The Geometry of Love: Space, Time, Mystery, and Meaning in an Ordinary Church

by Margaret Visser

"More than any other kind of edifice, a church is intentionally meaningful in all its aspects, and Visser decided to find out what it was trying to express, in its nuances as well as in its grand gestures. She deliberately chose a relatively simple church just outside the walls of Rome, Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura, and takes in history, theology, anthropology, and folklore, among other disciplines, to illuminate its physical and spiritual architecture. As she guides us through the building, from apse to nave, catacombs to campanile, Visser explores the symbolism of lambs, the Christian fascination with virgins, the meanings of martyrdom, and the history of relics. At the same time, she moves back through the centuries to reveal Christianity in its earliest forms and purposes. The book ends at the church's beginning, with the grave of Agnes, a twelve-year-old girl who was murdered seventeen hundred years ago and whose remains lie buried beneath the altar."--BOOK JACKET.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion, Architecture, Italy, Art, Anthropology

322 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Margaret Visser writes on the history, anthropology, and mythology of
everyday life. Her most recent book is The Gift of Thanks, published by HarperCollins. Her previous books, Much Depends on Dinner, The Rituals of Dinner, The Way We Are, and The Geometry of Love, have all been best sellers and have won major international awards, including the Glenfiddich Award for Foodbook of the Year in Britain in 1989, the International Association of Culinary Professionals' Literary Food Writing Award, and the Jane Grigson Award. In 2002 she gave the Massey Lectures on CBC radio, subsequently published as the best-selling book, Beyond Fate. Her books have been translated into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. She appears frequently on radio and television, and has lectured extensively in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia. She divides her time between Toronto, Paris, and South West France.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

Usually when I get approved on Netgalley, I try my best to write at least 250-500 words. I find that for this book I cannot do so.

Simply put: This is the best book I have ever read about a church or other building.

I collect and read Pitkin guides as if they are going out of style. But this book blasts them all to shame. I pre-ordered a Kindle copy after reading the digital ARC.

In this book Margaret Visser gives a complete guide to the church of Sant’Agnese di fuori Mura (in Rome). Along the way, she deals with church history, art history, architectural history, feminism, martyrs, and ancient history. It is brilliant. One would think a book of this length on such subject matter would be boring.

It’s not. It’s sheer poetry.

I never heard of this church before, and Visser makes you feel as if you there, but now I want – I need – to see it.

If you interested in any of the above topics, please read this book.
I cannot thank Open Road Media enough for re-issuing this for Kindle and for allowing me to read a digital ARC.

It’s magnificent.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a wealth of detail about Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura, a third-century shrine housing relics of a young virgin-martyr, St. Agnes (died c. 304, feast January 21). Margaret Visser explores the church and the catacombs underneath, delving into art, architecture, history and religious symbolism. While I enjoyed reading this immensely, and would recommend it without hesitation to anyone who is interested in early Christianity, I felt the abundance of facts to be slightly bewildering at times. For me personally, the last chapter, which analyses the passion-narrative of Agnes against a backdrop of both Greco-Roman mythology and other Christian martyr stories, seemed the most focused and the most interesting chapter.

[B. Rule · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an incredible monument of the glory of Roman Catholic/Christian culture, just like the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura that it chronicles. Visser does not purport to provide an objective account, but instead invests this tour with a passion deeply befitting the subject. She's the learned tour guide you hope to find in Rome. She's witty, engaged and invested in the history of place, erudite and quick with an informative etymology or an illuminating anecdote, but with a clear-eyed view of the moral failures of the past. I basically loved her. Visser provides scholarly sourcing and an academic ease with early church controversies and historiography, but she's also a storyteller. As she leads you around the space of the church, her purview widens out to encompass nearly the breadth of Western history. She also includes a healthy amount of theology while interpreting the signs and symbols of the church. My only complaint is that some illustrations would have been welcome. If you have an antipathy to religiously interested persons, this probably isn't the book for you. However, if you want a guided tour of the wonders of Catholic Christendom by an insider, oh sister have I got a book for you. This is one of the best books I've read this year.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting consideration of the "meaning" of a church building. Although Visser describes her subject as "an ordinary church", historically, archaeologically and architecturally it is far from being at all ordinary. Somewhat like a guided tour of the church, but with such a erudite guide leading the way. It does make one want to either visit the church, or look on line for images - which were very sadly lacking in this paperback version. I would have liked illustrations and floor and area plans to fill out the descriptions.

