The Stones Of Venice (Paperback)

by John Ruskin (Author), J. G. Links (Editor) "SINCE FIRST the dominion of men was asserted over the ocean, three thrones, of mark beyond all others, have been set upon its sands: the..." (more)
Key Phrases: judgment angle, wall veil, upper arcade, Council Chamber, Bridge of Sighs, Rio Façade (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The enduring, passionate classic on architecture and Venice." -- Washington Post Book World 10/19/03

Product Description

John Ruskin, Victorian England's greatest writer on art and literature, believed himself an adopted son of Venice, and his feelings for this city are exquisitely expressed in The Stones of Venice. This edition contains Ruskin's famous essay "The Nature of Gothic," a marvelously descriptive tour of Venice before its postwar restoration. As Ruskin wrote in 1851, "Thank God I am here, it is a Paradise of Cities."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (July 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030681286X
• ISBN-13: 978-0306812866
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #312,343 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #22 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Gothic
  #52 in	Books > Travel > Europe > Italy > Venice
  #76 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > International > European

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an architecture page turner, June 11, 2001

By	steve estvanik (seattle, wa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Stones of Venice (Paperback)

This is an abridged version of the original 3 volumes, but a delightful book -- both for the opinions expressed and the wonderful pomposity with which they are presented. It's impossible not to learn about art and architecture from this book, but it also (perhaps not intentionally) makes Woody Allen's or Steve Martin's New Yorker pieces seem like downers. The man has no humility and there is no opinion other than his, yet somehow the clarity and vitality of his description allows you to continue reading. I was fortunate enough to pick this up in Venice, so I was able to search out his examples of the 5 worst buildings in Venice, and similar Ruskinisms.

41 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this edition is abridged, August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stones of Venice (Paperback)

I haven't read this yet, but I thought I would warn other buyers that this is not the full text of the Stones of Venice--it is abridged. J. G. Links seems confident that he has done so in an intelligent way; perhaps he will win me over...

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is only a VERY SHORT EXCERPT!!!!, January 11, 2007

By	Jerome Claverie - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is misleading...not even 5% of the Ruskin masterwork is printed in this book.