Download or read book The Spire written by William Golding and published by Faber & Faber. This book was released on 2013-11-05 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Succumb to one churchman's apocalyptic vision in this prophetic tale by the radical Nobel Laureate and author of Lord of the Flies, William Golding (recorded by Benedict Cumberbatch as an audiobook). There were three sorts of people. Those who ran, those who stayed, and those who were built in. Dean Jocelin has a vision: that God has chosen him to erect a great spire. His master builder fearfully advises against it, for the old cathedral was miraculously built without foundations. But Jocelin is obsessed with fashioning his prayer in stone. As his halo of hair grows wilder and his dark angel darker, the spire rises octagon upon octagon, pinnacle by pinnacle, watched over by the gargoyles - until the stone pillars shriek, the earth beneath creeps, and the spire's shadow falls like an axe on the medieval world below ... 'Astounding ... So recklessly beautiful, so sad and so strange ... Holds such a place in my soul that it's more or less a sacred text.' Sarah Perry 'A kind of miracle ... Genius.' Guardian ' Quite simply, a marvel.' NYRB ' Superb ... A classic.' Rebecca West 'A master fabulist .. An iconoclast.' John Fowles 'A visionary ... His masterwork [of] faith, folly and desperate desire ... Golding at his best.' Benjamin Myers

Download or read book The Pillars of the Earth written by Ken Follett and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2010-06-29 with total page 1009 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: #1 New York Times Bestseller Oprah's Book Club Selection The “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career—and begins where its prequel, The Evening and the Morning, ended. “Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.

Download or read book The Secret Language of Churches Cathedrals written by Richard Stemp and published by Watkins Media Limited. This book was released on 2016-07-19 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who is depicted in that stained glass window? What is the significance of those geometric figures? Why are there fierce-looking beasts carved amidst all that beauty? Is there a deeper purpose behind the play of light and space in the nave? Why is there a pelican on the lectern and ornate foliage on the pillars? The largely illiterate medieval audience could read the symbols of churches and cathedrals and recognise the meanings and stories deliberately encoded into them. For worshippers these were places of religious education and an awe-inspiring feast that satisfied both the senses and the soul. Today, in an age less attuned to iconography, such places of worship are often seen merely as magnificent works of architecture. This book restores the lost spiritual meaning of these fine and fascinating buildings. The Secret Language of Churches & Cathedrals provides a three-part illustrated key by which modern visitors can understand the layout, fabric and decorative symbolism of Christian sacred structures - thereby bringing back to life their original atmosphere of awe and sanctity. Part One is an analysis of structural features, outside and in, from spires and domes to clerestories and brasses. Part Two is a theme-by-theme guide, which identifies significant figures, scenes, stories, animals, flowers, and the use of numbers, letters and patterns in paintings, carvings and sculpture. Part Three is a historical decoder, revealing the evolution of styles - from basilicas through Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic and beyond. For all those who seek to know more about Christian art and architecture, this richly illustrated book will instruct and delight in equal measure.

Download or read book The Cathedral Church of Salisbury written by Gleeson White and published by . This book was released on 1896 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Single Thread written by Tracy Chevalier and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the Great War took both her beloved brother and her fiancZ, Violet Speedwell has become a "surplus woman," one of a generation doomed to a life of spinsterhood. She is drawn into a society of women who embroider kneelers for the cathedral. When forces threaten her new independence and another war appears on the horizon, she fights to put down roots in a place where women aren't expected to grow.grow.

Download or read book The Visitor written by and published by . This book was released on 1838 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Sarum written by Edward Rutherfurd and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2011-09-14 with total page 913 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A masterpiece of breathtaking scope—a brilliantly conceived epic novel that traces the entire turbulent course of English history This ebook edition features a new introduction by the author in honor of the thirtieth anniversary of Sarum. This rich tapestry weaves a compelling saga of five families—the Wilsons, the Masons, the family of Porteus, the Shockleys, and the Godfreys—who reflect the changing character of Britain. As their fates and fortunes intertwine over the course of the centuries, their greater destinies offer a fascinating glimpse into the future. An absorbing historical chronicle, Sarum is a keen tale of struggle and adventure, a profound human drama, and a magnificent work of sheer storytelling. Praise for Sarum “Bursts with action, encyclopedic in historic detail . . . supremely well crafted and a delight to read.”—Chicago Tribune “A fascinating journey . . . a clear yet sparkling window upon history with a superb narrative, so perfectly balanced between history and fiction that it clears away the mists of time from antiquity, giving the reader the impression that events over a span of ten centuries occurred only yesterday.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram “Strong . . . appealing . . . I haven’t read so satisfactory a saga in years . . . in fact, perhaps not ever before. . . . It gives you not only history but comfort.”—Chicago Sun-Times “[Edward] Rutherfurd holds us all consistently intrigued. In Sarum he has created a splendid novel that will bring many hours of diversified reading pleasure.”—The Plain Dealer “A richly imagined vision of history, written with genuine delight.”—San Francisco Chronicle “Rutherfurd is at his best. . . . His storytelling skills are substantial. . . . One of the best books of the season.”—Kansas City Star “Absorbing . . . a superior historical novel . . . This blockbuster saga should appeal to discriminating readers, since Rutherfurd has an excellent grasp of his subject and a compelling story to tell.”—Publishers Weekly

