The acclaimed best-selling author and popular historian explores the
history of Europe via its cathedrals.
Beautifully illustrated with color photographs throughout, this joyous
exploration of the history of Western civilization showcases the
cathedral's central role in the European imagination. A masterful
writer, Jenkins tells the stories behind these stone wonders: the
architects that made them possible, the triumphs of engineering, the
artists who enriched their décor, and the inevitable human follies of
those who were involved in their building, from the artisans and workers
to the wealthy donors and the faithful who worshipped beneath their
soaring spires and majestic domes.
Simon Jenkins is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of
best-selling works that make history accessible. Blending insight and
authority with personal reflections and experiences, he deftly reveals
the history, design, and significance of each of these enduring
monuments to the human spirit from popular favorites like St. Paul's and
the Duomo in Florence to less well-known masterpieces well worth a trip.
Europe's cathedrals are treasure troves of art and repositories of
history that attract hundreds or thousands of visitors every year.