Love Is Enough

by Andrea Zanatelli

In this truly beautiful book, Andrea Zanatelli combines his extraordinary artworks with a selection of classical love poetry by Anne Brontë, William Blake, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Percy Shelley and many more.

Drawing its inspiration from the past, Love is Enough references the decorative arts of a bygone era, and is a combination of romantic imagery, antique fabrics and allegorical illustrations, mixed with poems and mottos. Often mistaken for real embroidery pieces, the artworks are in fact very detailed and intricate digital collages , made to look and feel like handcrafted works.

Zanatelli is strongly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and the Pre-Raphaelites as well as eighteenth-century collage artist and creator of the Flora Delanica, Mary Delany, among others. Recurring themes in his work are romantic love, magical symbols , Victorian era craftsmanship, historical nun's work and relics. Details of paintings, ancient fabrics, antique jewellery and miniatures are also returning elements as they often become an integral part of the inspiration for the collages themselves.

This stunning book is full of intricate detail and brimming with romance , so you can return to its pages again and again.

Genres: Poetry, Art, Nonfiction

127 pages, Hardcover

Published December 9, 2021

Reviews

[Geoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

So on the one hand this was a perfectly serviceable gift book with lush Victorian needlepoint (but really photoshop collage) and classic love poetry (your Shakespearean Sonnets, Bronte sisters, Byron, and oddly Emily Dickenson). But it was a really disjointed reading experience for me. On the one hand, the art was really exciting. It felt sort of like a Baz Luhrmann film - bright and spiritual and technicolor and full or over the top emotion and technically proficient. But on the other hand, the poems were so familiar and so what you would expect in a love poetry collection that the cliché was a bit numbing. It just felt strange to have this exciting art paired with standard poetry in a way that the sum was less then the whole of its parts.

**Thanks to the artist, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Frida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This exciting adventure felt like a slight disappointment as I expected to see not only the author's extraordinary art pieces but his love poems as well, intertwined with some of the classical love verses we all know and cherish. The collection presents some of the finest works by Emily Dickinson, William Shakespeare, William Blake, Anne Brontë, and many more. It would have been such a delight to see how the author's verses, along with the outstanding artwork, would match these love poems that had given so much inspiration.

The artwork itself deserves a detailed book about it. The embroidery, the antique materials used, the romantic imagery, the delicate lines, all the beauty of these love words have been brought to life in them. Everything is just perfectly aligned and matched, brought to perfection, and presented here in this poetry selection to take your breath away.

[Franzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Brontë💖💗💓💞

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

this compilation of poetry was nice enough, but eventually it seemed more like a random assortment of poems the editor/artist liked rather than poetry about love. I also wish there were a broader group of writers, it feels very english lit degree reading list based

[Juli Rahel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession time: I was first pulled to Love is Enough because of the way the cover reminded me of the hearts Florence Welch so often features in her album covers and merchandise. Colour me surprised (and a little proud) when I realised she had written the introduction to this book. With this recommendation I happily sunk into Zanatelli's art. Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay.

What really kept me intrigued in this book was the mixed-media art and how it worked together with the featured poems. Zanatelli brings his favourite themes, fabrics, and inspirations into Love Is Enough, from romantic imagery, fabrics, miniatures, and allegories. While his art looks like "real" embroidery, his pieces are actually very detailed, digital collages meant to give the idea that you could reach out and touch them. His pieces feel old, like they've been passed down for generations, been added on by different people, and as such I could keep looking at them for a long time. They are really beautiful and each brings its own twist on the theme of love.

I must admit that the selection of poetry for Love is Enough didn't feel exactly inspired, which kind of let the book down for me. Aside from the genius selection of Anne Bronte, the rest was very much what you would expect from a love-themed poetry collection with Rosetti, Blake and Shelley making their appearance. I would have loved to see some more modern poets included, perhaps even songs, considering his working relationship with Florence Welch. It would have fleshed out the idea of love a little more, although I appreciate that these poets very much echo the old romantic atmosphere of love that his artwork also evokes.

The book design worked together really well with the art and showed a real attention to detail, such as the page colours adjusting to the art themselves. I spent quite a long time looking at each art piece, finding the little details and leting the whole of it wash over me. I did have to read it in burst though, rather than in one go. At a certain point the poems and art would blend together for me and I would have to step away. I'm not such a romantic at heart after all, perhaps. Love is Enough is therefore very much a kind of coffee-table book that you occasionally pick up, sink in to, and then put aside again. It's a small point of relief and beauty in a hectic day..

Love is Enough is stunning to look at and the poems selected also fit the theme beautifully. For me the highlight was definitely Zanatelli's art and perhaps I'd rather have had a book dedicated fully to that.

