130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Happy Long Weekend! We're open all 3 days! 📚 Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Ark

A visual treasury of Earth's living wonders
Brief Description
Featuring more than 450 awe-inspiring images curated by Stephen Ellcock, Ark is a celebration of the living wonders of this planet. Stephen Ellcock, renowned curator and author of The Cosmic Dance, Underworlds and Elements, brings together an amazing selection of images from a broad range of... Read More
Format: Hardback
$10000
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Featuring more than 600 awe-inspiring images curated by Stephen Ellcock, Ark is a celebration of the living wonders of the planet--and a powerful environmental call to arms to protect our delicately balanced ecosystem.

Featuring more than 450 awe-inspiring images curated by Stephen Ellcock, Ark is a celebration of the living wonders of this planet.

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

Featuring more than 450 awe-inspiring images curated by Stephen Ellcock, Ark is a celebration of the living wonders of this planet.

Stephen Ellcock, renowned curator and author of The Cosmic Dance, Underworlds and Elements, brings together an amazing selection of images from a broad range of cultures and eras, depicting living wonders from all five kingdoms of nature.

This visual treasury also features a foreword by Robert Macfarlane, an essay on the stories of the ark by acclaimed author Sarah Perry, and three inspiring essays on the natural world by tree scientist Harriet Rix, marine biologist Helen Scales and birder Stephen Moss. Each writer guides readers through some of the intricate, life-sustaining relationships that populate nature's elemental realms of earth, water and air, and outlines some of the threats that climate change and human actions pose. Symbols throughout pinpoint which of the species pictured are critically endangered or vulnerable.

Ark is a celebration of the myriad lifeforms inhabiting our planet and a powerful environmental call to arms.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500029640

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 24 September 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Illustration: 461 Illustrations, color

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Robert Macfarlane
  • Contributions by Stephen Moss
  • Contributions by Helen Scales
  • Contributions by Sarah Perry
  • Contributions by Harriet Rix

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 206.0mm

Height: 264.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Stephen Ellcock is a world-renowned archivist, author and image alchemist whose singular eye and unique curation bring new meaning to the visual world, provoking new ways of seeing and restoring the pleasure of looking. His decade-long quest to build the ultimate virtual museum has captivated over 650,000 followers worldwide and reawakened the visual senses of many. He is also the author of The Cosmic Dance; Underworlds; Elements; All Good Things; The Book of Change; England on Fire, with text by Mat Osman; and Stephen Ellcock's Book of Textiles.

Robert Macfarlane is Professor of Literature and the Environmental Humanities at the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His writing about landscape, nature, memory, language and travel has won many prizes internationally, including the E. M. Forster Award for Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2017. His books have been widely adapted for TV, film and radio and he has collaborated with artists, film-makers, photographers and musicians, including Johnny Flynn and Jackie Morris.

Sarah Perry is the author of the bestselling novels Melmoth, The Essex Serpent and After Me Comes the Flood, and non-fiction title, Essex Girls. The Essex Serpent was awarded Waterstones Book of the Year and the British Book Awards Book of the Year and, in 2022, was adapted for Apple TV+. She is Chancellor of the University of Essex and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Harriet Rix is a tree science consultant and author of The Genius of Trees: How Trees Mastered the Elements and Shaped the World. Harriet has worked at the Tree Council and as secretary of Hedgelink, the national advisory board on hedgerows. Her writing and photography have been published in the Financial Times, London Review of Books and Times Literary Supplement.

Helen Scales is a marine biologist, broadcaster and author of many books, including The Shell Spotter's Guide, What the Wild Sea Can Be and Spirals in Time, as well as several titles for children, such as Shells... and What They Hide Inside and Oceanopedia. She writes regularly for the Guardian and National Geographic, and is a storytelling ambassador for the Save Our Seas Foundation.

Stephen Moss is one of Britain's leading nature writers and broadcasters. He was the original producer of the BAFTA award-winning Springwatch. His bestselling books include a series of 'bird biographies' and Ten Birds that Changed the World. A lifelong naturalist, Stephen has travelled to all seven of the world's continents to watch wildlife.

