Architecture: religious buildings Books
Taschen GmbH Sacred Sites. The Library of Esoterica
Book SynopsisA visual pilgrimage through holy mountains, great pyramids, and golden shrines, Sacred Sites celebrates the ways we transform the world around us through ritual, creativity, and worship. Essays, interviews and more than 400 images explore spaces ranging from ancient temples to modern works of spatial art.
£22.09
Headline Publishing Group Steeple Chasing
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times paperback bestseller and Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month*Featuring a brand new chapter!*''Never have the joys of exploring the churches and cathedrals of this country been so vividly conveyed as they are in this engaging and elegiac book.'' - New Statesman **BOOK OF THE YEAR pick 2023**''A delicious treat'' - Financial Times **TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR pick 2023**''A charming odyssey'' - The Times''A wonderful book; thoughtful and challenging'' - Daily Telegraph *****''A beautiful book'' - Gabriel Byrne ''Beautiful and brilliant. I loved it'' - Fergus Butler-Gallie From the author of A Tomb With a View - Scottish Non-Fiction book of the Year Churches are all around us. Their steeples remain landmarks in our towns, villages and cities, even as their influeTrade ReviewWhat makes Steeple Chasing so compelling - and it is a wonderful book; thoughtful and challenging - ... is Ross's essential kindness, his unfailing empathy with the people he meets on his pilgrimage. * Daily Telegraph *A charming odyssey . . . in this lyrical love letter to churches Ross reminds us there is something worth saving and people who will make the effort. * The Times *His book is a delicious treat, and one that both believers and sceptics will enjoy. * Financial Times *Reading a book is another reciprocal act: if it's good, it stays with you. Ross's readers will have his words humming through them for a long time. * Spectator *Lovely, lyrical, whimsical, elegiac ... Ross has a gift for making you feel you're there with him, just as awed as he is. * Times Literary Supplement *Ross has always had a quiet charm, and it is perhaps displayed best in this book. . . it is properly interested in humanity, especially in its complexity. * The Scotsman *Steeple Chasing is, as you might expect from Ross, itself a beautiful object, full of delicacy and deliberation in the writing. . .a fascinating, beautifully written book full of both the strange and the terrible, but also full of grace and love. * The Herald *Beautifully observed and evocatively written. * Country Life *Never less than fascinating. * Books From Scotland *
£10.44
Bonnier Books UK An Ancient Greek Temple Spectacular Visual Guides
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£6.99
Kulturalis Divine Light
Book SynopsisThe stained-glass windows of England's cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages, and perhaps offer a glimpse of heaven. This book tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art.
£14.20
Yale University Press The History of Englands Cathedrals
Book SynopsisThe first history of all the English cathedrals, from Birmingham and Bury St Edmunds to Worcester and York MinsterTrade Review“A fascinating and detailed description of the historical development of the English cathedral from the arrival of Christianity in A.D. 314 until the present day.”—Joan Greatrex, Catholic Historical Review“Delightful. . . . A history of English cathedrals as living institutions as well as architectural monuments.”—Peter Atkinson, Journal of Ecclesiastical History“Magisterial. . . . Charts the remarkable voyage of cathedrals during their 1700-year history.”—Michael Tavinor, Church Times“A masterful narrator of the Cathedral story. . . . Cathedrals stand as shrines to the beauty of human creation, beauty as yet unsurpassed. To their survival we should all be dedicated.”—Simon Jenkins, Country Life“The Cathedrals of England are institutions older than the realm itself, and are perhaps more cherished and flourishing now than they have ever been, as this richly enjoyable volume makes clear. There can be no-one better qualified than Nicholas Orme to present the full range of their long history.”—Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity“Clear, accessible, and superbly illustrated, this book should be essential reading for visitors to English cathedrals. The book has no rival in serious and accessible literature. Anyone interested in cathedrals should have it on their shelves.”—David Rollason, author of The Power of Place
£19.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Lost Chapel of Westminster
£11.69
Little, Brown Book Group Englands Cathedrals
Book Synopsis''Inspired . . . encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar'' - The TimesEngland''s cathedrals are the nation''s glory. They tower over its landscape, outranking palaces, castles and mansions. They attract roughly half the nation''s population each year. For a millennium they have been objects of pilgrimage for those seeking faith, consolation and beauty. Still at the start of the twenty-first century, they remain unequalled in their size and splendour.More than any other English institution, cathedrals reflect the vicissitudes of history and should be treasured as such. They are custodians of culture and of the rituals of civic life. They offer welfare and relieve suffering. They uplift spirits with their beauty. In a real sense they are still what they were when first built a millennium ago, a glimpse of the sublime.Gloriously illustrated throughout, England''s Cathedrals not only offers us a companion to England''s Thousand Trade ReviewInspired . . . encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar * The Times *An essential supplement to his marvellously illuminating guidebook England's Thousand Best Churches * Evening Standard *
£31.50
Little, Brown Book Group Englands Cathedrals
Book SynopsisThe author of the magisterial England''s Thousand Best Churches turns his eye to England''s cathedrals, with fascinating, personal - and often funny - insight into their history and their place in English lifeEngland''s cathedrals are the nation''s glory. They tower over its landscape, outranking palaces, castles and mansions. They attract roughly half the nation''s population each year. For a millennium they have been objects of pilgrimage for those seeking faith, consolation and beauty. Still at the start of the twenty-first century, they remain unequalled in their size and splendour.More than any other English institution, cathedrals reflect the vicissitudes of history and should be treasured as such. They are custodians of culture and of the rituals of civic life. They offer welfare and relieve suffering. They uplift spirits with their beauty. In a real sense they are still what they were when first built a millennium ago, a glimpse of the sublime.England''s Cathedrals takes us on an enthralling tour of the nation and its history, through some of our most astonishing buildings.''Inspired... encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar'' The Times''An essential supplement to his marvellously illuminating guidebook England''s Thousand Best Churches'' Evening Standard