Much as I enjoy Visser, in this case I think the insider anthropology doesn't communicate to those on the outside. She is a committed Christian, and at times comes off like a Catholic apologist. Yes indeed, there are heroes and martyrs of the Church, but there have also been a lot horrendous deeds done in the name of the same Church as well, and in my opinion there is still no real room for women to fully participate in the Church as men do.

[Anne Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very readable and enjoyable book by the writer of "Much Depends on Dinner". This time the writer brings a wealth of material, from Roman history, archaelogy, mythology, and architecture in thinking about one particular church in Rome. This is an early Christian church dedicated to St. Agnes. Much thoughtful writing about the Catholic church and catechism.

[Eileen Iciek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book about a small church in Rome. Although just about a small church, it covers so much more than you might imagine - church history, art, architecture from the late Roman period, mosaics, history in general. A lot packed into this little book.

[julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love visser's books about food, but this church book was just a bit much for me. since i'm getting old and life is short, i didn't finish it.

[Ralph Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most unusual book. Visser takes one Church from the many in Rome and uses it to engage in a discussion of belief. This will mean most if the reader is a Christian and a Roman Catholic but it is not limited to believers. There is much to learn about religious belief, history, archaeology, art, custom and even the etymology of words that we use frequently but don't know the origins of. Visser goes to some length to argue that everyone, whether a believer or not, has sometime experienced a transcendent moment. It is easy to see Wordsworth, Blake, or Joanna of Norwich experienced moments of revelation, but perhaps harder to recognise them in oneself. Nevertheless she convinced me. I found the book fascinating from all angles. Deliberately (I am sure) there is only one illustration, but the internet can easily furnish images of what is being described if the reader is interested.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this along with some people at my church for the past month or so. Some parts are fascinating, like the history of the people featured in the carvings or the parts about church buildings in general. Five stars for those parts, I loved them. Other parts, like the incredibly detailed descriptions of the mosaics at Sant'Agnese fuori le mura (which the book is about), were just too dense for me to follow. I suspect if there had been pictures in the book or even a dedicated website with pictures that correspond to the book pages, I might have enjoyed it a lot more. I did spend a lot of time googling pictures but each time I did, it broke my concentration and I had a hard time getting back into my reading. I ended up skimming through pages here and there and I'm not sure I'll finish the last two chapters (though I hope to). As of right now, a DNF at 77%.

[Diane C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goes into elaborate detail regarding S'ant Agnese church in Rome, sometimes it feels pedantically so. But it isn't, it's just so dense with information, all of it meaningful and relevant.

You'll learn history, politics, what the parts large and small, the art and detail of Catholic (and sometimes other ) churches symbolize, how things became named, why we do certain things now, and how the small grave of a young girl became a labyrinthine mini cathedral in Rome. I liked reading a small section at a time. Not a Christian, but doesn't matter, endlessly fascinating, excellently researched book. You'll feel like you've been there after reading this book. And/or want to go there.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suspect this book will only appeal to a limited number of readers, but for those of us who appreciate it, it will be a unique vehicle of discovery.
Basically it's about how to understand the symbolism of church architecture and how that symbolism developed.
The only thing I missed were images of what Visser describes - but thank goodness for the internet!
The book is full of interesting insights and well worth persisting through the text, which is not always easy to absorb.
A favourite quote:
"The building is trying to speak; not listening to what it has to say is a form of barbarous inattention" (p.22)

[Jo Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

deep research and well written. If you are fascinated by cathedrals or churches architecture and meaning, then you will enjoy this book. She is passionate about her subject which lends interest to the highly researched and detailed information.

[River · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well researched but rather dry and not something I would've picked up if not for it being required university reading.

[Deborah Porras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never looked so deeply at church space. Love this side of theological reflection and ministry.

