Arcadia Britannica Hardcover by Henry Bourne

Product Details

• Publisher: Thames and Hudson (2015-06-30)
• Language: English
• Pages: 192
• ISBN-13: 9780500517970
• Weight: 952.56 grams
• Dimensions: 26.42 x 20.07 x 2.03 cm

Wonderfully odd portraits of contemporary British folklore enthusiasts in their strange and spectacular costumes

Drawing on pagan Celtic, Germanic, and early Christian rites and beliefs, British folklore is a vibrant aspect of Britain’s cultural heritage that continues to flourish today. Notable for their music, storytelling, and particularly for the terrific display of costumes revelers wear, Britain’s folk festivals are at once great entertainment and a link with the nation’s rich cultural history.

Arcadia Britannica is the product of photographer Henry Bourne’s repeated trips to some of Britain’s greatest folk events: striking color portraits capture an eccentric collection of individuals in inventive outfits, including arboreal costumes, pagan-inspired creations, and historical garb. These were captured at events like the annual Jack in the Green festival held in Hastings in May, for which the town and its people are decked in green to welcome summer, and the Easter Sunday celebration in Bacup, Lancashire, where fiercely proud Britannia Coconut Dancers (or “Nutters”) perform their traditional seven dances. An accompanying text by Simon Costin provides the historical backstory and explains the folklore behind this wacky, inspiring collection of images.

About the Author

Henry Bourne is a photographer known for his portraits, architecture, landscape, and still-life work. He is a regular contributor to Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines worldwide as well as to T: The New York Times Style Magazine. His editorial photographs have also featured in Condé Nast Traveller, Wall Street Journal Magazine, Wallpaper* , and Vanity Fair, among other magazines. His work has been exhibited internationally and forms part of the permanent collection of portrait photography at the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Robin Muir is a writer and curator, specializing in photography. He was formerly a picture editor at British Vogue and the Sunday Times Magazine. He writes frequently for the international press, and his many publications include The World’s Most Photographed, Vogue Covers, and David Bailey: Chasing Rainbows.

Simon Costin is the founder and director of the Museum of British Folklore and the director of the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, Cornwall. He is best known for his catwalk show designs for Alexander McQueen.