£15.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC How to Look at Stained Glass: A Guide to the
Book SynopsisA fresh, unstuffy guide to the stained-glass windows of England's churches, including a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples. The magical qualities of stained glass have an enduring appeal, but church windows tend to be ignored as a form of creative and artistic expression. Yet churches are accessible treasure trove of history, art and craftsmanship. No other set of historic buildings with such superb and important architectural and artists assets is as easy to visit. How to Look at Stained Glass is the companion guide that's needed to make sense of and enjoy the vast array of stained-glass windows in the churches of England. This fresh, unstuffy guide: - Uses an A-Z format to reveal a multitude of fascinating details - all the way from apples to zig-zags - Explores stained glass by themes, patterns, designs and effects - Requires no previous historical, artistic or religious knowledge - Covers all the major periods and styles, from medieval to modern, Victorian to postwar, eighteenth century to Arts and Crafts, figurative to abstract - Examines the fascinating and evolving iconography of stained glass - Makes looking at gloriously colourful, artistically important windows both entertaining and rewarding - Features a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples - Offers a useful index of churches by countyTrade ReviewIf you venture out into the country, whether by car, bicycle, or train, it would be a good idea to tuck this book into the glove compartment, pannier, or rucksack * Church Times *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Exploring a Church How a Stained-Glass Window is Made A–Z of Stained Glass 50 Places to See Stained Glass Further Reading List of Images Index of Churches
£15.29
Profile Books Ltd The Parthenon
Book SynopsisThe ruined silhouette of the Parthenon on its hill above Athens is one of the world's most famous images. Its 'looted' Elgin Marbles are a global cause celebre. But what actually are they? In a revised and updated edition, Mary Beard, award winning writer, reviewer and leading Cambridge classicist, tells the history and explains the significance of the Parthenon, the temple of the virgin goddess Athena, the divine patroness of ancient Athens.Trade ReviewSophisticated, engaging ... she unravels the intricacies with the light and deft touch which characterises the whole book ... something for classicists and laymen alike -- Gavanndra Hodge * Independent on Sunday *The classical world still rouses fierce passions, and books like this help to make the study of ancient Greece urgent and relevant -- Tom Holland * New Statesman *
£10.44
Amberley Publishing The Magnificent Seven
Book SynopsisA fascinating history of seven Victorian London cemeteries - 'works of art', created as much for the living as they were for the dead.
£15.29
Amberley Publishing Churches of Somerset
Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of Somersetâs historic churches. Will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this splendid county in England.
£14.39
Kulturalis Saint Marys Cathedral Limerick
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£9.45
Batsford Ltd Abbeys and Priories of Britain
Book SynopsisA guide to over 60 of Britain’s most notable abbeys and monasteries. Taking you on a journey that has inspired pilgrims and visitors for centuries, Abbeys and Priories of Britain is the perfect introduction to some of the country’s oldest and most beautiful religious centres. The guide will take you from the wilds of the Isle of Iona in Scotland and Iona Abbey to Tintern Abbey in the beautiful Wye Valley in Wales, to the pomp and circumstance of Westminster Abbey, shining regally in England’s capital. While many of the entries are now ruins due to Henry VIII’s ‘Dissolution of the Monasteries’ period, a visit still reveals the rich influence and legacy they have had on Britain’s history. Beautifully illustrated with over 130 stunning colour images, and with concise and accessible history for each entry, this is both a perfect guide and a much-cherished souvenir of a visit. Includes extended entries on Binham Priory, Blanchland Abbey, Buckfast Abbey, Dryburgh, Fountains Abbey, Glastonbury Abbey, Hexham Abbey, Holyrood Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, Lindisfarne Priory, Melrose Abbey, Mountgrace Priory, Rievaulx Abbey, Selby Abbey, Strata Florida Abbey, Tewkesbury Abbey, Tintern Abbey, Westminster Abbey, Whitby Abbey and St George’s Windsor.Trade Review‘A very well-written and well-illustrated book, this will serve as a valuable introduction to many readers, possibly providing holiday itineraries too.’ The Living Church Simon CottonTable of ContentsThe Kingdom of Northumbria Beverley Minster Byland Abbe Bolton Abbey Lindisfarne Priory Hexham Abbey Brinkburn Priory Blanchland Abbey Whitby Abbey Rievaulx Abbey Jervaulx Abbey Lanercost Priory Monk Bretton Priory Mount Grace Priory Fountains Abbey Roche Abbey Selby Abbey Kirkstall Abbey Furness Abbey The Kingdom of Mercia Tupholme Abbey Haughmond Abbey Wenlock Priory Abbey Dore Pershore Abbey Tewkesbury Abbey Hailes Abbey Dorchester Abbey East Anglia Waltham Abbey Binham Priory St Benet’s Abbey Castle Acre Priory Walsingham Priory Wymondham Abbey The Kingdoms of Kent and South Wessex Westminster Abbey St George’s Chapel, Windsor Aylesford Priory Battle Abbey Canterbury – St Augustine’s Abbey Michelham Priory The Kingdoms of Wessex and Kernow Romsey Abbey Malmesbury Abbey Bath Abbey Sherborne Abbey Milton Abbey Christchurch Priory Cleeve Abbey Wimborne Minster Glastonbury Abbey Buckfast Abbey St German’s Priory Beaulieu Abbey Scotland Jedburgh Abbey Kelso Abbey Coldingham Priory Dryburgh Abbey Melrose Abbey Dunfermline Abbey Pluscarden Abbey Dundrennan Abbey Holyrood Abbey Iona Abbey Sweetheart Abbey Wales Tintern Abbey Caldey Island Llanthony Abbey Margam Abbey Valle Crucis Abbey Neath Abbey
£9.49
Amberley Publishing Graveyards and Cemeteries of Perthshire
Book SynopsisThe history of burial in Perthshire's graveyards and cemeteries. Will appeal to both residents and visitors to this region of Scotland.
