which were so very unique when they were first published.

Now, after almost a decade's absence from the literary scene, its nice to know that Griffin and Sabine are alive and well. But if we still don't know exactly where they are in the world, one wonders if Mr. Bantock is having too much fun writing these books to ever let us find out.

Gorgeous artwork, but not as good as first G&S trilogy
I am happy to add this to my Griffin and Sabine collection, although the storyline isn't as strong as the first trilogy. The ending was way too abrupt. I have to hand it to Bantock, though -He makes you eager to get your hands on the next book in the series! There's still nothing else like his books on the market, so I continue to enjoy the originality of these books.

Gripping but... open-ended
This was a book that I literally fell into. I ended up plopping on the floor next to the shelf to read the whole thing in one sitting. I was enchanted by the intrigue, but frustrated in the same way I would be in real life, because nothing is really revealed in this book. It rather felt transitional. But I closed the book feeling honored to have read the secret correspondances that continue Sabine and Griffin's adventures.

If you are following the clues in this entire story, I don't recommend skipping this book. It is yet another step and that in itself is a revelation. We are reading someone else's private mail in this series and yet, we are trying to piece the legends together... but its going as slowly as life does. So, instead of looking for a payoff (like any kind of an ending), enjoy the process, the deliciously rich artwork will take you off to exotic lands and you will feel well-traveled and energized at the end of the book. That is, if you have parked your disbelief at the door before leafing through The Gryphon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sly....
If you liked the subversiveness of Ogden Nash, you'll love these beastly little verses! Plus, the presentation is exquisite: Shiny purple box with a wicked-looking rabbit behind the wheel of a car on the cover, opening up to two hidden compartments, one each for the cassette and book, each compartment whimiscally illustrated with bull dogs and ducks! NICE.

Further ramblings from the artist/poet
In this now out of print volume, Bantock explores the spoken word. For anyone who has enjoyed the visual stimuli of the Griffin & Sabine books, or the mesmerizing narrative of The Venitian' Wife, or the Forgetting Room. The poetry calls to mind a more off-beat Shel Silverstein. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description
His internationally best-selling Griffin & Sabine saga is treasured for its blend of lyrical storyline and compelling, imaginative art. Now Nick Bantock gives a short course in visual creativity in Urgent 2nd Class. A tour through the techniques and materials which constitute his signature style, Bantock shares with readers numerous ways ways of using old paper ephemera -- maps, letters, postcards, ledgers, scraps, photos, and many more items -- to create their own idiosyncratic art. Written for people of all artistic skill levels, the materials mentioned are all easily found and inexpensive, and the processes are simple enough to do at home (and with access to the most advanced machinery used in the book, a photocopier). An inspirational guide to the simple artistic techniques which can alchemically transform ephemera into remarkable works, Urgent 2nd Class is the handbook for a new generation of visual poets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

If You Love Bantock...
I'm a Nick Bantock fan, through and through, so I enjoy any book that gives me insight into his creativity.If you have any urge to make epistolary art, this book will inspire and delight you.Even if you don't want to make your own postcards,you will enjoy reading what makes him tick.

Another HIGHLY recommended Bantock book (even better than this one, in my opinion) is The Artful Dodger.

Not really a "hot to" book, but fascinating nevertheless
Bantock is probably best known for his "Griffin & Sabine" saga, consisting of slightly warped three-dimensional collections of fictional correspondence, and it's the sort of art he incorporated into those works that he discusses here. I'm a stamp collector myself with a special interest in heavily engraved 19th century stamps from countries and colonies most people have never heard often featuring obscure subjects. Likewise, as a professional archivist, I also have a fondness for old letters and their postmarked covers, old bureaucratic documents with seals, rubber stamps, and arcane endorsements, and antique maps of places that may no longer exist. All of this is grist to Bantock's mill and the imaginative ways in which he incorporates such elements (sometimes into collages, but not always) are perfectly fascinating. Since this isn't a manual on how to draw or paint with oils, the actual instructions are few; he simply shows you intriguing examples and says, in effect, "Here's one way you can do it." It's more a source for inspiration than a manual. But it's a neat book.

Most reviewers already have it right....
I love Nick Bantock. In my eyes he can do no wrong. His art is simply brilliant but like others have mentioned, this is not a real "how to" book. It does give you some things to think about and there are ideas afoot but you won't come away lots of new and exciting skills. That's ok...if you are a NB fan. His creations are worth the price of admission.

