Cathedrals of Europe

The great medieval cathedrals are among the most remarkable monuments of that era. This journey through the Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals still at the heart of ancient European cities explores the buildings and the riches they contain. Rather than concentrating on familiar monuments such as Notre Dame and Chartres, the author covers many of the more obscure and less frequently visited cathedrals from Italy to Scandinavia, Poland to Portugal. Anne Prache surveys the history of church building from its humble beginnings in Late Antiquity through the construction of such masterworks of the Gothic style as Reims, Strasbourg and Wells. Throughout, she reminds the reader that these expresions of faith also reflect their builders' hopes and fears, technical expertise, political views and the ever-changing economic and social realities with which they had to contend. The works of art that adorn the cathedrals - sculptures, paintings, mosaics, stained glass, furniture and more - receive particular attention. Study of these aspects, Prache says, provides an "understanding of the aspirations, sufferings, fears and faith of generations long removed in time".