£14.39
Tuttle Publishing The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an
Book SynopsisThe Genius of Japanese Carpentry tells the story of the 1200-year-old Yakushiji monastery in Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the dedicated modern-day craftsmen who are working to restore what has been lost to the depredations of time, fire and warfare.Although the monastery's reconstruction will not be fully completed until 2030, one of the primary temples—the Picture Hall—has been wholly restored employing the same materials, tools and techniques originally used in its creation over a millennium ago. Featuring intricate, puzzle-like joinery and the integration of timber pieces to orient them in the same direction as when it was a growing tree, this book skillfully documents the stunning craftsmanship of the ancient Japanese, which is still alive today.First published more than thirty years ago, this book has become a classic. Author Azby Brown, one of the world's leading experts on Japanese architecture, chronicles the painstaking restoration of the Yakushiji monastery through: Extensive interviews with carpenters and woodworkers Original drawings based on the plans of master carpenter Tsunekazu Nishioka Detailed photographs and diagrams showing the woodworking techniques, tools and materials used This revised edition of the book contains a new foreword by Mira Locher, one of the world's leading experts on vernacular and modern Japanese architecture.An inspiring testament to the dedication of these craftsmen and their philosophy of carpentry work as a form of personal fulfillment, The Genius of Japanese Carpentry offers detailed documentation of the restoration of this historic building and a moving reminder of the unique cultural continuity found in Japan.cTrade Review"My main impression throughout reading this book has been one of head shaking and disbelief, and sheer amazement at the ingenuity of Japanese carpenters current and old. If you have any interest in carpentry, timber framing, woodworking, or even Japanese history, I highly recommend this book" —The Year of Mud blog"The Genius of Japanese Carpentry focuses on Japan's foremost carpenters who combine the timeless past and living present." —Japan Woodcraft Association"…very much heartfelt appreciation of Japanese carpentry." —Japan Forward blog
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Country Church Monuments
Book SynopsisA landmark illustrated history of rural church monuments - the forgotten national treasures of England and WalesDeep in the countryside, away from metropolitan abbeys and cathedrals, thousands of funerary monuments are hidden in parish churches. These artworks - medieval brasses and elegant marble effigies, stone tomb chests and grand mausoleums - are of great historical and cultural significance, but have, due to their relative inaccessibility, faded from accounts of our art history.Over twenty-five years, C. B. Newham FSA has visited and photographed more than eight thousand rural churches, cataloguing the monumental sculptures encountered on his quest. In Country Church Monuments, he presents 365 of the very best, each accompanied by detailed photographs, biographies of both the deceased and their sculptors and a wealth of contextual material. Many of these works commemorate famous historical figures, from scheming Tudor courtier Richard Rich to VictTrade ReviewA magnificent book - a tremendous achievement, a thing of beauty and a volume that should have a place on every church lover's shelves -- Nigel Andrew * Literary Review *Astonishing and beautifully photographed... The 365 examples chosen for full-page illustration and commentary here are the clotted cream of the milk of human mortality. Newham has visited 9,000 country churches in the past few years for his stupendous project of photographing every rural church in England. His travels with a camera make Cobbett's Rural Rides seem like a bank-holiday jaunt... Newham's pictures are a revelation -- Christopher Howse * Telegraph *This is a true labour of love and one of the most wonderful books I have ever seen -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *A tour de force... Erudite... Church monuments may at first appear niche, but the subject matter deserves an audience beyond church crawlers or taphophiles. Funeral art provides a powerful insight into the culture and beliefs that they sprang from... Country Church Monuments is a treasure trove of sites just waiting to be discovered. -- Emma J Wells * The Times *Brilliant -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *A life-affirming survey -- Rose Washbourn * House and Garden *An excellent book... Its outstanding quality, however, is its photographs. Only someone who has craned theirneck in semi-darkness to discern the contours of an effigy lying at eye level can appreciate, even if they cannot explain, the expertise of Cameron Newham's technique. In many cases perfect images are provided of recumbent figures taken from directly overhead, often defying the actual space above them.... A wonderful selection, warmly recommended -- Timothy Connor * The Tablet *The wonderful result of 25 years of meticulously chronicling over 8,000 rural English and Welsh churches - and the effigies, marbles, monuments and brasses inside them. Newham has picked out 365 of the best monuments he has found - a feast of the celebrated and the obscure and an enthralling map of our aesthetic and social history -- Lucy Lethbridge * The Oldie *What fortunate isles are these, to boast thousands of local sculpture galleries scattered through towns and villages, nearly all accessible for free: churches that host funeral monuments and memorials spanning more than a millennium. Newham's book is an incomparable means of sampling the very best across England and Wales - a personalised visit for every day of the year, in superb photography and informed commentary * Diarmaid MacCulloch *This beautifully produced gazetteer invites us to look inside our extraordinary wealth of parish churches and see afresh the impressive, the touching, the beautiful and the downright sinister in their monuments, from the fourteenth-century obsession with mortality and the cadaver or the flourishes of baroque new men to the vainglorious fanfares or sentimental doggerel of the nineteenth century. Knights lying with their faithful dogs or wives, busts coolly neoclassical or lavishly periwigged are all accommodated in miniature showhouses in the architectural style of their period. A happy bedfellow for Nicholas Pevsner -- Matthew RiceAn enthralling testament to our ceaseless human striving for eternity -- Editor's Choice * Bookseller *Antiquarian CB Newham's book might seem more melancholy than merry. But it is a life-affirming survey of Britons through the ages * House and Garden *
£32.00
Quarto Publishing PLC Great Churches of London
Book Synopsis
£28.00
Amberley Publishing Churches of Gloucestershire
Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of Gloucestershireâs historic churches. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Gloucestershire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.