Disappointing
This book wasn't what I was hoping for in that the ideas and examples are all too similar in final product. I believe that because I am not looking for altered books genre per se, this book is not for me. I would reallly like to sell it back, otherwise I am stuck with it.

Vintage Bantock but not a step-by-step book
I enjoyed Urgent 2nd Class because it was put together by Nick Bantock, who charmed me with the Sabine series and the Artful Dodger and others too numerous to mention. His images are multilayered and artful. He does talk about how some images were made (ephemera, Bantock-designed rubber stamps) but he does not show you step by step how to accomplish any particular image. And his ephemera may not be available to the average person. He does by from dealers in Vancouver BC, giving him an advantage over those in small towns.
This is not a shortcoming, however, if you have other books that show you the construction and layering of stuff. The beauty of Bantock lies in his imagination, his imagination. He does encourage the reader to use their own, and that's a gift. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The final culmination of a transcendent correspondence
Griffin and Sabine are located on opposite ends of the earth -- Griffin is a lonely artist in England, while Sabine is a mysterious native of the elusive Sicmon Island chain in the South Pacific. Somehow, these two unique souls manage to find one another via a postal correspondence, and it is this correspondence back and forth which comprises the Griffin and Sabine books. Griffin and Sabine come to realize very quickly that their lives are inextricably bound up with one another, and that their coming together, face to face, is of utmost importance, not only for their own sanity, but possibly for the fate of the very world. Unfortunately, meeting face to face is more difficult than each of them could ever have imagined, and their quest to reach out to one another in a world of smoke and mirrors forms the backbone of these books.

I have loved these books since I first read them several years ago, and I keep coming back to them and rereading them over and over. They are truly able to transport you from Sabines sun-drenched paradaisical island home, to Griffin's rain-soaked isolation, and into other realms that are far less easy to describe. Excellently wrought and wonderfully creative, I encourage anyone with an imagination to read this trilogy: "Griffin and Sabine," "Sabine's Notebook," and finally, "The Golden Mean."

The CharactersWill Grab You and Not Let Go
"The Golden Mean" is the best of the three books, in my humble opinion. The ending is satisfying and still somehow mysterious. Bantock doesn't spoon-feed his readers information, he seems to want to encourage them to make up their own minds about the nature of Griffin and Sabine's relationship, What It All Means, etc. Altogether, it's a wonderful, nerve-wracking book.

Oh...
In some ways I felt like this series wrapped up too neatly, and in other ways I felt like it should have been more wrapped up. Oh well. Still a magnificent work of art combined with a compellings and intruiging story.

This will get you thinking
The hauntingly beautiful writings, will keep you returning to this book (and the previous two) to search for the meaning.

Amazingly enthraling and engaging, wonderfully illustrated.
Nick Bantock needs to be congratulated for his amazing work in the Griffin and Sabine triology.His superb illustrations bring an intriguing story to life.Watching the correspondence of Griffin and Sabine unfold in thesewonderful books is like watching a private moment unfold from the window. As you peak in at these two wonderfully real characters you not only can'twait to turn each page to see what is said but what is drawn.The style ofthese books was so well done they deserve the highest recognition.Therealism used to create actual letters and postcards between Griffin andSabine for the reader to take out and hold only adds to this amazingexperience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Surreal Romance & Philately
Surreal romance, Philately, amazingly beautiful postcards and a page turner.This is a beautiful gift for your self or someone else.I have all books and the post-cards.Sorry the series ended

Across time and space...
Griffin and Sabine are located on opposite ends of the earth -- Griffin is a lonely artist in England, while Sabine is a mysterious native of the elusive Sicmon Island chain in the South Pacific. Somehow, these two unique souls manage to find one another via a postal correspondence, and it is this correspondence back and forth which comprises the Griffin and Sabine books. Griffin and Sabine come to realize very quickly that their lives are inextricably bound up with one another, and that their coming together, face to face, is of utmost importance, not only for their own sanity, but possibly for the fate of the very world. Unfortunately, meeting face to face is more difficult than each of them could ever have imagined, and their quest to reach out to one another in a world of smoke and mirrors forms the backbone of these books.

I have loved these books since I first read them several years ago, and I keep coming back to them and rereading them over and over. They are truly able to transport you from Sabines sun-drenched paradaisical island home, to Griffin's rain-soaked isolation, and into other realms that are far less easy to describe. Excellently wrought and wonderfully creative, I encourage anyone with an imagination to read this trilogy: "Griffin and Sabine," "Sabine's Notebook," and finally, "The Golden Mean."

