Treasures of the British Museum

The BM is the greatest treasure house in the world and it could fill many books with pretty pictures ... but this is more than that. A choice selection of topics, some well known and obvious (Sutton Hoo, the Royal Cemeteries at Ur, the Elgin Marbles), others less obvious (the Folkton Drums, the Lothar Crystal), fifty in all, serve as the basis for description and discussion of both objects and collectors and the way in which the BM has acquired them. This unusual and interesting approach makes for a magnificent book: superb pictures, highly readable descriptions and lots of human interest anecdotes. The 2009 edition is significantly expanded with twelve new objects discussed, representing a refocusing away from Europe and the Near East and also showcasing artefacts, such as the Ringlemere Cup, acquired over the last few decades. About as good as a book of this sort can be. A magnificent present ... if you can bear to part with it.''