£14.39
Penguin Books Ltd England's Thousand Best Churches
Book SynopsisSimon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of England to select his thousand best churches. Organised by county, each church is described - often with delightful asides - and given a star-rating from one to five. All of the county sections are prefaced by a map locating each church, and lavishly illustrated with colour photos from the Country Life archive. Jenkins contends that these churches house a gallery of vernacular art without equal in the world. Here, he brings that museum to public attention.
£36.00
Amberley Publishing Churches of Cornwall
Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of Cornwallâs historic churches that will be of interest to residents and visitors alike.
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC How to Read Churches
Book SynopsisThis handy, easy-to-carry book will providethe reader with a strictly visual approach to reading the architecture of thechurch.Table of ContentsIntroduction Building Types Church Types A Grammar of Styles Materials Floor Plans The Nave Apses & Sanctuaries Choirs & Stalls Vaulting & Buttresses Domes & Cupolas Façades & Portals Baptisteries & Fonts Windows & Tracery Towers & Spires Altars & Tabernacles Stained Glass Ornaments & Symbols Glossary Resources Index Acknowledgements
£12.34
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Stained Glass Shire Library
Book SynopsisFor over a thousand years stories of Christian belief and great moments in British history have filled the windows of our cathedrals and parish churches. The glow of painted and stained glass, its radiant colours and vivid pictures, has inspired generations of audiences and artists.This beautifully illustrated book traces the development of a unique art from its earliest beginnings in Anglo-Saxon England to the present day. It includes fascinating descriptions of medieval and renaissance glass, the religious upheavals of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries which saw thousands of windows destroyed, the rebirth of the craft in Georgian and Victorian Britain, and the pioneering of exciting new styles and techniques by modern artists.Explanations of how stained glass windows are made, the secrets of medieval glaziers, the subjects that can be seen and where the best examples from the seventh to twenty-first centuries can be found add to its pleasures.Table of Contents?Introduction / Anglo-Saxon Window Glass, AD 700–1066 / The Normans, 1066–1220 / The Early Thirteenth Century / The Decorated Style, 1250–1380 / The International Style and the Renaissance / Seeing Stained Glass / Stained Glass and Other Arts / Reformation, Renewal and Destruction,1538–1660 / Interregnum, 1660–1800 / Recovery and Mass Production, 1800–1900 / The Twentieth Century to the Present / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Index
£8.54
Amberley Publishing Churches of Essex
Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of Essexâs historic churches. Will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Lost Chapel of Westminster
Book SynopsisThe fascinating history of St Stephen''s Chapel in the Palace of Westminster, a building at the heart of British life for over 700 years. Begun in 1292, the royal chapel of St Stephen was the crowning glory of the old palace of Westminster a place of worship for kings and a showcase of the finest architecture, ritual and music the Plantagenets could muster. But in 1548, as the Protestant Reformation reached its height, St Stephen''s was given a new purpose as the House of Commons. Burned out in the great palace fire of 1834, the Commons chamber was then recreated on a remarkably similar medieval design, perpetuating a way of doing politics that is recognisable to this day.St Stephen''s has been part of many lives over the centuries, from the medieval masons who worked through the Black Death to complete the chapel, to the generations of MPs who locked horns in the Commons chamber. Threading together religion, politics, art, architecture and narrative history,
£21.25
The History Press Ltd The Companion to Cathedrals and Abbeys
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£17.09
Pallas Athene Publishers A Guide to Baroque Rome: The Churches
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£26.96
Amberley Publishing The Green Man
Book SynopsisUnravelling the folklore and history of the foliate head, or green man, in ecclesiastical architecture.