An experience !
Reading this book is an exciting experience to read correspondence between two people who seem to touch ones life. Reading this truly does make one want to revifve the lost are of the letter. I can't wait toread the next one in the series.

A continuation of the trilogy of novelty books
SABINE'S NOTEBOOK is the second volume of Nick Bantock's trilogy that begins with GRIFFIN AND SABINE and ends with THE GOLDEN MEAN. It continues the correspondence between London artist Griffin Moss and South Seas incubus Sabine Strohem. It's a visually tantalizing book, containing actual envelopes glued to the pages with actual letters inside that can be taken out and read.

By the beginning of SABINE'S NOTEBOOK it has become clear that Sabine is merely a creation of Griffin's imagination. Griffin has received Sabine's notice that she is coming to London (on a card with no stamps...) but afraid of meeting his own hallucination he flees to Ireland, beginning a trip that will take him around the world. The notebook of the title is Sabine's record of Griffin's correspondence as she waits in his house in London awaiting his return. The connection of the story to W.B. Yeat's poem "The Second Coming" becomes much more tangible and a direct quote from the poem brings this volume of the trilogy to a finish.

Like the first book, SABINE'S NOTEBOOK is second-rate literature. Nonetheless, it is still an interesting novelty that is worth reading even though it's really Bantock's amazing images that matter. Considering that one can read the entire trilogy in about half an hour, these books aren't an undue demand on one's time. I tend to believe a young-adult audience would appreciate this books best, as I read the trilogy when I was a teenager and found them much more captivating then I did on a recent rereading.

Makes you want to pick up a postcard and write a friend.
Words can not describe what Nick Bantcock has combined with pictures and postcards. He actually pulls you in as you must open envelopes to read the ongoing correspondence. Buy a bottle of wine, build a fire and join yoursignificant other for a journey that will not leave you disapointed. ... Read more

Book Description
Alexandria will continue to delight the 3 million readers who fell in love with the epistolary romance of Griffin & Sabine. Awash with gorgeous artwork, the mystery of Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem now entwines Matthew Sedon, an archaeologist steeped in Egyptian antiquity, and Isabella de Reims, a student in Paris whose vision holds the key to a new reality. Intrigue turns to danger and romance turns to passion as Matthew and Isabella struggle to make sense of a world-and feelings-beyond experience. Only the guidance of Griffin and Sabine, expert navigators of myth and reality, can keep them safe. Author and artist Nick Bantock brings a new sensuality and romance to his vivid dreamscapes and unique visual perspective. Alexandria is a breathtaking new chapter in a saga that has captured hearts, minds, and imaginations the world over.

Visit griffinandsabine.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

as confused as ever but wanting more
After having read and reread all six of these very creative, interesting and unusual books, I still have yet to sort it all out. I have to report they are very "out there" for the person looking for a light read.
Please read them, you will be left wanting more.

Hoping for more
I like the novelty and skill in Bantock's work - I like it a lot. It's just that I don't see a lot of his novelty in this second trilogy. In the first series, a man is driven to some unseen fate by correspondence from a mysterious, other-wordly being. In this series, a couple is driven to some unseen fate by correspondence from a mysterious, other-wordly couple.

The format is very evocative. It's a voyeuristic look at the letters and postcards between the dramatis personae. We actually open the envelopes and read their mail. It gives a sense of naughtiness - "Is it OK for me to do this?" It's the same format as in the first series, though. The freshness is off it, it can't be a new experience again.

I would have been a lot happier if this series gave new information. Where is Paolo, or the Sicmon Islands? Who or what is Frolatti, and what is Frolatti's involvement? How does Sabine do - well, I'm not sure what she does.

I like Bantock's layered art (even when it's over-worked) and his fascination with stamps and postmarks. I really do want to see the story of Griffin and Sabine move forward. The tale seems to have stalled, though. Perhaps his success with the original G&S has left Bantock nervous about changing his formula.

The Entire Griffin & Sabine Collection is a gift!
These books are themselves, works of art. Not for the obvious reason of a tale well told, but for the delivery of that story as well.By way of personal corresponence, the reader is immediately drawn into the story of Griffin and Sabine, and later, Matthew and Isabella. Each postcard, stamp and letter add a graphic element that ties to the story at one point or another. Reading other's mail is unmistakably fun, but one cannot help but feel protective of these two couples; are they crazy or is someone really trying to bring them harm?

