Customer Reviews

The Psalms of David

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The artwork was really the main reason I purchased this book. I think the story of Mr. Freemantle lovingly creating this gorgeous work of art for his wife is wonderfully sweet. I already have access to the Psalms through my Bible, but I have to say I enjoy the words even more when they are set in such a lovely format! The reason I am one star short of five is that I think the publisher could have squeezed out a bit more money for higher quality printing to really do this artwork justice. I was a bit disappointed by the small size of this book and the simplicity of the hardbound design. I have this book out in the family room and would love it even more in a more generous size with embossed leather cover and glossy pages that can open flat to really emphasize the delicate drawings of Mr. Freemantle. For the price, this is a nice book. I think it would make a nice gift when a sweet something is in order.

The story behind this beautifully illustrated book is what first attracted me to it. I thought "how amazing that this man spent thirty years of his life on a work of art for his beloved wife". I ordered one for myself and one for my best friend without ever seeing the illustrations which fill this volume - The Psalms of David.
Not only is James Freemantle a talented artist with his drawings and painting, the lettering in the book offers a wide range of examples from Spencerian Script to other popular styles of the era. You can visualize the "ups and downs" in the artist's life by examining his work throughout the book. The first half is lavishly illustrated; leading up to a portion, while still lovely, is less filled with his unusual artwork. Then, as his passion for the work returns, so does the flourish of art and lettering.
This book is an inspiration to read and makes a marvelous gift for a loved one. It's one of the most amazing books I've ever seen. I only wish I knew more about the author.

This is one of the rarest of finds, a genuinely unique book. James Freemantle spent 30 years of his life producing a handwritten, hand-illustrated copy of the book of Psalms from the King James Bible. The multicolored lettering in varying styles is in itself a gorgeous work of art. The illustrations, found in the margins, between lines, and elsewhere, are exquisite. Sometimes they illustrate a psalm verse, sometimes they seem to be present simply for the sake of their own beauty. There are birds, butterflies, flowers, trees, houses, and more, from the Middle East, Europe, and India (where Freemantle lived most of his life; he died in the 1930s). Though obviously inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, Freemantle (who had no academic training in art) worked in a modern style. It's worth the price simply to hold in your hands and consider the human dedication that produced this manuscript.

The beautiful calligraphy is not only a feast for the senses, but slows the reader down so that the words of the Psalms can be prayerfully absorbed. A labor of love by the illustrator, and we are lucky his son published it (after his death).

I was a little nervous after reading one review that said the artwork in this book was intrusive, but after receiving my copy, I have to respectfully disagree. The artwork is beautiful, as is the calligraphy, and the design of the book is loose and comfortable. As you turn from page to page, you can't help but admire the beauty of the words and the art together. It seems to have been beautifully reproduced, exactly capturing each page in full color, including the soft yellowing of the pages, as well as acurately copying the stitching or tape in the margin that must have been used to hold the original together. I bought the 2001 reissue, and I think the printing is beautiful. Whoever heard of being able to buy a 340+ page book in full color without spending a fortune?!?! Well worth the price. I plan to give several away as gifts.

I agree with all of the other reviewers! You can't go wrong with this book. I bought it today in the gift shop of a NYC church and felt I had a treasure in my hands. It felt worth the $28.00 price. In fact, I started to cry when I read one of the passages...If you're sensitive to color, to form and beauty and if you like and enjoy the psalms, then it's really a treat. I had the saleswoman wrap it up as a gift...to myself!! She said she was giving it the "royal treatment" as she wrapped it. Yes, King David's psalms deserve that amount of care and love, and the artist surely had that in mind in the creation of this lovely keepsake. When you buy it, you are buying Time and Love and Honor to the Beloved. That's why it feels so good to hold it in your hands. And, I happen to think it brings out the Word of God...just my feeling. Thanks for reading my comments!

My mother gave me this book as a Christmas present. She must have sensed my reaction, I said nothing when I discovered the contents. (How many more bibles do I need, and I already have two books of Psalms, one in Hebrew, and I have too much stuff in my small apartment that I'm trying to get rid of!!! I thought all these things to myself). Later, in the midst of a room filled with my family's mounds of torn wrapping paper, she opened this book and began to point out to me how Mr. Freemantle inscribed each verse, highlighting those which meant the most to him.

The one verse I picked out for the title of this review was written smaller than the others by Mr. Freemantle, yet it spoke to me at this time in our country's history. The Psalms are G_d-breathed as all biblical scripture is, as I've been taught in Sunday school, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Psalms are a classic, regardless of how they've been illustrated. Try praying these or with these, it's very powerful let me tell you! The author of most of the Psalms, King David, 'the sweet psalmist of Israel', was the second king of Israel and ancestor of Christ-see Jesus's geneaology in Matthew 1 and Luke 3:31.

Mr. Freemantle includes drawings of India where he was born and pictures of his travels when in service as a British army officer. There are also pictures of various places in Israel: Nazareth, Sidon, Rachel's tomb. A picture of the Golden temple of Amritsar, town of the infamous massacre in Gandhi's time, on page 113. It took him a lifetime to hand write and illustrate each psalm.

I love this book; my mother ALWAYS gives me good books to read.

You can never go wrong with the Psalms. The whole range of human emotion is found therein and all sung to the Author of all souls.

As I've said many times before, my mother always gives me good books to read!

This is a wonderful handwritten and illustrated book of the Psalms from the Old Testament. It is pure Scripture with amazing illustrations called "illuminations". These "illuminations" are an old art form that includes sketching, geometric shapes, shading, calligraphy and more! What a beauty to behold! Each page holds a new and more beautiful display of art. This book took the author over 30 years to create! This amazing work of love written by a husband as a gift to his wife is a treasure that everyone should own.

I'm thrilled to see this book back in print. I bought it 20 years ago and have continued to be inspired by the beautiful combination of God's word and Freemantle's artwork. I plan to give several copies as gifts.

Psalms Of David is one of the most beautifully illustrated versions of the Book Of Psalms.
It was done by James S Freemantle as a gift for his wife Clara,whom he married in 1906. His years of work produced wonderfull drawings of things he saw in his travels through India.
Drawings of storks, flowers, temples, holy sites and the writing itself make this book not only interesting but also great eye candy.
I have so far purchased 4 copies of this book and given them as gifts, everyone loved it.
I plan on giving more copies as Christmas presents.
You can't go wrong with this one!