Lone riders -- The Émile Hermès collection -- A friendship that grew -- A perfect name -- Neighborly habits -- Four of a kind -- Caught by the clock -- A childhood vocation -- Gleaning along the shores -- At the workbench -- The right price -- An American drinks cabinet -- For the last time -- Touched by grace -- A question of diplomacy -- My kingdom for a barrow! -- As the shaving falls away -- An unexpected visit -- Hermès' artisans at play -- A dedicated utopian -- Miniature models -- A lesson in Zen -- A travelling rhino -- An improbable namesake -- Hustle and bustle -- Closely guarded secrets -- Refined horseware -- Off the cuff -- Fortitude and perseverance -- Quite a performance -- Like a glove -- In the saddle -- Finely tuned advice -- Kindred spirits -- A stylish impression -- Memory game -- An Édouardian gentleman -- An extra with an extra something -- Sticking to tradition -- Acting on instinct -- A high flyer -- A diary with a special role -- In the course of time -- The last dance -- Glossary -- Biographies - Acknowledgments.

"Drawn from the archives of Hermès, here is a collection of enchanting stories and profiles that trace the odyssey of the family business founded by Thierry Hermès in 1837. Author Luc Charbin brings to life the voices of the saddlers, sales assistants, window-dressers, silversmiths, and gardeners of Hermès across several generations, accompanied by the distinctive drawings of Alice Charbin. A leather-clad wheelbarrow to store the Duchess of Windsor's many gloves, a capricious apple tree, an extraordinary museum, an iconic bag, and a 40-year-old diary in the spotlight-these are among the characters and objects that tell the story of Hermès: Straight from the Horse's Mouth"-- Provided by publisher.