My teenaged daughter introduced them to her fellow bookloving friends at sleepaway camp and they were passed around the cabin,9 girls in all, with nothing harmed or torn when they came back home with her! That's a miracle, but they knew they weren't just reading a book,too. I recommend the entire series whole-heartedly!

Cooling off period
This book has the same visual flair as the previous books- it's the narative that seems slack. To be fair, these books are more about feeling and emotion than plot, but nothing seems to happen in this one- I didn't feel it had much focus. It might be time to wrap the plot up in a book or two.

Down fall
This was a really great story told in a really cool way but with this last book it almost all gose down hill. What was mistrious is now sappy a qultia. This is the down fall of the a great story. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Few books are more romantic than this trilogy, nor more surreal. Griffin Moss is a rather doleful, lonesome, gaunt, and haunted postcard designer in London. Sabine Strohem is an illustrator of stamps living on an island in the South Pacific. One day Griffin gets an extraordinary letter from Sabine revealing that she knows all kinds of things about his life and work--somehow, she can share his soul from afar. They start exchanging love letters, yet it remains an open question whether Griffin and Sabine are two hearts that mystically beat as one, or simply illusory."You're a figment of my imagination," Griffin accuses Sabine. "You cannot turn me into a phantom because you are frightened," Sabine replies. Phantom or soul mate, Sabine is pursued across the globe by Griffin in an increasingly impassioned fashion, and the mysteries deepen.

The legendarily popular trilogy of books containing the Griffin-Sabine correspondence literally contains the correspondence: postcards, front and back, and letters in envelopes pasted into the book, which the reader must open and read--a temptation few can resist. Nick Bantock's story was way ahead of the computer game Myst, with which it shares a moody allure. Bantock designed hundreds of book covers (for Philip Roth, John Updike, and others) before he fled London for a lovely island off the west coast of Canada with his rather Sabine-like artist wife and became improbably famous by dreaming up this trilogy. His artwork is gorgeous, and countless romances have been intensified by exposure to that of Griffin and Sabine. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Incredibly imaginitive...
This story takes you on a wildly unexpected journey between Griffin and Sabine.Just when you think you know where it's headed... you are taken to a completely different place!Incredibly imaginitive... beautifully designed artwork... Loved it!

Beautiful, intriguing and enchanting!
There is something incredibly exhilirating about reading other people's correspondence; that is essentially what you do when you read this trilogy. But there is more... it is a lovely and engaging love story with sufficient intrigue and mystery to keep you going from book to book. The illustrations are superb and are basically a feast for the eye.

A truly unique set
These are just beautiful books...a thin but intriguing story line but extraordinary presentation with wonderful art.Read the letters in the envelopes or the postcards...They're unlike anything I've ever seen.We're giving each of our kids a set as gifts.

Worth a hundred smiles
I give this book an "All the Stars in the Sky."

Beautiful & Inspiring

I first stumbled upon Griffin & Sabine in a tiny bookshop on my college campus. Years later I still re-read it and think about it often. The story is enchanting and the format of reading the correspondence through letters and postcards is very engaging. The artwork is creative and lovely as well, and I find myself returning to the books for inspiration again and again. Owning the boxed-set is a dream come true, as you'll want to read the other books as soon as you finish the first! ... Read more

Amazon.com
As 3 million readers can attest, Nick Bantock's Griffin and Sabine trilogy is the world's most original epistolary novel. It contains (physically contains) the correspondence of Londoner Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem of the Sicmon Islands in the South Pacific--colorful postcards and letters in envelopes pasted into the book, which the reader must open and read. In his gloriously illustrated autobiography The Artful Dodger, Bantock explains the allure of opening letters: it's "a sort of cross between Christmas and sex." And when the letters illuminate somebody else's mysterious love affair, it's all the more delicious.

Griffin and Sabine really are mysterious, and it's tricky to piece together their story from the fanciful, surrealistic bits the text, maps, stamps, and pictures provide. That's why fans will be ravenous to read Bantock's charmingly straightforward memoir, which lets us in on all kinds of secrets about his symbols and visual sources. Winged figures always signify transition, he says, "whether on a monkey, an angel, or a devil." Sabine's Sicmon Islands home derives from the English expression "sick as a parrot," which connects with the parrot on the first book's cover and expresses Griffin's ailing English soul--what he needs is a sensual, elusive Sabine to get his blood up. Both characters are warring parts of Bantock's own psyche.

