The Pipe : The Art and Love of a Great Tradition Book

The deliberate filling of the pipe, the thoughtful tamping down of tobacco, the slow strike of a match, and the calm, meditative puffs until the leaves catch. Few moments in life are as seductive as the timeless ritual of pipe smoking.

Long identified as a symbol of sophistication and the mark of a reflective man, the pipe is now enjoying a renaissance of popularity. Today, millions are rediscovering the seductive pleasures of a ritual first savored by early Americans more than five hundred years ago. Inside these elegant pages, you'll be drawn into the civilized world of pipe smoking—from the curing of tobacco leaves to the rich role the pipe has played in our culture.

Pipe connoisseur Robin Crole charts the fascinating history of the pipe, reflects on the philosophy of its use, marvels at the craftsmanship of its manufacture, and illustrates the timeless art of preparing tobacco. This book is a celebration of, and an invitation to join, the fraternity of pipe smokers: men of action, artists, thinkers, and anyone open to the joy of a quiet respite. You'll meet history's famous (and infamous) pipe smokers and the powers that tried to stop the habit. You'll also discover practical advice on proper pipe care and how to choose that perfect blend of tobacco. Most important, however, you'll acquire a deeper understanding of the beautifully crafted pipes, old and new, that make smoking such a rare, deliberate source of pleasure.

About the Author

Robin Crole, M.A. (Oxon), M.Sc. (Edin), is a pipe aficionado and scholar who served in the Royal Navy, worked as a District Officer and Magistrate in Africa, and subsequently taught andlectured in schools and colleges in Great Britain and Australia. A lifelong lover of the pipe, he has smoked his on the lower deck of Her Majesty's destroyers, with primitive hillmen of the Sudan, and, where permitted,in academic halls and common rooms. He now enjoys smoking his pipe while he writes in the Scottish Borders.