100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

A Little History of Art

3.69 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 381 ratings, 45 reviews)
Brief Description
A thrilling journey through 100,000 years of art, from the first artworks ever made to art's central role in culture today. "This lively volume is ideal for the precocious high-schooler, the lazy collegian . . . and any adult who wishes for greater mastery of the... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2400
Elsewhere:
$2599
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

A thrilling journey through 100,000 years of art, from the first artworks ever made to art's central role in culture today

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A thrilling journey through 100,000 years of art, from the first artworks ever made to art's central role in culture today.

"This lively volume is ideal for the precocious high-schooler, the lazy collegian . . . and any adult who wishes for greater mastery of the subject. . . . Mullins leav[es] readers with an expansive, no-regrets appreciation of art and the human story." β€” Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal

"A fresh take on art history as we know it." β€” Katy Hessel, The Great Women Artists Podcast

Art can help us see the world differently or understand our place in it a little more clearly. It can move us emotionally, even if sometimes we cannot explain why. It is powerful stuff.

Roaming from Japan and India to South America and the Middle East, Charlotte Mullins showcases a host of overlooked artists, and celebrates art's crucial place in our collective culture. This Little History introduces us to extraordinary anonymous creations such as the Terracotta Army, Renaissance masters like Donatello and Michelangelo, and modern trailblazers like Frida Kahlo, Barbara Hepworth and Yayoi Kusama.

Little Histories – Inspiring Guides for Curious Minds.

Series: Little Histories

View all
  • A Little History of the World
    In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, the 26-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. Amazingly, he completed the task in an intense six weeks, and Eine kurze Weltgeschichte fΓΌr junge Leser was published in Vienna to immediate success, and is now available in twenty-five...
    Hardback
    $4099
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Little History of the World
    A special edition of the international bestseller that is β€œsumptuously illustrated. . . . Perfect for reading to alert and curious children, but it’s even better as a secret pleasure, read alone, with no children in sight.” (Philip Kennicott, Washington Post) E. H. Gombrich’s A Little History of the World, an engaging and lively book written for readers both young...
    Paperback
    $4799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Little History of Music
    A superbly engaging guide to music around the world, from prehistory to the present Music excites and moves us perhaps more than any other art form. From a Neanderthal's bone flute to the festivals of Glastonbury and Coachella, human beings have always made and enjoyed music. Covering a remarkable range, including Indian raga, Javanese gamelan, medieval chant, jazz and K-pop,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Little History of Literature
    A vibrant guide to the world of literature, from dramatic plays to engrossing novels. Literature has inspired every civilisation, from Greek myth to today's graphic novels. John Sutherland, who has researched, taught, and written on the entire glorious span of human literary activity, guides readers on a journey 'through the looking glass' to show how literature from across the world...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of Science
    A lively and engaging introduction to the progress of science over the ages "In Mr. Bynum's telling, a little history goes a long way."β€”Alan Hirshfeld, Wall Street Journal Science is key to understanding the infinite distances of space, the tiniest living organisms in the body, and the history of our planet. From Hippocrates and Aristotle to Isaac Newton and Stephen...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little Book of Language
    A lively journey through the story of language, from an infant's first word to the languages of the internet. Language never leaves you alone. It's there in your head, helping you think. It's there to help you make relationships – and to break them. It's there to remind you who you are and where you come from. From the first...
    Paperback
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of the World
    The internationally bestselling guide to the extraordinary human story, for the curious of all ages. The world has existed for over 4 billion years, but humanity arrived much more recently. Here, E. H. Gombrich brings to life the full story of human experience on Earth. He paints a colourful picture of remarkable people and events, from Confucius to Catherine the...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of Psychology
    A rich and engaging guide to psychology, the science devoted to understanding human nature Psychology is the science devoted to understanding human nature. Its practitioners have long sought to understand behaviour, feelings, and thoughts. In her fascinating history, Nicky Hayes tells the story of psychology from its origins to the present day. She introduces key thinkers, including Carl Jung, Anna...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of Religion
    A rich and inclusive history of belief, from humanity's earliest days to our own times Religion is distinctly human. We can't help wondering about where we come from and why we are here. Did some all-powerful being make the universe? When we die, is there anything else to come? And what will it be like? Questions like these have occupied...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of Poetry
    A vital guide to poetry from ancient times to the present "[A] fizzing, exhilarating book."β€”Sebastian Faulks, Sunday Times, London "Delightful.'"β€”New York Times Book Review Poetry is language made special, so that it will be remembered and valued. It does not always work – over the centuries countless thousands of poems have been forgotten. This Little History is about some that...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of Economics
    An accessible account of the history of economics through the ideas of great thinkers. "A whistle-stop introduction to the great works and thinkers of each age, this is a clear and accessible primer."β€”Laura Garmeson, Financial Times Economics explains the world. For example, the fact that you're holding this book in your hands puts you in a special position. To many...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Little History of Art
    A thrilling journey through 100,000 years of art, from the first artworks ever made to art's central role in culture today. "This lively volume is ideal for the precocious high-schooler, the lazy collegian . . . and any adult who wishes for greater mastery of the subject. . . . Mullins leav[es] readers with an expansive, no-regrets appreciation of art...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300278354

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 April 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 80 color + 40 b-w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Charlotte Mullins is an art critic, writer and broadcaster. Currently art critic at Country Life, she was formerly editor of Art Review, V&A Magazine and Art Quarterly. She has published over a dozen books on visual art.

Also by Charlotte Mullins

View all
  • A Little Feminist History of Art
    An introduction to the feminist art movement: one of the most ambitious, influential, and enduring artistic movements of the twentieth century. Emerging in the late 1960s as women artists struggled to "de-gender" their work to compete in a male-dominated arena, the feminist art movement has played a leading role in the art world over the last five decades. Using the...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Bryan Organ
    Published to mark the artist's 90th birthday, this is the first and only book to provide an overview of Bryan Organ, one of the world's great portrait painters. This book tells the story of Bryan Organ, whose works have been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery more than any other 20th-century painter. It is itself a portrait, one that draws...
    Hardback
    $11000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Art Isles
    The British Isles hold a unique position in the history of art, a place where local traditions fuse with international ideas in extraordinary ways. At once isolated by coastal boundaries, yet also part of larger networks of diverse peoples, these islands have always benefited from a dual perspective. This is crucial to understanding why Hans Holbein the Younger and Artemisia...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. β€˜A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank β€˜A book to keep close and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
    Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...
    Hardback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • To the Women - The New Collection of Wise Words Every Woman Needs
    THE COMPLETELY UPDATED COLLECTION WITH OVER 70 BRAND NEW POEMS, FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WILD HOPE AND WORDS TO LIVE BY 'Amazing . . . Donna's words speak to my heart' Davina McCall To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity...
    Hardback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour
    The creative journey continues with Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour by Keri Smith, the latest and most vibrant edition of the groundbreaking series that redefined journaling. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this edition brings the playful destructiveness of the original to life in dazzling full colour, adding a dynamic new dimension to the beloved prompts. Whether you're a seasoned Wreck-er,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Thousand Feasts
    THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy. 'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAY For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Did I Ever Tell You This?
    In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion. By his own account, his...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    Backorder
    Ships In 1-2 Weeks

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.