[Martha Elias Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not really a history person so some of the details were not that interesting to me but the overall project of doing a deep dive into one church is successful and I learned a lot!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking one small church, St Agnes Outside the Walls, in Rome, as her starting point, Margaret Visser has written a fascinating and absorbing account that relates this one church to all churches, and examines the theology, architecture, history, symbolism and just about everything you can possibly think of to do with religion and church buildings. Her research has been thorough and painstaking but she wears her knowledge lightly. Short chapters means the reader can pace his or herself – it���s certainly not a book that can be read in large chunks. Not that Visser’s writing is dense or inaccessible – not at all. But there’s so much to take in that I certainly found little and often was the best approach. This book is a true treasure trove of facts and ideas and concepts, and I learnt a great deal. But oh how I longed for some illustrations. The book cries out for them. Such a shame that the author or publisher decided not to add any. That apart this is a wonderful book and essential reading for lovers of churches everywhere.

[Hannah Lord · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a long time now, I’ve felt particularly passionate about the beauty of the local church. Not only the beauty of the people belonging to the church, but the artistic representations of the windows, the doors, etc. Centuries ago, the outward beauty of the church topped the priority list and people felt the need to create with wealth and extravagance. So why do we aim to do things as cheaply as possible these days when designing church buildings? I felt this book gave me some context for what the design of the ancient churches really stands for and what they truly represent. More of a reference book than a read-through.

[Sskous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visser is a fabulous writer with a depth of insight that takes one's breath away. She is dedicated to seeking meaning in the ordinary, like dinner (see other books), and in this jewel takes us on an excursion to St Agnes Outside the Walls. Using St Agnes as a model of the ordinary church, Visser explains every detail of the architecture of the church building, which signifies the architecture of our search for God. I read and re-read this book; it's fabulous. One can just read the chapter on the nave, or the door swinging open ~ it's a wonder.

[Dwight Penas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sublime book. I don't know how to categorize it to friends. It is a classicist "reading" an ancient building. But this book is an intricate web of history, etymology, architecture, theology and liturgical theology (all of it excellent). It was so rich that I could only read a couple sections at a time. Then I'd have to pause to think, or to catch my breath. I mean, it took me a while to get my mind around "narthex" as a fennel bulb. Just to have such information -- if not insight -- was heady.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Often brilliant and occasionally flawed anthropological reflection on a specific church in Rome, that brilliantly reflects some key symbols and themes (altars, bells, feminism) while retaining an interesting narrative. Some sensational choices of language mar sections - the author is a self-confessed subjective observer (a Catholic writing about Catholic history). Some sections, particularly those relating to contemporary public response to the place of a church, feel underdeveloped. The book nevertheless has great nuggets of information that make it more than worthy of a read.

[AskNezka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The multi-faceted history of this church and the people who had a hand in inspiring, creating, and adding to it and the complex surrounding it were fascinating! This St. Agnes is "my" saint, and reading this book propelled me to visit Rome during her (and my) feast day, January 21, and the author described the mass and ceremony perfectly. The only shame was that I didn't get to go inside Constantia's adjoining mausoleum.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recommendation on Slowtravel said something like "you will never look at a church in the same way." The reviewer was spot-on. If you're going to spend any time in Rome, this is definitely one of the best travel books I have read--I would recommend even if you are not going to Rome, lc

[Bob]

There are parts of this book that are extrodinary and a true inspiration to one's faith. It is remarkable to read stories of the early years of the Chrisitan faith. At times it was hard reading, but that fault was more than made up with extraordinary revelations

[5greenway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant thing. Pretty dense, but I'm damned if I'm going to knock a point off for being dense. By the end, probably the best part of a really good book, it felt like the achievement of some kind of pilgrimage.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an inveterate visitor of ancient churches, what I've found invaluable is Visser's thorough lesson on how to read a church, especially an Italian Catholic one.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating yet simple book. By simple I do not mean simplistic, but simply and beautifully written. Her word portraits are wonderful along with her digressions and asides.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love architectural anthropology!

[Conrad Haas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gave good descriptions of how space, time, and meaning found in an ordinary church. Much can be learned from just thinking about what we see when in a church.

[David]

I know that it's hard sometimes to believe that it is there, but despite the odds it really is.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully, Geertz-ian thick description of Sant Agnese fuori le mura, bursting with history, culture, symbolism, and society.