Based on 30 years of research, Brian May's painstaking excavation of exquisite stereo photographs from the dawn of photography transports readers to the lost world of an Oxfordshire village of the 1850s. At the book's heart is a reproduction of T. R. Williams' 1856 series of stereo photographs, "Scenes In Our Village." Using the viewer supplied with this book, the reader can become absorbed in a village idyll of the early Victorian era: the subjects seem to be on the point of suddenly bursting back into life and continuing with their daily rounds.
The book is also something of a detective story, as the village itself was only identified in 2003 as Hinton Waldrist in Oxfordshire, and the authors' research constantly reveals further clues about the society of those distant times, historic photographic techniques, and the life of the enigmatic Williams himself, who appears, Hitchcock-like, from time to time in his own photographs.
About the Author
Brian May, CBE, PhD, FRAS is a founding member of Queen, a world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer. Brian had to postpone a career in astronomy when Queen's popularity first exploded, but, after an incendiary 30 years as a rock musician, was able to return to astrophysics in 2006, when he completed his PhD, and co-authored his first book, Bang! The Complete History of the Universe, with Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott. Stereography has been a life-long passion for Brian.
Elena Vidal has worked as a conservator of paintings in Florence, Spain and the UK. She graduated as an MA in Photographic Conservation at the Camberwell School of Arts, and has subsequently specialised in the history of stereoscopic photography. Since meeting Brian May in 1997, Elena has collaborated with him on a long-term study of Thomas Richard Williams, and has published a number of articles.
Industry Reviews
T. R. Williams seems to have created "Our Village" as a labor of love, recording the scenes of his childhood summers and documenting a place and way of life that was already vanishing through the effects of the industrial revolution. His extraordinary dedication to the project and his quest for perfection in stereographic imagery are both honored and mirrored in the years of research, photographic explorations and thoughtful presentation that have made possible this book, 'A Village Lost and Found' - clearly another labor of love. -- John Dennis Stereo World The effect is amazing. It takes a moment to adjust to the viewer, but once you have got the knack, the villagers and their surroundings seem to leap from the page, bringing scenes such as these to life and helping you appreciate details you might otherwise miss. The book is superbly produced and bound in large format with a separate slip-case for the easy-to-assemble stereo viewer. a bygone age indeed but I can assure you one thing: it will rock you. Mail on Sunday A more detailed picture of our forebears rather than a little silhouette of a man! Amateur Photographer An illuminating example of 'photo-archaeology'. Ag - International Journal of Photographic Art & Practice An enchanting look at rural life and local characters. Oxfordshire Life You can see a rural English village in the 1850s just the way it was - or maybe as close as you'lll ever get. A Village Lost & Found really is a bit of a time machine, certainly if you allow your imagination some freedom (and if you take the time to read the book.) Conscientious - Jorg Colberg's weblog about fine-art photography The book works on a number of levels. If you have a passion for photography, it will excite you. If you are interested in history, it will intrigue you. If you are keen on technical aspects, then the stereoscope will indulge you. This is definitely a collector's bargain to be treasured on any book shelf. Silvershotz Maybe 'A Village Lost and Found' can serve to rekindle the passion for photography in those who like to complain how there's nothing new any longer , or how photography supposedly is 'dead': Well there is still a lot to be discovered. So why not start by looking at something like A Village lost and Found' ? I'll happily admit it was much more fun than I would ever have imagined. Conscientious - Jorg Colberg's weblog about fine-art photography The awesome thoroughness of this boook is worthy of a PhD thesis... a triumph of scholarship and credit to all concerned. Royal Photographic Society Journal It's like magic and makes me feel like a child again. Observer
