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Wooden Books
Portals: Gates, Stiles, Windows, Bridges & Other Crossings
An illustrated exploration of our limitless fascination with doors, gates, and bridges.
The word "portal" comes from the Latin for "gate," but it refers to any place of ingress and egress. According to architectural historian Philippa Lewis, a portal "is generally an optimistic thing, both literally and metaphorically . . . The word encapsulates the idea of passing through, to a new opportunity, to making progress or moving forward, to entering fresh new worlds."
That may be the reason so many people are drawn to the idea of portals--from King Nebuchadnezzar's Ishtar Gate through the walls of Babylon, to mountain passes, the doorway to the Raphael Loggia at the Vatican, pontoons, and drawbridges. Portals also have enlivened fiction and lore--what would Arabian Nights have been without the magical command "Open Sesame!" or Alice in Wonderland if Alice had not followed the White Rabbit down a rabbit hole? And in many cultures around the world, a rainbow is a portal that "stands for peace, tolerance, respect for life and diversity." In this beautifully illustrated book, the seemingly everyday means of ingress and egress become things of beauty and cultural significance.
The word "portal" comes from the Latin for "gate," but it refers to any place of ingress and egress. According to architectural historian Philippa Lewis, a portal "is generally an optimistic thing, both literally and metaphorically . . . The word encapsulates the idea of passing through, to a new opportunity, to making progress or moving forward, to entering fresh new worlds."
That may be the reason so many people are drawn to the idea of portals--from King Nebuchadnezzar's Ishtar Gate through the walls of Babylon, to mountain passes, the doorway to the Raphael Loggia at the Vatican, pontoons, and drawbridges. Portals also have enlivened fiction and lore--what would Arabian Nights have been without the magical command "Open Sesame!" or Alice in Wonderland if Alice had not followed the White Rabbit down a rabbit hole? And in many cultures around the world, a rainbow is a portal that "stands for peace, tolerance, respect for life and diversity." In this beautifully illustrated book, the seemingly everyday means of ingress and egress become things of beauty and cultural significance.
- GenresHistory
64 pages, Hardcover
Published January 2, 2018
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 17, 2024
A short and fun and cute little book on portals, passageways, doorways, and paths of all kinds. I really enjoyed this, found the writing to be wonderful and the pictures so charming. It was short and fun and easy and gave me lots of inspiration for all kinds of things.
Someone else mentioned they would've liked to see more mythological/fantastical elements in here, and I can understand that given the aesthetic, but I'm glad that it stuck to the REAL history and design of REAL portals for 99% of the book. I think it's much more fun to learn all about what really is, so you can imagine your own new things, rather than just read about what other people have come up with themselves.
This is a book that convinced me to get more books in this series, and I'm looking forward to them!
Someone else mentioned they would've liked to see more mythological/fantastical elements in here, and I can understand that given the aesthetic, but I'm glad that it stuck to the REAL history and design of REAL portals for 99% of the book. I think it's much more fun to learn all about what really is, so you can imagine your own new things, rather than just read about what other people have come up with themselves.
This is a book that convinced me to get more books in this series, and I'm looking forward to them!
June 25, 2024
This is a charming little book, both in size and length, on everything that could possibly be described as a portal. And I never realized just how many entities this would encompass! It was quite fascinating, informative, educational, and clever!
I really appreciated the illustrations, many antique, on each opposing page which were crucial for the reader. They made it clear just exactly how some stiles worked, including "squeezer" stiles, along with kissing gates.
I gave it four stars instead of five only because some of the type describing the illustrations is so very tiny, it was sometimes difficult to read. But, very entertaining for a quick read.
I really appreciated the illustrations, many antique, on each opposing page which were crucial for the reader. They made it clear just exactly how some stiles worked, including "squeezer" stiles, along with kissing gates.
I gave it four stars instead of five only because some of the type describing the illustrations is so very tiny, it was sometimes difficult to read. But, very entertaining for a quick read.
December 30, 2018
Portals: Gates, Stiles, Windows, Bridges and Other Crossings is a lovely rainy day read. It is one of the Wooden Books series - small books on unique topics. There are illustrations throughout. The author discusses everything from slits and windows, tollgates and turnstiles, to magical portals.
June 7, 2019
Boring. I was expecting more exploration of mythological/literary portals. Literally just talks about doors and locks and bridges.
June 21, 2023
Very short book with some comprehensive information about the titular topic. Very short though.
June 15, 2024
Surprisingly interesting! Will be keeping around to use as reference and inspo
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews