Not a great book, but good fun with cathedrals

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Wednesday, February 13. 2008

Not a great book, but good fun with cathedrals

I refer to Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth, which I have just finished. It ain't littercher, but it's an absorbing read. He is a master storyteller and permits no let-up of tension.

It's in the historical fiction genre, set�during the Civil War of 1139-1153. That war of succession was prompted, you may recall, by the foundering of the White Ship with William, the only�legitimate�son of Henry l, on board.

The book does a good job of putting you in a time and place. The gravitational center of the book is the building of cathedrals during the time when pointed arches and ribbed ceilings were first used, and when it was realized that pillars could�support the weight of the buildings without relying on thick walls, thus permitting large windows.

Has mankind ever built anything to match the grace and artistry and grandeur of a gothic cathedral?

As I was reading the book, I kept wishing I could find our copy of David Macaulay's Cathedral. It's here somewhere...

Posted by Bird Dog in History, Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:30 | Comments (16) | Trackbacks (0)

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If you are interested in a well written and beautiful book on the art, architecture, and history of Europe's great cathedrals, I highly recommend "Cathedrals of Europe" by Anne Prache (Emeritas Professor of Art History, University of Paris (Sorbonne))

It is well written and readable, though there are a couple of editorial problems with captions to the plates, which I think happened during translation from the French. Many of the plates are photographs taken exclusively for the book (as opposed to using available stock photography).

Another possibility is "Great Cathedrals" by Bernhard Schultz (Professor of Architectural History, University of Munich). Not as much history and analysis, but a hugh number of excellent plates.

#1 Jerub-Baal (Link) on 2008-02-13 14:18 (Reply)

Next time you drive through Europe look for the secondary route that leads to Chartres. It comes to the cathedral from a plateau. Suddenly, it appears on the horizon. Coming at it from this direction allows you to have some understanding as to the impact this great building had on anyone approaching during the middle times. Powerful impact.

#2 apple pie on 2008-02-13 14:39 (Reply)

Thanks for the review. The only Follett novel I have read is Eye of the Needle but the book reviews on Pillars of the Earth were so strong that I bought it and it is in my to-read stack.

#3 D on 2008-02-13 14:48 (Reply)

I went to Salisbury cathedral within a year or so of reading Follett's book and had a much deeper appreciation of the building and the space it enclosed. If possible, hie thee to a cathedral soon.

#4 Retread on 2008-02-13 14:48 (Reply)

The sequel to Pillars Of The Earth, World Without End, has just been released this past fall. Haven't read it, but I may need to re-read POTE to refresh my memory.

For those interested in historical fiction, I would suggest the Baroque Cycle, by Neal Stephenson, and if you like that, his Cryptonomicon is a good read (and related). The Cycle deals with the 17th century and all the political, philosophic (scientific) and economic turmoil if that era - great fun! Cryptonomicon is set in the days of WWII and present day, with connections back to the Cycle.

#5 Steve on 2008-02-13 15:01 (Reply)

Cryptonomicon was excellent!

I've tried to start the Baroque Cycle three times. I love it but haven't been able to keep up with it. There's just to much real baroque stuff going on right now for me, to be able to concentrate on the fictional... heh!

#6 Jerub-Baal (Link) on 2008-02-13 15:05 (Reply)

OMG, bird dog and Oprah* recommend the same book in the same week.

* I know only because my wife watches Oprah and told me that the book I was reading (ie this one) was Oprah's current big recommendation.

#7 coyote (Link) on 2008-02-13 15:07 (Reply)

aw, just admit it, YOU were watching Oprah!
:-D

#7.1 buddy larsen on 2008-02-13 15:17 (Reply)

http://www.albemarlehistory.org/GIwithaCamera/images/mcpic065.jpg

Cologne Cathedral, 1945, with disabled German tank. Incredibaly symbolic pic from this great site:

http://www.albemarlehistory.org/GIwithaCamera/mcclymond.htm

#8 buddy larsen on 2008-02-13 15:15 (Reply)

I think the pointed arch is called a flying buttress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_buttress

#9 Patina on 2008-02-13 15:27 (Reply)

My wife just read that book. The best thing about it was that she became interested in the politics of period. So Iintroduced her to Peter O'Toole by renting 'Beckett' and 'The Lion in Winter.' Classics both.

#10 Granddaddy Long Legs (Link) on 2008-02-13 16:07 (Reply)

Actually, the pointed arch is just that, an arch whose two curved sides have separate centers for their radii (on opposite sides of the centerline of the arch).

The previous dominant style, the Romanesque, was noted for having round arches, and walls that were mostly, well, walls. Pointed arches are a hallmark of the Gothic style.

Here are examples of pointed Gothic style arches from three French cathedrals.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerub-baal/103889813/sizes/l/in/set-72057594069562282/

#11 Jerub-Baal (Link) on 2008-02-13 18:44 (Reply)

right -- the flying buttresses are only 'arch' like on the underside, and as decor or ornament -- the real deal is the 45 degree straight member transferring load from tall wall to basically a post in the ground out away from the actual walls. They aren't walls, they're exoskeleton, angled beams with air underneath -- thus ''flying''.

#11.1 buddy larsen on 2008-02-13 20:08 (Reply)

It's on my bookshelf, Bird Dog. Please don't drop it in the tub/fall asleep on it though - that book has quite a history of its own!

Gothic is great, but I have a bit of a weakness for well-executed Romanesque churches. Something about the solidity and permanence, and the sparing use of ornamentation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bamberg_Dom.jpg

#12 The Dylanologist on 2008-02-13 18:57 (Reply)

I have always been rather fond of Speyer,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Speyerer_Dom_Altrheinschleife.jpg

with its clean geometric shapes. The exterior is fairly original, with the exception of the Romanesque revival west end. The interior unfortunately has been redone on several occasions, having been burnt by the French at least twice in the 18th century....

#12.1 Jerub-Baal (Link) on 2008-02-13 20:59 (Reply)

Are there any cathedrals left in the Continent ?

I thouht the anglo-american democrats had reduced them all to rubble.

#13 Herbert Spencer (Link) on 2008-02-17 12:56 (Reply)

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Wednesday, February 13. 2008

Not a great book, but good fun with cathedrals