Derek Jarman's Sketchbooks

The insights to be gained from an artists sketchbook are immeasurable. This publication is punctuated with essays and commentary which is very helpful and offers much insight into some of the more obscure details. There are great details and full page reproductions of selections from Jarman's later Sketchbooks with photographs of the artist and other collected biographic details. While the book is beautifully produced I would like to have seen unedited reproductions of the entire sketchbook pages - Having undertakes a significant degree of archival research into other artists I know that one of the key documents is the sketchbook - and this is also one of the most closely guarded items in an artists estate. Handling this kind of original document can be an issue and for this reason a full reproduction of the sketchbooks would have been most welcome.

This book makes you want more; it is the glutton in me. I absolutely loved the lay out of the bits of life from the sketches and how they merge as I thought of the fl The Devils,,a great set.white tiles and black insertions. The Caravaggio comes to mind often as I read, a brilliant homage to Caravaggio on film who, for Jarman, is still with us in our formative creations, abstract, what you will. I am thinking of Chapter 3, "Caravaggio," and the selections Jarman selected to concentrate in his breathtaking film, "Caravaggio." The sepia-colored picture of Caravaggio's death of the Virgin recalled for me the realism of the subject Caravaggio used, a woman drowned in the Tiber (I may be wrong on the location) Jarman strips it of color(they are muted in the original) and helps one focus on death itself as an "event" that is not an option. There is also here a haunting beauty in the sepia, that leads one into the spell-binding photos, e,g, of Caravaggio himself, and certain other paintings by him.This book is a must for those who want an experience that is definitely unique and powerful.Bravo!

I have seldom felt ripped off by a book, but this one accomplished that. Sketches to me are drawings of people, places or things. These 'sketches' are nothing more than pictures of 'stuff'. Things like ticket stubs, programs, illegible scribbling and most fascinating of all, the covers of his books, e.g. dogeared brown squares. It took me about twenty minutes to go through it before throwing it in the trash. Farthing must have had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he created this. Hopefully after people learn what it is, he won't be laughing all the way to the bank.

This book greatly exceeded my expectations. I've followed Derek Jarman's films, writings and artwork for many, many years, and met him a number of times during the Edinburgh Festival. What I've seen of entries in his sketchbooks has intrigued and inspired me, so I decided to treat myself to this beautifully-produced book. When I purchase art books, I often skip the essays, as they are often dry and academic, and don't enhance m experience of the artwork. In this book, the opposite is true. The written pieces ('essays' is the wrong word) are personal and anecdotal, beautifully written, and add something very special to this very, very special book.

Excellent gift for my friend who had been to the Derek Jarman Dungeness exhibition in London for her birthday. A high quality book, well packaged and arrived swiftly.

This beautiful facsimile of the alst notebooks of the poet gardener film mkaer writer maestro and impresario Derek Jarman is to be relished treasured and returned to-and sharedw ith those you most care for

A fabulous book, very interesting

Interesting, well presented, would recommend to anyone who is interested in Derek Jarman. Makes a great present and a great read.