Gothic Cathedrals: A Guide to the History, Places, Art, and Symbolism

by Karen Ralls

Cross the threshold into the world of the High Middle Ages and explore the illuminating wisdom, beauty and art of the Gothic cathedrals, stunning wonders of the medieval era for all to see today. From bejewelled stained glass windows to a pilgrimage “on the road” to Compostela, the wonders of Gothic architecture continue to inspire many worldwide.From the 12th century, the Gothic architectural style continued to spread throughout Europe. Highly-regarded medievalist Dr. Karen Ralls explores the legacy of this exquisite architectural period, whose artistic beauty and expert craftsmanship have served for centuries to inspire feelings of spiritual reverence and aesthetic wonder. She details the relationship between architecture, geometry, and music; explores the concept of the labyrinth; pilgrimage; Black Madonnas; astronomical calculations in the design and location of cathedrals; stone and wood carvings; gargoyles; the teachings of Pythagoras and the later Neo-Platonists, and more. For the general reader and specialist alike, Dr. Ralls guides the reader through the history, places, art, and symbolism of these unique "books in stone", providing a lively portal and solid resource for all.Lavishly illustrated with color photographs, a recommended reading section, lists of the major European cathedral sites and a full Bibliography, Gothic Cathedrals is a fascinating showcase of the mystic and spiritual symbolism found in these great structures of Europe, information that will help modern readers visit these sites and share in the energy of the sacred they continue to radiate.

Genres: Nonfiction

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[jon a coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a great deal from this book about Gothic cathedrals, their art, symbolism, pilgrimages etc. However the book was repetitive and veered off topic repeatedly. There were times where the content barely, if it all, related to Gothic cathedrals. The section on pilgrimages was interesting, but as noted above was repetitive. I think the author has a great deal to offer in terms of content, but needs to work on editing.

[Andrew Bearden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out great, then goes off the rails in the last quarter of the book talking about peripheral topics.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gothic Cathedrals is a fine balance of illustrative and informative. The book is entertaining in its series of etiologies for the minutia contained these buildings (i.e. boy bishops, green men, ladies of misrule). Also, it is erudite, while not burdening the reader with superfluous. Finally, the overlying (historical and political) timeline presented provides an enlightening context to how many of these buildings came into being, as well as how their original intent may have been altered or politically motivated.