Author Description

A lavishly presented, extraordinarily exhaustive study of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris--one of Europe's masterpieces of Gothic architecture, and a building with a complex and still elusive history. The author describes in detail how the cathedral comprises a "stacking" of successive monuments, and how, over time, in a sequence of inspired building projects, the present structure took form. Giving particular attention to the cathedral's abundant sculpture, he explains early genesis of a cathedral on the site in the fourth century, how Clovis acquired it in the sixth century, the rebuilding which began in the 12th century, and the restoration in the 19th century. The oversize format (11x14") allows intimate viewing of the 260-plus illustrations, mostly photos (138 in color) and some line drawings. This English edition is translated (by John Goodman) from the French work (1997, Editions de la Martiniere, Paris). Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR