Product Description

This is the first book to approach Stonehenge without any theoretical position. It describes what is known and believed about the monumentÂ’s construction from c. 3000 BCE onwards. The Middle Ages were content with the story of it having been brought by Merlin from Ireland. The post Reformation antiquaries gave us the conception of Stonehenge as a historical monument. It played a significant role in the imagination of writers and artists. Then the Victorians invented prehistory and Darwin himself came to measure it. In 1918 it passed into public ownership and 1926 saw the first forced entry by Druids.The Earth Mysteries Movement now sees the stones as part of a greater web of ley lines and other phenomena. Archaeologists, united in their disdain for that, remain divided on many other points. And perhaps the most fraught issue now is conservation as the henge stands between two thundering main roads. This rich and provocative book explores all this in presenting a monument whose history is as fascinating as its secret.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #270442 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
Conde Nast Traveller 'excellent...an important and deeply satisfying book.' The Independent - 'a lucid and sophisticated history explaining how the meaning of Stonehenge is in perpetual flux.'Sunday Times - 'Her book is a treasure: stylish, thoughtful, miraculously condensed, and as full of knowledge as a megalith is full of megalith.' TLS - '...brings genuine originality to the cultural history of Stonehenge.'

The Independent
`a lucid and sophisticated history explaining how the meaning of Stonehenge is in perpetual flux.'

Sunday Times
`Her book is a treasure: stylish, thoughtful, miraculously condensed, and as full of knowledge as a megalith is full of megalith.'

Customer Reviews

The PERFECT Christmas gift
Look no further - this is it. 'Stonehenge' is the perfect Christmas gift. It's brilliantly written, incredibly interesting (Stonehenge took 70 generations to build!?!), the book appeals to all ages, it's not too long, not too big, not expensive, besides we all feel passionate about Stonehenge as it's a vital part of our heritage. Don't forget to buy a copy of this wonderful book for yourself.

Summer Solstice
From Mrs E Cumming

Rosemary Hill does so well in "Stonehenge" to combine erudition with all the acadmic dryness taken out of it somehow... there must be the most intense research, not a reference missed from earliest in 937 to the present, and this takes us through all sorts of literature, art, history, cultural periods, it is really compelling and makes me determined to visit Stonehenge properly with all this information bringing the whole thing into bright light instead of just staring and being overawed in an ignorant greyness..
I like the way she starts by declaring that the book supports none of the theories! Then throws out so many that you wonder how she managed to stay objective herself.

And there are bits of humour, like Dr. Johnson being so dismissive... "there is neither art nor power in it" and he wouldn't want to see any more such, thank you very much... and what about Aubrey and friend having dinner on top of one of the trilithons !
And the connections with the architecture of Bath, Piccadilly Circus and even Milton Keynes...

Stonhenge- Rosemary Hill
I am a non-academic, but Stonehenge is one of the most Interesting subjects on planet Earth....................................
A Very Good book.................................You cant put it down !