A Medieval Cathedral [Hardcover]

Fiona Macdonald (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Inside Story Series

Inside Story - A Medieval Cathedral takes you back in time to learn how some of the most magnificent structures in Europe were built. Through beautiful illustrations and thoroughly researched information, you will learn how Medieval cathedrals were built, what life was like for the workers, where the stone for the cathedrals was prepared, how cathedrals have evolved from the Medieval times to today, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- More than a history of medieval churches and their construction, this book deals with the lives of the workers, clergy, and worshippers for whom the cathedral was the nexus of life. Each specific topic is presented in a two-page layout, featuring cutaways of the structure itself on some of the pages. A simple and straightforward text complements the full-color illustrations. Macdonald discusses some of the less attractive aspects of medieval life, such as the often short and peril-filled lives of stone quarry workers. She also points out that cathedrals are not just a phenomenon of the Middle Ages; a chapter on modern expressions of the architectural form describes the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C., the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Barcelona, and St. John the Divine in New York City. David Macaulay's Cathedral (Houghton, 1981) is a better treatment of construction techniques, but this is a worthwhile effort. --David N. Pauli, Missoula Public Library, MT
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The author of A Medieval Castle, also in the ``Inside Story'' series, presents the ingenious, devoted, and indefatigable builders who perfected the medieval cathedral as a stone prayer to God and a place of community pride. Though again treading on the heels of David Macaulay, Macdonald and James hold their own, pointing out the religious significance of a bishop's seat, describing pilgrims' routes to other cathedrals, depicting the daily life of both workers and the religious community, and showing the variety of arts and crafts necessary to construction. In James's precisely detailed color illustrations, tiny figures climb dizzying heights of scaffolding to perform their tasks; the lofty elevation and difficulties of working with massive stone blocks on flimsy scaffolds should ignite interest in young folks. A few annoying picture captions don't parallel the text (e.g., ``St. James'' becomes ``Santiago''); still, a wealth of information is provided here in attractive style. ``Cathedral Facts and Building Styles'' are appended; glossary; index. (Nonfiction. 10+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Peter Bedrick (February 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872263509
• ISBN-13: 978-0872263505
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,506,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Rate Illustrations, December 2, 2010

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Medieval Cathedral (Spectacular Visual Guides) (Paperback)

For children, David Macaulay's beautifu'lly illustrated "Cathedral" is the most widely read book. His work centers around the construction of one Gothic cathedral. It is a great book because of the attention Macaulay gives to building techniques. Macaulay is a master illustrator and story teller and his book will be in print for many decades to come.

Spectacular Visual Guides' "Medieval Cathedral" will always be an "also ran" in this category of children's books. Although Fiona MacDonald and John James are a formidable team, they have to compete against a classic of children's literature. Having said this, "Medieval Cathedral" still has a lot going for it. Instead of concentrating on one specific cathedral, "Medieval Cathedral" examines the general topic of cathederals built during the Middle Ages. This is a well written book with a more wide ranging view of the subject. But what makes this book really work are the first rate illustrations by John James. Over the years, John James has illustrated many children's books and I have collected as many as I have been able to find. In my opinion, "Medieval Cathedrals" is his very best work. His architectural rendering will fascinate parents and children alike. Highly recommended.