It took Michael Connors ten years to complete the travel and research necessary to write French Island Elegance (Abrams; $40), an in-depth look at the styles of architecture and interior design that evolved during the French colonization of the Caribbean. Clearly the scholar and collector is passionate about the region and its cultural heritage. From the 17th to the mid-20th centuries, houses and furniture made from tropical woods were commissioned by merchants and plantation owners and built on such islands as St. Bart's and Martinique, where the future Empress Josephine, Napoleon's wife, spent her childhood.
Like his two previous books on the decorative arts of the West Indies, this one is filled with evocative photographs by Bruce Buck. "It's not just a furniture book; it's history, and it transports you there," says Connors. "Plus, we showcase private estates that people wouldn't normally be able to see." Readers interested in acquiring similar colonial furnishings can make an appointment to visit the Michael Connors Gallery, in New York. 39 Great Jones St.; 212-473-0377.
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