Assouline Coffee Table Book Montblanc: Inspire Writing

The pen is said to be mightier than the sword an adage extolling the power of communication, of words, their democracy, their universality. Everyone can wield a pen to express their point of view and emotions, to assert an impact on the world. Writing enables people to leave traces of their lives, to tell their stories, to make a mark. Founded in 1906, Montblanc is synonymous with refined writing culture, offering quality luxury products of traditional craftsmanship, functional benefit and beauty, crafted with passion by master artisans, reflecting the high expectations of its customers.

Especially valuable in this modern age of technology, handwriting is a personal art form that gives expression to individual thoughts with a unique aesthetic. Montblanc wishes to inspire people to write by providing the instruments with which to create, to leave their own mark. Like a Stradivarius or a Steinway, Montblanc instruments are precisely geared, finely tuned artistic creations serving as tools for the creative endeavors of others. Paying homage to humanity’s great writers, artists, explorers and achievers with its limited-edition High Artistry collections, Montblanc wishes to celebrate through its writing instruments the power of the hand, and of humanity, to communicate more than just words.

Montblanc: Inspire Writing tells the remarkable story of a pioneering Maison striving since its very inception to inspire people to write, to let their thoughts flow across a page, to leave their mark, pen in hand. Through the words of journalist and author Alex Fury, punctuated by archive images, documents and striking new product visuals by photographer Laziz Hamani, the book reveals the multifaceted identity of Montblanc, as the summit of luxury writing instruments for people who strive for excellence and dare to make their individual mark with signature flair and style. It also reminds us of the power of handwriting and the traces of humanity found in every letter inked on paper.

Montblanc pens are in fact instruments, finely tuned artistic creations that serve as tools for the creative endeavours of others. With each of its editions, Montblanc continues to excite new creativity through the memory of creatives that have gone before, and who still create today - galvanizing others toward leaving their own mark, one handwritten word at a time.

• 216 pages
• 175 illustrations
• English language
• Released in February 2021
• W 11 x L 14 x D 1.6 in
• Linen hardcover in a luxury slipcase

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexander Fury is a fashion journalist, author and critic. He is Fashion Features Director of AnOther Magazine and Men’s Critic for Financial Times. From 2016 to 2018 he was the first Chief Fashion Correspondent at T: The New York Times Style Magazine, and from 2013 to 2016 he was fashion editor of The Independent, i, and The Independent on Sunday newspapers. In 2018, Fury received the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. His other books include Dior: Catwalk (Thames and Hudson, 2017); Catwalking: Photographs by Chris Moore (Laurence King, 2017); Dior by Gianfranco Ferré (Assouline, 2018); Chanel: The Impossible Collection (Assouline, 2019) and Zuhair Murad (Assouline, 2020).

The book's sheer heft and elegant monochromatic sleeve are the first clues that the information imparted within its pages will be met with substance and finesse.