The Doors of San Miguel De Allende (Hardcover)

by Robert de Gast (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This unusual book celebrates the colorful, sunwashed doorways of San Miguel de Allende, one of the oldest towns in Mexico. Picturesque, intellectually stimulating and historically fascinating, this arts-and-crafts and cultural center is a popular destination for tourists, expatriates, and vacationers. When photographer-writer Robert de Gast first visited there in 1987 he was particularly captivated by its doors---of mansions, houses, stables, churches, banks, studios, and stores. He returned five years later to document them; eighty of his photographs from that trip have been selected for this entrancing book. De Gast lives part of every year in San Miguel, where he continues to photograph and write.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Pomegranate Communications; 1st edition (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156640990X
• ISBN-13: 978-1566409902
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,585 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

  #6 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > Central America
  #12 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > South America
  #52 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Building Types & Styles > Religious Buildings

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great door collection!, August 9, 2002

By	James Preston "Jim Preston" (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are looking for rustic colonial or American Southwest doors then this book is a must buy. - jim

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, I guess, but beware the title, August 27, 2005

By	Vagabond - See all my reviews

This book was purchased as a gift for me. I am a subscriber to International Living, and San Miguel is a long-time favorite of theirs.

I mentioned this, and the way the city had piqued my interest, to a family member. She then promptly went online and ordered this book for me.

It is for this reason that I issue the following warning: the title should be taken LITERALLY, not figuratively.

It could be read either way, but this book is NOT about opening the metaphorical doors to life in San Miguel. You will not look in these pages and then find the metaphorical doors to San Miguel thrown open to your understanding and appreciation. You will not learn about expat or local life in this historical city. And you will not find yourself frequently referring back here as you plan your trip or your move.

What you WILL find, seriously, is heaps about the actual physical doorways on buildings in San Miguel.

If you WANT the world's premiere photo-essay collection about the doorways in San Miguel, then this is a five-star tome all the way. Look all you want, you won't find better. If you want info about the city and culture of this red-hot expat community, look elsewhere.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Doors" - a magnificent entry into San Miguel's culture, August 4, 2000

By	K. B. Dunn "reader forever" (Silver City, NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The photographs and text of this book are so intriguing the reader longs to visit San Miguel. So I did! Robert de Gast brings the riotious colors, history, atmosphere and tranquility of San Miguel right to our doorstep. His perception of quite ordinary sights makes them very extraordinary. I can hardly wait to get my copy of "Behind the Doors".