You don't need to know a thing about them to revel in this book. It's spellbinding in its own right, partly for the artless narrative, but mostly for the hundreds of pictures and the fascinating intricacy of Bantock's creative process. Sabine done in ghostly charcoal and gold dust is exquisite, no matter who she might be. It's a bit spooky to learn that a 1970s French stamp Bantock bought from his local shop to go with one of Sabine's postcards turns out to have been classified as "Type Sabine" by the French Philatelic Society. It was taken from a David painting of the Sabine women, and was meant to symbolize "union"--the central theme of Bantock's trilogy.

There is plenty besides his greatest hit to delight the eye here. The book cover illustrations are arresting, particularly for Peter Ackroyd's bio Chatterton (though his depiction of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land is drably silly). His pop-up books of Jabberwocky and The Egyptian Jukebox (a series of drawers full of museum-like objects that tell the tale of a mad millionaire's travels) are brilliant. Bantock's gift for collage does honor to his idol, Joseph Cornell, without being derivative. His wildly improbable life story proves that fate shares his enthusiasm for flights of fancy. --Tim Appelo Book Description
Nick Bantock's enigmatic and unique work is celebrated in this lavishly illustrated engagement calendar. The Artful Dodger features over 50 illustrations from such popular works as the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy, Capolan, and The Forgetting Room. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A pleasant collection
If you like Nick Bantock's work, you'll probably like this. It's not exhaustive, but a good collection of his work from 1970s art school through the publication date. That includes illustrations for book covers, some of which I almost remember from the original books. It includes illustrations from unpublished children's books, material not found elsewhere.

Of course, it includes extracts from Griffin and Sabine. Those may be my favorites - I think there is material here that extends the G&S story, but was never in the original books. It also covers The Venetian's Wife and Museum at Purgatory, both of which I enjoyed. There isn't enough from any of the books to spoil them for the first-time reader, though. This is a summary of Bantock's work, not a complete catalog.

There is some biographical information here, mostly covering his career from college through book publication. I was a little put off by parts of it, though. Bantock has certainly been successful as an illustrator, and rightly takes pride in that accomplishment. His pride tends towards smugness, though, not something the reader needs to see.

Still, it's a good coffee table book. It's easy to thumb through, and has material that was not already presented in his other books. It would have been even better with a bit more artwork, or at least a bit less self-congratulatory text.

Thoroughly enjoying to read and view!
After reading and loving Bantock's Griffin & Sabine trilogy I stumbled upon this book. I was thrilled to learn background information straight from the author. I loved the trilogy but was left curious about the author and the works of art themselves. I enjoyed seeing his work develop over time and found it interesting to read about how he got started in his professional art career. I also appreciate his candid comments about the publishing industry and that he shared some negative opinions of his work with us-it shows he is not arrogant or an egomaniac!

I loved that the images are laid out chronologically. This book contains a lot of previously published work but that is fine with me-how else would he discuss his works if we could not look at them while reading about them?!? I liked reading what led him to begin working on a certain project or what drew him to continue working with a medium (i.e. designing his own stamps). I liked hearing where he gathers pieces to use in his collages and how he puts his collages together. After reading this book I have an even deeper appreciation for his books and artwork.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this cover-to-cover and delighting in his gorgeous artwork. It is truly inspirational. As a person who is naturally better at writing than making art, I envy Bantock's ability to make such beautiful and thoughtful artwork!

Ok, I know that
everyone else LOVED this book. I liked it as well.But I do have his other adult books so many of the illustrations are redundant to me. Also, I find him a bit smug and self-important at times. Most of the illustrations are extremely beautiful, but I disliked the children's books artwork, it seemed to me as if a different, more immature (in the sense of mastery of the craft) artist did those. I would have liked to see more paintings that had not been already published, as this book seems a rehash of his same old stuff.

Fun and engaging work for fans
Autobiography written in a very relaxed, informal, and fun style.Excellent use of samples of his work from various times in his career as a great counterpoint to the text.Absolutely recommend this for people who are already fans of his work, and I also recommend it for people who like to learn about the creative process, how a particular artist develops their style and what their inspirations are.