URL: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/...

[gingerfordays · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

If you are drawn to this book because of the cover, then I think you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

The author’s art is what really brings this collection of popular poetry about love to life. They provide beautiful art that visually conveys what the poems say with words. I really enjoyed how bright, lively, and yet intimate the art was.

I connected with the majority of the poems, and because of this book I was able to be introduced to many other poets/authors’ works that I ended up delighting in.

[holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was beautiful

[Juliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I have always found great inspiration in the words of poets, as a line or a stanza recalls an entire image, drawing you into the world of the poet.” Andrea Zanatelli’s first book of art, Love is Enough: Poetry Threaded with Love, blends his famous digital embroidery and collages with the poetry that inspires him. Of all the poets that Zanatelli features, it’s William Blake who recurs most, from ‘The Sick Rose’ to ‘Love’s Secret’, ‘The Lilly’ to ‘The Garden of Love’, the imagery in these poems is so typical not only of love poetry but of Zanatelli’s work in general: hearts, heat, flowers, the natural world’s splendour; in the work of Blake + the Arts and Crafts, Zanatelli was influenced by how “words and images became one, an extension of their philosophy.” Some of the other poets featured were already so familiar to me: Shakespeare’s Sonnets, the love poems of Sir Walter Scott, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Christina Rossetti, Aphra Behn, Elizabeth Barrett Browning — an array of Renaissance and Romantic figures, with Emily Dickinson’s poems bookending. Then there are the poets whose work I’m less familiar with: from heavyweights like WB Yeats, Thomas Moore + Lord Byron (in collaboration with George Gordon) to more hidden gems — Violet Jacob, Anne Brontë, and Sara Teasdale, who writes in ‘Love Songs’: “I have remembered music in the dark”. And, in a foreword by queen of classically-inspired artistry Florence Welch, Zanatelli’s arresting pieces are contextualised: “an exquisite blending of the past and future. Weaving together poetry, art, texture and technology”, and Zanatelli is “truly an artist for our age, his digital embroidery could be considered modern-day Memento Mori. Sacred Icons created for our current cathedrals, for who at this point cannot call their phone an altar.” In a world where “Love reigns supreme”, Zanatelli commits “to beauty that defies decay, defies death.” His “never fading, forever beating” hearts are a facsimile of what it means to love deeply, unreservedly, and unknowingly.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I went into this under the impression that this was going to be the artist’s own original poems, so that caught me off guard a bit but I still really enjoyed the beauty of her artwork and the pairings she made with the poetry and art she placed together. So on that side of things this was a very well curated collection. Also added in the curation category I felt that the subtle changing color palette for the pages to fit with the different tones in art and poetry that the artist was showcasing was a fantastic level of attention to detail. Being able to juggle the artwork, the poetry, and the color palette in a way that was subtle enough to get the readers attention, but not so heavy-handed that it hindered the collection was so nice to see.

Something else I really enjoyed was the foreword by Florence Welch which was really a gorgeous surprise. Welch’s words about Zanatelli and Zanatelli’s work were so genuine and from the heart it was really lovely to read and setup the book beautifully.

Overall this was such a stunning collection, not just visually but the pairings Zanatelli created and weaved together were so well done. Definitely recommend! And would recommend following the artist on instagram she posts such inspiring work, it's a nice visual treat.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Poptart19 (the name’s ren) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Fantastic mixed media art accompanies love poems it was inspired by. A nice poetry collection, but the art is what makes it stand out.

[What I liked:]

•This is a nice collection of poetry, with selections both familiar & new to me. Poets include Emily Dickinson, Anne Brontë, Shakespeare, William Blake, & Christina Rossetti. I especially enjoyed those by Sara Teasdale.

•Zanatelli’s art is lovely & evocative. The mixed media/collage pieces use motifs & media I gravitate towards, including antique floral wallpapers, marbled paper, brocade fabrics, religious themes, embroidery & beadwork, painted oil portraits, lovers eyes, & esoteric symbolism.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The art used in the collages, especially the paintings, aren’t credited until the back page. I would’ve appreciated having that info as footnotes on the illustrated pages.

•There is decent variety in the collection, but it would have been nice if some 20th C & contemporary poets had been included.

•There’s a poem in Italian(?) with no translation. It would’ve been nice to know what it said.

CW: starcrossed love!

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from Andrea Zanatelli's art (who I discovered through Florence Welch's influence) which drove me to pry this off of the bookshelf at MIBF, the reason why I like reading anthologies or collections like this is that I get to discover authors I haven't read before. I am glad to have this book as my introduction to Anne Bronte's and Sara Teasdale's poetry. I was so affected by their words that I now feel compelled to read some more of their poetry.

