The Book of Kells: Selected Plates in Full Color

by Anonymous, Blanche Cirker (Editor)

Painstakingly reproduced from a rare facsimile edition, this volume contains full-page decorations, portraits, illustrations, plus a sampling of textual leaves with exquisite calligraphy and ornamentation. The 32 full-color illustrations include the first image of Virgin and Child in a Western manuscript and early representations of Apocalyptic visionary symbols of the Evangelists.

Genres: Art, Religion, Classics, Medieval

Paperback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Manny]

Yesterday, we visited the Book of Kells exhibition at Trinity College, Dublin. The book was indeed impressive and beautiful, but I liked even more the poem Pangur Bán, originally written in 9th century Irish by an unknown monk, on a copy of St Paul's Epistles. Robin Flower's translation:

I and Pangur Bán, my cat
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way:
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den,
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Bán, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.

[David Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume contains about 30 color plates of illuminated pages from the Book of Kells, one of the best remaining examples of Medieval artistry. There is a brief historical introduction. The plates are themselves presented without commentary. Thus, this is a book for the art lover rather than the scholar.

[Belle Meade School]

745.67094183

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very lovely little book. A good introduction to the book of Kells. High quality reproductions.

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illuminated manuscripts are wonderful things...

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reproductions could be better, but I don't know of a better way to otherwise study this magnificent book.