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Heaven on Earth: The Lives and Legacies of the
Book SynopsisA glorious illustrated history of sixteen of the world's greatest cathedrals, interwoven with the extraordinary stories of the people who built them. 'An impeccable guide to the golden age of ecclesiastical architecture' The Times 'Vivid, colourful and absorbing' Dan Jones 'An epic ode to some of our most beautiful and beloved buildings' Helen Carr A glorious history of sixteen of the world’s greatest cathedrals, interwoven with the extraordinary stories of the people who built them. The emergence of the Gothic style in twelfth-century France, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses and large windows, forms the central core of Emma Wells’s authoritative but accessible study of the golden age of the cathedral. More than architectural biographies, these are human stories of triumph and tragedy that take the reader from the chaotic atmosphere of the mason’s yard to the cloisters of power. Together, they reveal how 1000 years of cathedral-building shaped modern Europe, and influenced art, culture and society around the world.Trade ReviewAn impeccable guide to the golden age of ecclesiastical architecture... Meticulously researched... It's to Wells's credit that she manages to make the history of these cathedrals as gripping as she does. * The Times *Combining scholarship and an eye for human stories, Heaven on Earth is a vivid, colourful and absorbing tour of the greatest buildings the medieval world produced. -- Dan JonesShines scholarly light on the history of the great cathedrals of Europe and uncovers the wealth of human stories they hold. Rich in animated, erudite and compassionate storytelling about how people in the past expressed spirituality in magnificent physical form... An epic ode to some of our most beautiful and beloved buildings. -- Helen CarrEmma J. Wells has written an accessible, authoritative and lavishly illustrated account of the building of 16 of "the world's greatest cathedrals" * Spectator *Wells brings these buildings vividly to life, peopling them with their authors and sponsors, their triumphs and tribulations, and beautifully illustrated * Country Life *Sumptuously presented... A fascinating look at how people in the Middle Ages combined spirituality, symbolism, mathematics and monumental toil to create some of history's grandest buildings * History Revealed *This beautifully written and impeccably researched book is an utter joy to read, managing to be both academic and yet accessible to the lay reader * Yorkshire Life *Strikingly show[s] the influence these imposing buildings exerted [and] the importance of the people who built these places * History Today *
£13.49
Wooden Books Ancient English Cathedrals
Book SynopsisPerhaps the most awe-inspiring structures ever built in these isles, ancient cathedrals continue to exude spiritual force and architectural magic many centuries after their incredible design and construction. This book, by monumental mason, letterer and fire-fighter Mark Mills is beautifully illustrated with rare fine engravings, and carefully printed on the highest quality papers. Here is the amazing story of the cathedrals, told through the exquisite examples of old England. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
£8.18
The Squeeze Press The Cosmos in Stone: Sacred Geometry of a Master
Book SynopsisThis beautiful and groundbreaking book examines the use of sacred geometry and cosmology in Gothic cathedral design. Renowned geometer and lecturer Tom Bree demonstrates how medieval Master Masons combined their knowledge of the practical building arts with ancient cosmological knowledge to endow their constructions with profound spiritual meaning. Wells Cathedral, the focus of this book, was England's first Gothic cathedral, and its design symbolises the soul's cosmic journey from Earth, through the underworld and up into the heavens. Bree shows how the medieval Christian fascination with the knowledge of the ancient world laid the foundations for the more recent mythos involving the Templars, Freemasonry and Pyramidology. Packed with rare illustrations and original research unavailable anywhere else, this is a book to study and treasure.
£22.46
Rizzoli International Publications Mosques Splendors of Islam
Book SynopsisFOREWORD INDIES Book of the Year Awards — 2017 GOLD Winner for ArchitectureOne of the most important and authoritative books to celebrate mosque architecture and Islamic design, featuring many exquisite newly commissioned photographs. This visually striking volume illustrates over sixty of the most venerated mosques from historic monuments such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and Istanbul’s Süleymaniye Mosque to today’s most dynamic new designs exemplified by the Sancaklar Mosque. Essays by prominent architecture and design authorities include Professor Sussan Babaie, Andrew W. Mellon Reader in the Arts of Iran and Islam, The Courtauld Institute of Art, London; Distinguished Professor Walter B. Denny, Department of the History of Art and Architecture, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Heather Ecker, Visiting Professor, Art and Archaeology, Columbia University; Professor Mohammed Hamdouni Alami, Archaeological R
£48.00
Vintage Publishing Brunelleschis Dome
Book Synopsis''Compelling... fascinating'' Spectator''Abounding with excellent little stories'' Financial TimesThis is the story of one of the most magnificent achievements of the Italian Renaissance, and the architect behind it.Even in an age of soaring skyscrapers and cavernous sports stadiums, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence still retains a rare power to astonish. Yet the elegance of the building belies the tremendous labour, technical ingenuity and bitter personal strife involved in its creation. For over a century after work on the cathedral began, the proposed dome was regarded as all but impossible to build. The greatest architectural puzzle of its age, when finally completed it was hailed as one of the great wonders of the world.This book tells the extraordinary story of how the cupola was raised and of the dome''s architect, the brilliant and volatile Filippo Brunelleschi. Denounced as a madman at the Trade ReviewCompelling... professional jealousy, committee intrigue, feats of bluff and fascinating scraps of obsolete lore... Where Longitude had ocean wastes, Brunelleschi's Dome has vertigo * Spectator *As each novel feat of genius engineering flowers high above the ground, details of scandals and pranks blow up from the city streets to create an altogether enchanting tale -- Dava Sobel, author of LongitudeAn adventure yarn set on the wild frontiers of human knowledge... abounding with excellent stories * Financial Times *A wonderfully vivid little book * Daily Telegraph *
