Richard Ingrams, editor of Private Eye and broadcaster, provides a selective overview of John Piper’s topographical work in the British Isles. Supported with Piper’s own words, Ingrams account is very accessible and readable. After a brief look at Piper’s background and upbringing he considers the various aspects of the artist’s work, first Abstracts, and then by location or circumstances such as Seaside, Brighton Aquatints, John Piper and John Betjeman, Wartime, Snowdonia and many more; each with a fairly short text and many illustrations. The book includes a bibliography and an index.

The book is illustrated throughout with examples of Piper’s work in a number of different media. There are around 125 colour plates, all of a good size with a very good number of them full page of double page spreads; plus over 25 monochrome illustrations, mostly drawings.

This really is a superbly illustrated book, the images are almost all reproduced as large as the page sensibly allows, the text is interesting and informative; and of course Piper’s varied and imaginative work is excellent. ( )