This gorgeous book also reminded me of a similar one I own, which is a coffee table book collection of literary works and art that also bears "love" as its central theme. It is almost but not quite comparable to Love is Enough as it both illustrates love in its different forms, only that the book I'm referring to is much more carefully selected as it also includes short stories as well as art from several artists from different time periods. But both books are fulfilling in their own way.

I truly enjoyed my time reading this, I was so enchanted by Andrea's work. The heart and cross motifs with details of centuries-old paintings combined with poems against a backdrop of fantastic illustrations makes for a wonderful reading experience.

[Ioana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very specific. I believe if the cover speaks to you, you will find it at least interesting, if not truly wonderful.

This book is the celebration of Andrea Zanatelli's embroidery, which has its very own style, in a Florence Welch vibe, a very British, Victorian, kind of way. There are broken hearts, bleeding hearts, eyes filled hearts, ribbons holding words, flowers, along with miniature artwork very well chosen to complete the embroidery.

The poems match the embroidery and the art work so there are not all of them a celebration of fulfilled love. In this sense, this is book perfect to be gifted to people loving this style, it's a pretty niched publication.

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

[MookNana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning mixed-media art accompanying a selection of poems about love. Most of the poems were lesser-known, at least to me, so it was interesting to see less familiar work from familiar artists. There wasn't exactly a unifying set of criteria for what poetry was featured, though it was skewed heavily toward British artists from the 17th - 19th century.

This would make a unique and sentimental gift for a partner. It's definitely beautiful and would be a memorable keepsake.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Kenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little escape. I’ve been a fan of Andrea’s artwork for quite sometime now and have found myself moved by each art piece within this book. This work includes poetry by Emily Dickinson, Christina Rossetti, William Blake, William Shakespeare and other poets.

Love is Enough is a collection of love, art, and poetry mixed with collages and motifs of embroidered, floral and religious and lovers eye pieces, as well as artwork by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, whom I adore. If you love poetry and art, this is for you.

[AngryGlitterWitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK I'm prob being a Luddite but it annoys me that a) the beading/embroidery is digital because creating that IRL is a huge skill and it does affect the texture of the outcome and b) most of the pages weren't even embroidery collages they were just historical portraits laid over cute backing papers. Idk, if you aren't writing the poems at least make all the artwork original?! I had really high hopes because Florence hyped it but it was disappointing tbh. It was cute and pretty but the best bit of it was The Power of Love by Anne Brontë.

[Meg Hendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poems about love was an enjoyable read. The art went well with the poems, but for many of the poems I enjoyed the art more than the poems. There's a variety of poets in the book. My favorites were Emily Dickinson, William Blake, and Sara Teasdale. Some of the poems weren't the kind of poetry I like, but the art was great throughout.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[K Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the artworks in this book. They were very beautiful!

However, I struggled to engage with a lot of the poetry. Some felt very cliche, others felt unrelated. I did enjoy some poems though - this collection has inspired me to seek out more of Sara Teasdale's poems.

I think a broader range of poets would have made this collection better - even if that meant using more recent or present writers.

[Pegasus & Chrysaor · Rating 1 out of 5]

The poems collected were eclectic, not in a good way. It didn't feel like there was much content unity in the book, as if random poems that included the word "love" were thrown together for an anthology without much planning. The pictures are pretty, but that is half the point of the book; arguably the more important written aspect of the text is lacking.

[Lavinia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a vivid and beautiful journey through Andrea Zanatelli's world. A Victorian dream amongst pre-Raphaelite artists. The artworks are perfectly matched to the selection of poems. The foreword by Florence Welch is pure and heartfelt. Highly recommended.

[Flavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I have only ever tried to show you beauty"
Florence Welch - Useless Magic

Una frase che descrive perfettamente l'essenza di questa piccola raccolta di poesie e immagini affascinanti.
Una gioia per gli occhi e per il cuore.

[Ali Yigithan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A capitalistic idea. Pictures that can be found online, poets that can be found online, even you can read Florence Welch’s prologue (which is the best part of this book) can be found on fan accounts. I feel stupid for buying this book.

[Claudia IR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good anthology of poems for anyone interested in dipping their toes in English romantic poetry. This stunning book contains emblematic poems like Blake’s ‘A Sick Rose’ and displays them with collages and striking images which enhance the words’ beauty.

[Mayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, I think...

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so beautiful✨💙

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, I enjoyed reading it every time I picked it up. But I wish they would have more of a variety of authors.

[gyanve · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful valentine’s day gift <3

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art was very nice but I'll never be a poetry girlie no matter how hard I try

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book of classic love poems with Zanatelli's stunning artwork throughout. A lovely coffee table book.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

'you were the wind and I the sea'