£11.69
Yale University Press In the Shadow of St. Pauls Cathedral
Book SynopsisThe extraordinary story of St. Paul’s Churchyard—the area of London that was a center of social and intellectual life for more than a millenniumTrade Review“It was the book trade for which St. Paul’s Churchyard became famous. . . . Willes, a liveryman of the Stationers’ Company, relishes this hive of industry; it is when she writes of the book trade that her own book comes alive.”—Paul Lay, Sunday Telegraph“Wonderfully engaging. . . . Willes gives a diverting account of searing political pamphlets . . . and the first printing of literary sensations such as Lyrical Ballads, with walk-on appearances from Charlotte Brontë and Mary Wollstonecraft. . . . Londoners have taken this territory for granted for too many decades, and Willes is here to put that right.”—Sinclair McKay, Spectator“This book is an exceptional compendium and encyclopedic survey of historic events and actions. . . . Willes writes in a pleasing, clear, and lively style.”—Seventeeth-Century News“Invariably accurate, clear and fascinating. . . . [Willes] discovers infinite historical riches in this one small patch of London, and delivers them to the reader without complication or prejudice.”—Robert Gray, Catholic Herald“St Paul’s Cathedral survived the Blitz, but the area surrounding it was erased together with its vibrant community. Margaret Willes’s elegant writing, beautifully illustrated, makes it present to us once again.”—Alex Faludy, The Tablet“As this engagingly written book reveals, the area around the cathedral has a discrete but fascinating history that illuminates the story of London as a whole. . . . The author has spent her career in publishing and the care with which this book is written and structured reflects that experience.”—John Goodall, Country Life“In this new book, handsomely illustrated and produced by Yale University Press . . . the story moves briskly forward, enlivened by colourful anecdotes, from Medieval London to the events surrounding Occupy and the erection of a protest camp in 2011.”—Richard Chartres, Church Times“Whether or not you have London ancestors, this is a fascinating look at the history of London from a new and different angle. . . . There are plenty of interesting illustrations to help bring the story to life, as do the lively and evocative descriptions of a now lost part of London’s history.”—Family Tree Magazine“There is no doubt that this book is a significant contribution to the histories of London and of print . . . There has long been a need for this book and Willes has fulfilled that need excellently."—Joe Saunders, The Local Historian“Margaret Willes offers a unique exploration of a lost world, centring on the publishing community which once clustered around St Paul’s Cathedral. Her fascinating book spans centuries, introduces an array of memorable characters, and offers important insights into an enthralling aspect of London’s history.”—Margarette Lincoln, author of London and the 17th Century“When St Paul’s Churchyard was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in December 1940, the “Second Great Fire of London” obliterated centuries of London publishing history overnight. Now Margaret Willes offers us a thrilling and evocative resurrection of the stories buried beneath the ashes.”—Jerry White, author of The Battle of London, 1939–45“A revelatory new insight into a part of London that I thought I knew well. I couldn’t put it down.”—Adrian Tinniswood, author of His Invention so Fertile: A Life of Christopher Wren “This wonderfully evocative book recreates the business and bustle of an area that was the vibrant heart of London for over a millennium and the historic centre of the nation’s literary life. Once again, Margaret Willes demonstrates her gift for blending scholarly research and entertaining anecdote.”—George Goodwin, author of Benjamin Franklin in London
£12.88
Transworld Publishers Ltd Ships Of Heaven
Book SynopsisChristopher Somerville is the walking correspondent of The Times. He is one of Britain's most respected and prolific travel writers, with forty-two books, hundreds of newspaper articles and many TV and radio appearances to his name.He lives in Bristol.Trade ReviewWriting about the spirit of place is sometimes like nailing jelly to the wall, but Somerville's thoughtful, occasionally poetic prose hits the spot for a book that sets out to define the genius loci of these magnificent buildings. -- Ian Vince * Countryfile *Cathedrals are all things to all people. ... To capture all this, vividly and stylishly, in one, not-very-long book suggests something close to divine inspiration ... Yet it’s not the breadth of his travels that impresses. You can buy many a glossy gazetteer that gives you the tourist spiel on dozens more British cathedrals than the 20 he covers. Rather, it’s the depth of the “cathedral experience” that he uncovers by the old-fashioned journalistic method of getting knowledgeable people to talk freely about what they know best, then using his sharp eyes and wits to fill in the rest of the story. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *[Christopher Somerville's] writing is utterly enticing -- Jenny Walters * Country Walking *[A] friendly wander around twenty-one British Cathedrals, Christopher Somerville, the walking correspondent of The Times, passes the hard test giving life to buildings that most readers have never visited…He provides many human faces to the cathedrals he visits…I hope he inspires readers to go for themselves * Literary Review *Cathedrals are perhaps Christianity's greatest modern ambassadors in these islands: welcoming portals to experiences and emotions beyond everyday concerns. Christopher Somerville is a genial companion as far as the remotest among these glorious communities, and charmingly opens the private doors at which visitors cast speculative glances. -- Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford
£13.49
Amberley Publishing Churches of Southern Yorkshire
Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of southern Yorkshireâs historic churches. Explores a cross-section of historical churches throughout the county.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Greyfriars Graveyard
Book SynopsisExplore the story of Greyfriars Graveyard, Edinburghâs most important burial ground since the 16th century.
£14.39
Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers Ltd Architecture of Canterbury Cathedral
Book SynopsisThe story of one of Britain's greatest buildings and its spectacular architectural evolution reissued in a stylish hardback for the first time.
