Engelska

Tyresö Palace is a stately home south of Stockholm, owned by the Nordic Museum. Today it is encircled by urban expansion, yet it dominates the surroundings with its beautiful location at the highest point of a peninsula in the inner archipelago. The present palace was originally built in the 1630s, but the interior that visitors meet today shows what it looked like as a private country residence around 1900. The book tells about the history of the site, of the buildings and parks, and also about owners, servants and visiting artists.

Lucia celebrations on 13 December bring a gleam of light in the winter darkness. When there is hardly any daylight at all in the northern hemisphere, Lucia comes with hope of brighter times. The stately procession with a white-clad Lucia accompanied by her maids, star boys, and sometimes elves became common in the 1950s. But the feast of Lucia goes back much further in history, and it is one of the most varied traditions in Sweden. The celebrations can be traced back to several periods, places, and religions, and over the years it has been both simple and sumptuous, humorous and serious, innocent and indecent, sacred and profane, popular and aristocratic, private and public. Lucia provokes debate when many people claim to know how it should be celebrated, who should take part, and in what roles. This book spreads new light on a familiar tradition and invites further discussion. LENA KÄTTSTRÖM HÖÖK is an ethnologist and curator at the Nordic Museum, with responsibility for traditions and special occasions.

Från vikingar till miljöteknik över tusen år av möten I gravar från de gamla svenska vikingasamhällena Valsgärde och Birka har man hittat bevis för att kinesiska textilier fann vägen till Sverige för långt mer än tusen år sedan. Då var det kamelryggen och Sidenvägen som gällde. Idag, på 2000-talet, bedriver drygt 10 000 svenska företag handel med Kina och fler än 500 svenska företag har verksamhet på plats i landet. Under seklens lopp har Kina och Sverige fortsatt att mötas och utvecklas tillsammans. Kinesernas skottkärra har blivit ett måste för den trädgårdsintresserade svensken och vi har länge firat nyår, jubileer och bröllop med kinesiska fyrverkerier. Med den här boken bjuder vi på en historisk och nutida glimt in i relationen mellan Kina och Sverige. Finns tillgänglig på engelska och kinesiska (ange önskat språk vid beställning).

<p>What would Haga Park have looked like today if Swedish King Gustav III had survived the shot at the masquerade ball on March 16, 1792? Drawings and construction plans give us some idea. The English park was the new trend in Europe and Brunnsviken's varied nature was exceptionally suitable for such a park. Thus, Haga was thought of as a future Venice, an oasis where water channels would flow through the landscape and the king would spend his leisure time. Take an excursion to Haga and bring the book as a guide to see history unfold as told in the book<b>.</b> Or stay at home and let the text and images tell the fascinating story of Haga.</p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;">This book is the work of the stone conservator <b>Rikard Larsson</b>.</p>

<p>The New Year brings an opportunity to start again, to try to ensure that conditions will be better for the next year. This book tells about the history of New Year celebrations in Sweden but also about local and regional variations and global themes. It is only according to the Western Gregorian calendar that the new year begins on 1 January. Parallel to this there are other New Year festivals at different times in the year. Some are linked to religion, others to specific countries and regions, and others to different seasons. Some are based on lunar or solar calendars and can have movable dates in the calendar, while others are fixed. In Sweden, partly as a consequence of migration, there are New Year celebrations all year round, and the book also examines these.</p><p>Lena Kättström Höök is an ethnologist and curator at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, specializing in the study of traditions and festivals.</p>

<p>Rediscover Stockholm's Old Town with the help of this beautifully illustrated book. Read about the rich cultural heritage of its ornate portals with their stories of local life and their history stretching from the late Middle Ages to modern times. Follow the various shifts in architectural style while learning about 17th century stonemasons, about portals as status symbols and about the motifs and significance of their ornamentation. Read how the richness of the baroque portal is succeeded by the simplicity of 18th century designs, how new technologies and cast iron emerge in the 19th century  and, finallt, how the eatly 20th century brings about a renaissance in terms of craftmanship and the use of natural stone. </p><p>To everyone's great joy, the Old Town and its portals have survived into the modern era despite the threats of demolition and air pollution. With the help of the enclosed map and its markings, you can now plan your own exciting walks.</p><p>This book and its newly taken photographs are the work of the stone conservator Rikard Larsson.</p>

<p>Why does the Royal Palace of Stockholm look the way it does, why was it built and why on that particular site? With its large, block-like form, this magnificent yet curious architectural masterpiece is not easy to comprehend fully. To do so, one almost needs to take the whole structure apart, observe its details and play around with them in one's mind, before finally putting everything back together.</p><p>Either walk around the Palace and allow the architecture to speak for itself or admire it from a distance and experience its synergy with the city and surrounding water  while endeavouring to understand Nicodemus Tessin the Younger's life work and its history. </p><p>"<i>It is with great delight that I welcome the publication of this book entitled</i> The Royal Palace of Stockholm Beauty and Strength" Andreas Heymowski, Former Chief Architect of Stockholm Royal Palace</p><p>"<i>An introduction to Tessin's life work. In order to appreciate the Royal Palace fully, the uninitiated visitor must have a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Such a person now exists</i>." Clio, The Historic Book Club</p><p>This book is the work of the stone conservator<b> Rikard Larsson</b>.</p>