Customer Reviews

Principles and Elements of Medieval Church Architecture of Western Europe

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At what must easily rank as the single best book on medieval architecture for the layman, "Principles and Elements of Medieval Church Architecture in Western Europe" by Les Éditions Fragile is a cornucopia of visual delights. The book consists of detailed diagrams and drawings, extensive informational material, and a glossary of terms all rolled into an aesthetically brilliant design. Translated from the original French, the book does contain a small share of textual errors and irregularities, but this is certainly the most brilliant execution of the topic I've seen to date. I originally picked up both the French and the English versions in Amiens, France, during a visit to the massive Amiens cathedral, and have since used the books to illuminate and extend my understanding of medieval church architecture. The volume covers both Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It's not an inexpensive text considering its relatively short length, but I must say that for anyone wishing to learn and understand this topic more fully, the book is fully worth the price. I only wish more texts like this were available. Seven out of five stars.