£24.00
Ebury Publishing How To Read A Church
Book Synopsis'[a] gem of a book' SpectatorChurches and cathedrals were originally built to be read. They are alive with images and symbols. But today few people, including regular visitors, truly understand the wealth of meaning in what they find there.How to Read a Church is a fascinating guide for anybody who wants to know more about what they see in a church or cathedral. It explains the significance of church layout, the symbolism of key scenes and the importance of details such as the use of colours and letters. It is an essential guide to the history, meanings and messages of these beautiful buildings and the treasures they contain.
£10.99
Blue Crow Media Christopher Wren London Map: Guide to the
Book Synopsis
£11.06
Emons Verlag GmbH 111 Churches in London That You Shouldn't Miss
Book Synopsis111 Churches in London That You Shouldn't Miss takes you through the doors of 111 rarely visited churches, but which, with the help of this informative guide are now on the map! With their spires, towers, columns and capitals, vaults and arches, carvings and paintings, London churches tell us a lot about its architecture and its history. And with their beautifully carved fonts, pulpits, carvings, mosaics and decorative objects, they show you centuries of skill and labour that went into making these buildings for which the main objectives were majesty, endurance and posterity. Following the little black crosses on her mini A to Z, Londoner Emma Rose Barber takes you to a ultra-modern church made in the Brutalist style, to a church once so dark, and now so light, a bombed church, now hollowed out, containing the most romantic garden in London, to churches where you can sip coffee in the aisles and nave...
£12.34
Snake River Press Ltd 20 Sussex Churches Books About Sussex for the
Book SynopsisProvides an introduction to the parish churches of Sussex reflecting the region's rich cultural history. This book also explores the question of why churches matter in the modern world, and the many kinds of pleasure they can provide to Christians and non-Christians alike.
£8.09
Pan Macmillan Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of
Book SynopsisWritten in aid of the crucial restoration work to restore Paris’s great cathedral, Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals is a moving, short piece of non-fiction celebrating the stunning history of this beloved building, from Ken Follett, author of the multi-million copy selling Kingsbridge series.‘Two days after Notre Dame burned, I flew to Paris to appear on the TV programme La Grande Librairie for a discussion about cathedrals. The following morning I had breakfast at the Hotel Bristol with my French publisher and she asked me to write a short book about Notre Dame and what it means to all of us. She said she would donate the publisher’s profits to the rebuilding fund and, if I wished, I could do the same with my royalties. Yes, I said; of course, I’d love to.’ – Ken FollettA minimum of 50p per copy on each sale of this book will go to the heritage and restoration charity La Fondation du Patrimoine.
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Medieval Church Architecture
Book SynopsisBy the end of the medieval period, Britain''s churches already had an architectural heritage of one thousand years, much of which remains on view today. This guide by architectural historian Jon Cannon uses high-quality photographs and diagrams to help us to analyze the leading changes in style from the Anglo-Saxon period, through the Romanesque as far as Gothic and Perpendicular. By identifying various clues left by each period, he enables us to date architectural features and styles, and explains the technical terms applied to them. If you have ever wondered how your church or cathedral developed, and want to know your triforium from your blind arcade or your vault from your hammerbeam, all the answers are here.Table of ContentsIntroduction / Anglo-Saxon / Norman or Romanesque / The Birth of Gothic: Transitional / Gothic I: Early English / Gothic II: Decorated / Gothic III: Perpendicular / Postscript / Glossary / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Appendix: Chronology of Styles / Index
£9.49
Park Books Sigurd Lewerentz – Pure Aesthetics: St Mark's
Book SynopsisSt Mark’s Church in Björkhagen, one of Stockholm’s southern districts, is one of Sigurd Lewerentz’s (1885-1975) key designs. But unlike Lewerentz’s other famous church, St Peter’s in Klippan, no book has been published to date that constitutes a fitting tribute to this masterpiece of brick brutalism. This opulent new building monograph now fills this gap. Some 300 new colour photographs and especially drawn explanatory plans, alongside essays by distinguished authorities on Lewerentz’s architecture, turn this book into a visual feast. It demonstrates the exquisitely atmospheric St Mark’s Church both as a standalone object and in the context of its surrounding urban landscape. Moreover, it picks out many details, such as the floor coverings, furnishings, lamps, banisters, the altar, and other liturgical features. The essays explore aspects of materiality and topics such as the church’s special acoustics and atmosphere in an attempt to reveal the secret of Sigurd Lewerentz’s church designs.
