TASCHEN Books: Inside Africa Vol 1. L'Afrique, c'est chic. This spell-bounding book captures the beauty and diversity of African living. Focus is Northern and Eastern Africa. Also includes breathtaking images of the Seychelles,among other countries. Hardcover. 9.4 x 12.4 in. 448 pages.

From TASCHEN: We've searched far and wide, through Africa's deserts and jungles, cities and wildlife reserves, islands and mountains, to uncover the continent's most inspirational dwellings; our goal was to find the kind of interiors that defy description, and we think the results will definitely leave you speechless. Nestled within these pages you'll find lush modern homes mingling with mud huts, funky artists' studios, elegant lodges, minimalist houses, ornate traditional homes, townships and much more, all lovingly built and decorated with sensitivity, creativity, craftsmanship, individuality, and sensuality. Inside Africa captures the beauty and diversity of African living.

Beautifully bound with an African tribal motif cloth cover

Highlights include:

Italian sisters Carla and Franka Sozzani's fairy-tale palace in the Medina of Marrakech

shoe designer Christian Louboutin's modest yet elegant Cairo home

a lodge in Tanzania whose interior columns are formed by the trees around which it was built

multi-level terracotta Troglodyte dwellings in Tunisia

opulent mosaics, breathtaking courtyards and rooftop lounges in Marrakech

Countries featured: Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Reunion, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Tunisia

About the editor: Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN since 1987, she has published numerous titles on architecture, photography, design, contemporary art, interiors, and travel.

About the photographer: Deidi von Schaewen, who has lived in Paris for thirty years, is a contributor to a range of international periodicals and a filmmaker, and has published numerous books. Her publications with TASCHEN include Indian Interiors, Fantasy Worlds, Gardens of Provence, and Inside Africa.

About the authors: After 10 years as reporter around the world for French press, Frederic Couderc worked for the French television station Canal +. Specialized in Africa, he recently published his first novel, Prince Ebene, the story of a black prince in the court of Louis XIV. He has also contributed to Elle and Elle decoration magazines.

After ten years in fashion as a stylist, Laurence Dougier discovered the world of architecture and decoration in South Africa, where she lived for three years. Returning to Paris, she became a journalist and stylist, freelancing for magazines such as Elle decoration and Cote Sud.