Also by Stephen Ellcock

View all
  • Elements
    A remarkable compendium of diverse and evocative imagery exploring the wide-ranging and profound associations of the five natural elements, masterfully curated by image alchemist and cult social media figure Stephen Ellcock. Elements is an eclectic, evocative, and resoundingly beautiful treasury of imagery exploring depictions of the elemental forces that reveal their profound significance to ancient philosophers, alchemists, and astrologers, as...
    Hardback
    $6099
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Underworlds
    A darkly evocative compendium of images exploring natural, constructed, imaginary and subconscious underworlds, curated by renowned image collector and social media figure Stephen Ellcock. From the burrows and secret bunkers beneath our feet to imagined hellscapes and surrealist dreamscapes, the disquieting, alarming and wonderful visuals span natural and constructed subterranea and imagined and subconscious worlds. A personal introduction by Stephen...
    Hardback
    $6099
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Cosmic Dance
    A visual journey from the minute to the infinite, exploring the relationships and harmonies between all parts of the universe and inspiring personal contemplation regarding our own place within it. In The Cosmic Dance, renowned image alchemist Stephen Ellcock presents a pan-global collection of remarkable, arresting and surprising images drawn from the entire history of art to explore the ancient...
    Hardback
    $6099
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ways of Tuning Your Senses
    Dip in to this pack of 50 illustrated cards to refresh and revitalise your senses. How much of the world's beauty have we become indifferent to, caught up in the bustle and rush of day-to-day life? Take a break from the madness, and from your smartphone, and rediscover the magic of the world around you. Surprising, engaging prompts will help...
    Cards
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Music Oracles
    Be guided and inspired by the gods of the music world with this creative set of oracle cards. Are you suffering from creative block? Struggling to make a difficult life decision? Find out what David Bowie, Grace Jones, Maria Callas and other great artists would have done. Simply select a card from the pack and channel the oracle's advice on...
    Cards
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Stephen Ellcock’s Esoteric Sticker Collection
    New Release
    Stephen Ellcock’s Esoteric Sticker Collection
    A superbly produced, high-quality sticker book with more than 750 esoteric stickers by renowned image curator Stephen Ellcock. In Stephen Ellcock’s Esoteric Sticker Collection, an eclectic collection of more than 750 superb stickers from the esoteric world, vintage artworks of beautiful gems and plants with medicinal and magical qualities sit alongside beguiling magical amulets, exotic mythical and legendary creatures. Mysterious...
    Hardback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • England on Fire
    England on Fire is a book about English art like no other. Forget the tired rogues' gallery of lords and ladies, forget the tall ships and haywains. These images cut to the heart of England's psychic landscapes to portray an Albion unhinged, where magic and rebellion and destruction are the horses to which the country is hitched. On these fabled...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

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
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator of Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu, comes I’ll Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 and immediately took the world by storm. I’ll...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    16% off
    New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    20% off
    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
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    21% off
    The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017—revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)—critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    On Sale
    20% off
    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
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    21% off
    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
    $5800
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Beautiful Chaos
    New Release
    Beautiful Chaos
    Featuring five exclusive new poems, this stunning foil-embossed hardback edition is a collector's item and a gorgeous gift. The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller. Selected poems on motherhood from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'Reading Jess's poems makes me feel like she's somehow reached into my own personal reflections and articulated them in a way I never could.' –...
    Hardback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Split Enz
    New Release
    Split Enz
    'My favourite band. Ever! And certainly the best dressed.' Sam Neill Split Enz were never designed to fit. Emerging from art school mischief in early-1970s New Zealand, they turned pop into surreal theatre: costume, character and melody colliding in a rock band that refused to behave like one. At the centre of that vision was Noel Crombie—percussionist, performer and the...
    Hardback
    $5199
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mah Jong Player's Companion
    Since the arrival on the market of Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney's two previous books, The Game of Mah Jong Illustrated and Improve Your Mah Jong, a wide range of hands from many parts of the world has been sent to them. In this player's companion, the authors have put together a cross-filled reference guide where over 120 hands, illustrated...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

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.