Download or read book Turner s Wessex written by Ian Warrell and published by Nouvelles éditions Scala. This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Turner was only 20 in 1795 when he first visited Salisbury. This book focuses on the important commissions that resulted from his contact with the region, which provided the foundations for his success. Reunited here are his inventive watercolours of Salisbury Cathedral painted for Sir Richard Colt Hoare, widely dispersed since 1883. Turner's matchless ability to depict architecture also attracted the attention of the eccentric art lover and writer, William Beckford. The problematic construction of Beckford's legendary but short-lived neo-gothic abbey at Fonthill was uniquely recorded in Turner's sketches and watercolours. As his career developed, Turner repeatedly revisited an area that captivated him. His depictions of Stonehenge, in particular, proved to be among his most hauntingly atmospheric works. In this beautifully illustrated book many rarely seen works are brought together, illuminating this formative and fascinating period in Turner's output."--Front flap of cover.

Download or read book A Visitor s Guide to A History of Britain written by Martin Davidson and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2002-09-16 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A companion to the acclaimed BBC/History Channel series"--Cover.

Download or read book Almost Heaven written by Leslie Thomas and published by Bene Factum Publishing. This book was released on 2010-05-01 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A slightly irreverent take on stories and myths that surround the world famous Salisbury Cathedral, its Close and the surrounding area—from the 13th century through to the present day. Some of the stories are hilarious, others sensational, many published for the first time—and most of them are true!

Download or read book Thirteenth century Wall Painting of Salisbury Cathedral written by Matthew M. Reeve and published by Boydell Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Revisionist study of the wall-paintings of Salisbury Cathedral, setting them in the context of thirteenth-century religious reform.

Download or read book The Story of Salisbury Cathedral written by James Mich John Fletcher and published by . This book was released on 1933 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Visitor written by and published by . This book was released on 1837 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Enterprising Women written by Elizabeth Crawford and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book How to Build a Cathedral written by Malcolm Hislop and published by Herbert Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gothic cathedrals are monuments to God, witnesses to the historic power of the Church, and symbols of the faith of the thousands of believers who contributed to their creation. They are also astonishing feats of construction and engineering, from a period before steel-making, machine tools and computer simulation; breathtaking in their scale and grandeur even hundreds of years after the religious impulse that produced them has largely faded away.How to Build a Cathedral is a visual exploration of the building of these masterpieces, from the initial groundplan to the topping out of the spire. Illustrated throughout with beautiful engravings, it looks at each element of the structure in turn, explaining the process of construction and the methods that were used. At intervals though the book, special gatefold pages offer a detailed snapshot of the evolution of the building as it rises into the heavens. A 16-page colour section allows for appreciation of stained glass and decorative stonework. With text written by a leading architectural historian, How to Build a Cathedral is an illuminating portrait of the genius of the medieval architect.

Download or read book The Doom Stone written by Paul Zindel and published by Graymalkin Media. This book was released on 2012-10-06 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jackson is looking forward to visiting his aunt who has been busy working on an anthropological dig at Stonehenge in England. Jackson can't wait to finally see the massive and mysterious stone formations in person. But then he witnesses a vicious attack on a young man, and another on his beloved aunt Sarah. A savage beast no one has ever seen before is on the prowl. Now it's up to Jackson and his new friend, Alma, a gravedigger's daughter, to stop the beast. All the clues lead back to Stonehenge, where he and Alma must risk their lives to solve the mystery of the monster stalking the countryside-before it's too late.

Download or read book Ships Of Heaven written by Christopher Somerville and published by Random House. This book was released on 2019-04-11 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘Somerville is one of our finest gazetteers of the British countryside. He brings his formidable knowledge to bear on his personal quest to explore the cathedrals in this entrancing book’ The Spectator Christopher Somerville, author of the acclaimed The January Man, pictured cathedrals as great unmoving bastions of tradition. But as he journeys among Britian’s favourites, old and new, he discovers buildings and communities that have been in constant upheaval for a thousand years. Here are stories of the monarchs and bishops who ordered the construction of these buildings, the masons whose genius brought them into being, and the peasants who worked and died on the scaffolding. We learn of rogue saints exploited by holy sinners, the pomp and prosperity that followed these ships of stone, the towns that grew up in their shadows. Meeting believers and non-believers, architects and archaeologists, the cleaner who dusts the monuments and the mason who judges stone by its taste, we delve deep into the private lives and the uncertain future of these ever-voyaging Ships of Heaven. ‘Somerville paints word pictures of exquisite quality’ Church Times