£51.00
Giles de la Mare Publishers Romanesque Churches of Spain: A Traveller's Guide
Book SynopsisThe widespead and numerous Romanesque churches in the northern half of Spain rival those of France for their distinctiveness and originality and for their remarkable sculpture. They were mainly built between about 1000 and 1200 and mirror the progressive rolling back of Islamic power in the long reconquista, first of all along the north coast and in Catalonia, which was only occupied by the Muslims for about a hundred years, and then in Leon and Castile. Their architectural styles vary greatly from region to region, and some of them contain fine frescoes as well. Romanesque style introduced the first revival of the art of sculpture since Roman times, and in Spain there good examples of decorative carving as far back as the seventh century. It was the age of pilgrimages and many of the churches were founded along the pilgrim routes from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, which are popular destinations for travellers in Spain today. Romanesque Churches of Spain, which covers a hundred and twenty churches in Catalonia, Aragon, Navarre and the Basque Country, Cantabria, Castile, Leon, Asturias and Galicia, and includes no less than twenty pre-Romanesque churches in the Visigothic, Asturian and Mozarabic styles of 600-1000, many with exotic features such as the horseshoe arch, is the first comprehensive book to be published on the subject. It is a perfect companion for travellers, with its ten maps and its regional arrangement, and will be a stimulus for the exploration of wild and remote areas that are unfamiliar to many people, especially across the Pyrenees and in the mountainous areas of Aragon, Cantabria and Asturias. It will also be invaluable as a reference book, with its 262 illustrations, for all those with a general interest in the history of Spanish architecture and sculpture, many of the churches possessing outstanding examples such as Santiago de Compostela, Jaca, Soria, Agramunt, Ripoll, Armentia, Estibaliz, Sanguesa, Santo Domingo de Silos and San Pedro de la Nave. Peter Strafford is a distinguished journalist who worked on the Times for more than three decades, including in Paris and Brussels, and was, among other things, the Times correspondent in New York for five years. His acclaimed Romanesque Churches of France has recently been reprinted.Table of ContentsAcknowledgement vi Place Names vi Glossary ix General Introduction 1 Historical background 12 Monasteries 21 Pilgrimages 25 Before Romanesque 32 Catalonia Introduction 33 Barcelona: Sant Pau del Camp 37 Besalu 40 Bossost and the Vall d'Aran: Bossost, Vielha, SalardA' 42 Cardona 44 Corbera 47 L'Estany 49 Frontanya 52 Gerri de la Sal 54 Girona 55 Lleida 60 Montserrat: Santa Cecilia 64 Poblet, Santes Creus, Vallbona de les Monges 65 Ponts and Agramunt 71 Ripoll 74 Sant Benet de Bages 80 Sant Cugat del Valles 83 Sant Joan de les Abadesses 86 Sant Pere de Casserres 89 Sant Pere de Rodes 91 La Seu d'Urgell 94 Tarragona 100 Taull and the Vall de Boi: Taull, Boi, Erill la Vall 102 Terrassa 111 La Tossa de Montbui 115 Aragon Introduction 117 Aguero 119 Alquezar 122 Huesca 126 Jaca 130 Larrede 135 Loarre 137 San Juan de la Pena 141 Siresa 146 Sos del Rey Catolico 147 Uncastillo 150 Navarre and the Basque Country Introduction 155 Armentia 156 Estella 162 Estibaliz 168 Eunate 172 Leyre 174 Sanguesa 180 San Vicentejo 186 Torres del Rio 188 Tudela 192 Cantabria Introduction 195 Castaneda 196 Cervatos 198 Santa Maria de Lebena 201 Santillana del Mar 203 Castile and La Rioja Introduction 209 Avila 211 Banos de Cerrato 217 Fromista 220 Quintanilla de las Vinas 223 Rebolledo de la Torre 225 San Baudelio de Berlanga 228 San Cebrian de Mazote 231 San Esteban de Gormaz 235 San Lorenzo de Vallejo 239 San Millan de la Cogolla 241 San Pantaleon de Losa 244 San Pedro de Tejada 247 San Quirce 251 Santa Maria de Wamba 253 Santo Domingo de Silos 258 Segovia 266 Sepulveda 283 Soria 284 Leon Introduction 293 Leon 295 Sahagun 302 Salamanca 305 San Miguel de Escalada 309 San Pedro de la Nave 313 San Pedro de las Duenas 316 Santa Marta de Tera 318 Santiago de Penalba 321 Toro 323 Zamora 326 Asturias Introduction 337 Oviedo: Camara Santa and Santullano 338 Oviedo: Santa Maria de Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo 342 San Salvador de Priesca 346 San Salvador de Valdedios 348 Santa Cristina de Lena 350 Galicia Introduction 353 Aciveiro 355 Cambre 358 Celanova 361 Mondonedo 362 Santa Comba de Bande 365 Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral 367 Santiago de Compostela: Santa Maria de Sar 380 Vilar de Donas 383 Index 386
£15.29
Yale University Press Sussex West
Book SynopsisTrade Review “One of the many improvements of this new edition is to acknowledge that these ancient buildings have a history far more complicated than was once imagined” —Simon Heffer, The Daily Telegraph “The ‘Pevsner’ series [. . .] is said to be the unrivalled source for authoritative and comprehensive information on the architecture of the British Isles. In Sussex:West, new research accompanies 130 specially commissioned colour photographs” —Mid Sussex Times“[The book] follows a now-familiar format, with longer and updated texts, numerous additional figures and an expanded collection of colour photographs” —John Goodall, Country Life“West is another solid achievement in this magnificent series.”—Graham Kent, Ancient Monuments Society
£54.00
The History Press Ltd Discovering the Smallest Churches in Wales
Book SynopsisA small church nestling deep in the countryside is instantly evocative. Why is it there at all? Whom does it serve? These are worthy questions to ask of the many picturesque churches that are scattered across our landscape. Many smaller churches have a fascinating history and wonderful architecture: these buildings deserve our attention and further study.This companion volume to the author's successful Discovering England's Smallest Churches covers over fifty churches in Wales which have naves of thirty feet or less. The churches are selected from the whole of the Principality, north, mid and south, and are arranged by county. Some, like Pilleth, are on battlefield sites; others, such as Llanano, have magnificent screens. The book, which is lavishly illustrated with colour and black-and-white photographs, drawings and location maps, will appeal both to those living in Wales and to visitors. Additionally, the appendices provide the reader with informa
£16.14