A Marvel
I have always been a fan of Nick Bantock. BUt they true beauty of this book is the following: You get to view his art work and the transitions they go through from his college days on. Further he writes all about his art work at the certain time, and why he did what he did. etc... It is an upclose and personal view of this shiny artist. I was very inspired by this book as I ma an artist as well. A MUST GET ... Read more

Book Description
With the same romance and drama that put his Griffin & Sabine saga on the New York Times best-seller list for over 100 weeks, selling three million copies in 12 international editions, Nick Bantock presents an unforgettable story of one woman's journey to self-discovery. Ana, a striking young dancer, is promised in marriage to a man she doesn't love. No one understands her reluctance to wed. After all, isn't Marco a fine man? Won't the union of their two families benefit her people? And yet Guided by her heart and forces she does not yet recognize, she flees to the exotic port of Serona in search of Felix Bulerias, a man reputed to have the answers she seeks. But along the way, the attentions of four unusual men threaten to lure Ana in directions that she could never have fathomed and lead her down a path of sensuality and understanding beyond any she could ever have imagined. Bantock's compelling narrative is accompanied by over 200 masterful color collages that form a frieze throughout. Brimming with myth and intrigue, Windflower is sure to enchant Nick Bantock fans the world over. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Start with his other books first
I am a Bantock fan from way back and have everything he's ever written.Given how much he has influenced the graphic 'look' of the past decade and how much the mixed-media altered book style that he started pervades the book world these days, it is often easy to lose sight of how revolutionary his work has been.That being said, I'm afraid I found this book rather disappointing. The illustrations (better described as decorations) were rather token and to me felt almost diluted, with none of the richness or raw energy of previous work.I don't know whether there was more photoshopping than usual, but they felt a bit slick and souless, and the story rather laboured and obvious.Both lacked the intuitive grace, ingenuity and subtlety of previous novels such as The Forgetting Room (my favourite) or The Venetian's Wife.Still, a nice bit of escapism and a good gift book.But if you are looking for something magical from the author of Griffin and Sabine, start with his other books first. They are still among the best of their kind.

A big departure from Bantock's previous works
Having been a great fan of Bantock's previous works such as The Griffin and Sabine series, and more recently, The Venetian's Wife, I pounced on this book when I found it at my local library. Unfortunately, it was far from what I expected. This is purely a novel with nicely illustrated pages, but the illustrations do little to tell the story, they are merely there as embellishments. Here, it is the words that tell you the story, unlike his previous works where the illustrations 'speak' to you. None of that here. The cover is most appealing, portraying a beautiful woman & the story is about a woman's quest for self-discovery. Ana belongs to a nomadic tribe, the Capolan, and is promised in marriage to a man she doesn't love. This leads her to take the drastic step of leaving, to seek answers to the questions she has. The story itself is well-told, but seriously, as a long-time Bantock fan, I'd rather he stick to his tried-and-true medium of reaching out to readers than efforts like this. His gift is in giving voice to his illustrations, and this just isn't that.

Working Alchemyne 101
In this mass age of books about alchemy, it is nice to experience a book that is alchemy. The gross weight of the pages balances the lightness of the images, giving it a fair shot at solving Herme's Secret.

As far as the fans of the author go, there is much `hare' to delight: you can ponder the mokita he proposes, contemplate the meaning behind the number (216) of pages, explore the `Contiesque' element behind the work (although that will require exploring all of the medium the gentleman employs), wonder about the A/O nature of the first (and last) word, or just enjoy the way exposure to sunlight helps the images emerge and transform on the page.

Still, there are questions left unanswered. What role did Joyce's "Advice to the Artist as a Jung Man" play in shaping the hero(ine)'s journey and switching voices to give us the experience of a dancer's awkwardness in learning a new rhythm? Should a book like this one come with a `see note' to working alchemists: `A serious play to solve the Emerald Tablet sets things in motion, so you will need to re-think your experiments.'? And what is the best way to serve artistic sole?

Like water seeking its own level, the ideas in this book take time to sink in.

Very disappointing
I am a huge fan of Nick Bantock and his trilogies, and was looking forward to his latest novel. This story was not intriguing as his past movels, and the "artwork" was almost non-existent.I was so disappointed, and suggest that if you want to read it, check it out of the library and don't waste your money.I'm going to re-read Griffin & Sabine again, just for the thrill of it.

something different
This is a departure from Nick Bantock's previous published work, in that the incredible images are drawn with words with only an intimation of artwork here. All the mystery and attention to detail is still present though, and the story has a different kind of depth and complexity, one that draws the reader in and evokes its pictures in the consciousness