Product Description

The English medieval cathedrals are one of the wonders of the world. But who made them, and why? This fascinating new history of England's cathedrals explores a previously unconsidered view of these extraordinary creations: as constantly-changing structures created by a rich brew of ancient rituals, beliefs, personalities and politics - a living window on to the past. Incorporating the latest historical research, Jon Cannon presents a picture of the English cathedrals as above all products of their time, not just great architectural monuments. These were buildings brought alive by the messages encoded in their sculpture - and the miraculous events that were believed to occur within them. Full of personalities, ideas, stories and novel interpretations, here are the cathedrals of England as you may never have considered them before. Handsomely illustrated with specially commissioned photographs and diagrams, including thematic chapters on key aspects and separate essays on every medieval cathedral in England, this magnificent volume is indispensable to every lover of history and architecture.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36239 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 543 pages

Good Book Guide Good Book Guide Good Book Guide Good Book Guide
`Invigorating'

Now & Then magazine
`Indispensable'

Financial Times
Large, glossy and sumptuously illustrated... delightful

Customer Reviews

Comments by Michael Calum Jacques author of '1st Century Radical'.
At well over 500 pages, at times densely and richly packed with factual information, the previous reviewer is perfectly correct to state that this book is not always an easy read! It is, nevertheless, a source of reference and a copious fund of information - and illustration - for those of us who love and adore the bounty of cathedrals these islands of ours have to offer.

It has been said that "English medieval cathedrals are one of the wonders of the world." The appropriately named Jon Cannon seeks out exactly who made and formed them, and why? He also presents us with a hitherto unconsidered view of these wonderful edifices: viz living, effervescent structures created by a cocktail of ancient rituals, beliefs, personalities and politics. Utilizing the latest findings of historical research, the author depicts English cathedrals as standing above all other products of their age and not merely imposing, monolithic monuments.

This book is packed full of beautiful photography and the reader will not be disappointed with the aesthetic presentation of this book which relates the story of the cathedrals of England in some detail. Political contexts, as well as the outright religious significance of cathedral building is covered, and particular bishops and masons, and other crafts-folk, responsible for their construction are looked at. The second half of the book pauses to examine each of the cathedrals one by one, and utilizes plans and practical advice for those of us who just love to stroll around these magnificent testimonies to man's creative genius.

To sum up, then, I really hope that you receive as much pleasure as I do from the beautiful and, yes, challenging (at times) pages of this hefty tome!

Michael Calum Jacques

I learned a lot, but not an easy read
This book taught me a lot about the history of the English Cathedral, and the relationship between their history and architecture. I learned a lot, but it's not an easy read. The 500 pages actually form two books, first a chronological and thematic section, and then a description of all the medieval cathedrals. This leads to some overlap, but sometimes he also tells part of the story in the first section and part of the story in the second section. I did not know a lot about the history before I read it, and several times things only made sense to me when I read the second version in the section about the individual cathedrals. He has some cross references, but it would have been nicer with even more.

He has many interesting tables, but I wish he had also included one giving the relationships between the different saints and the different cathedrals.

He writes well, but I wish he had had an editor who could have cleaned up some of the structural issues.

This is not for the casual tourist, but if you are willing to read 500 pages about the history of English cathedrals and are not afraid of using the index, you will learn a lot. At least I did!

cathedrals
a bautiful book that is gorgeosly illustrated and deeply informative. the author is both knowledgable and loves the buldings that he writes about.it is a book both to read and to browse through on a dark winter evening. it is a fascinating history of the bulding of great churches but alsos a perspective into the motives taht drove the bulders