Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful description of cathedral construction.
Review: Although this book was written for children, adults and, in particular, students of architecture would love it. It accurately depicts the construction of a fictitious cathedral in 13th century France. It was fascinating. The book was a 1974 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children. I wholeheartedly recommend it not only for children but for any adult interested in art, architecture, construction engineering, or science.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful introduction to architecture and the Middle Ages
Review: Having just finished a great book called "Great Cathedrals", filled with 400 pages of jaw-dropping photographs, I kept wondering how in the world they could have built such marvelous edifices with rudimentary implements over 800 years ago. David Macaulay's "Cathedral" is a book ostensibly written for children but which will fascinate readers of all ages. In scarcely 80 pages, Macaulay takes us back in time to the year 1252 in the fictional French village of Chutreaux where the people decide to build the "longest, widest, highest and most beautiful cathedral in all of France" for the glory of God. Macaulay's text is minimal, but his exquisite black and white line drawings say it all: the step-by-step stages in the building's construction, the craftsmen and the tools they used, and the dedication that kept this project going for 80 years until its completion. We feel a sense of awe at the dedication of the original architects and craftsmen and builders who knew that they would be long dead before the cathedral was finally finished. Macaulay's glossary at the end of the book helps us to understand the major elements of the Gothic cathedral, and his cross-sections and diagrams provide clear illustration of just how the cathedral rose from its foundations. At the end of this volume, we share the awe and pride the townspeople felt at having shared a goal for over 80 years and making it a reality. Macaulay's "Cathedral" is a marvelous creation in more ways than one.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to how cathedrals were built
Review: Having seen a number of European cathedrals, it is mind boggling to try to imagine how they were constructed by medieval people. This book uses beautifully detailed pen and ink drawings to show how it was done. The book goes step-by-step through the over 80 year process by which successive generations of the local citizens built a fictious French cathedral. All of the key aspects of the procedure are depicted, including designing the structure, obtaining materials, digging the foundation, building walls and flying buttresses for a ceiling over 100 feet high, casting and hoisting bells, and creating huge stained glass windows. This book is really not for children under about 10 years old--although people assume it is because it is illustrated and has text which can be read in under one hour. Given the complexity of the topic, it was just much easier to describe the process using drawings. If you are interested in how cathedrals were built, this is a great introduction.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to how cathedrals were built
Review: Having seen a number of European cathedrals, it is mind boggling to try to imagine how they were constructed by medieval people. This book uses beautifully detailed pen and ink drawings to show how it was done. The book goes step-by-step through the over 80 year process by which successive generations of the local citizens built a fictious French cathedral. All of the key aspects of the procedure are depicted, including designing the structure, obtaining materials, digging the foundation, building walls and flying buttresses for a ceiling over 100 feet high, casting and hoisting bells, and creating huge stained glass windows. This book is really not for children under about 10 years old--although people assume it is because it is illustrated and has text which can be read in under one hour. Given the complexity of the topic, it was just much easier to describe the process using drawings. If you are interested in how cathedrals were built, this is a great introduction.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating way to learn more about architecture
Review: I began reading David Macaulay's books when I was about eight or nine years old. But his style is so addictive, it's really ideal for all ages. In addition to "Cathedral," he has similar books entitled "Castle," "Pyramid," "City" and more. "Cathedral" introduces a fictional 12th century French village named Chutreaux, whose church was destroyed when it was struck by lightning. The citizens decide to have a new one built, which will be the largest, tallest and widest in the world. And this is where the story begins. Like Macaulay's other books, it describes in great detail the process involved in the planning and construction of such a structure. In addition to the informative, entertaining text, nearly every page is filled with massive, detailed illustrations. Although the town and cathedral of Chutreaux is fictional, it is typical of its respective time. Reading this book, you will find yourself immersed in the lives of Chutreaux's citizens, not to mention trying to grasp the enormity of the construction project (since it takes nearly a century to complete, those who started the project will not live to see it finished). All of Macaulay's books in this series are fascinating. But this is my favorite.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating, but short on detail.
Review: I bought this work, and one other MacAulay book, Castle, in the hope of learning some of the intricate details of these Medieval engineering marvels. Sadly there is a dearth of detail in both of these books and they are disappointingly brief. Admittedly, these are children's books and designed for kids' limited attention spans and lack of technical background. For this reason I give the books five stars for young readers. Adult readers will find their appetites for information insufficiently whetted and I can only provide three stars for them.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, but short on detail.
Review: I bought this work, and one other MacAulay book, Castle, in the hope of learning some of the intricate details of these Medieval engineering marvels. Sadly there is a dearth of detail in both of these books and they are disappointingly brief. Admittedly, these are children's books and designed for kids' limited attention spans and lack of technical background. For this reason I give the books five stars for young readers. Adult readers will find their appetites for information insufficiently whetted and I can only provide three stars for them.
Rating: 
Summary: not only for children
Review: It is indeed a book that can be read easily in a couple of hours. However, if you read "between the drawings", if I may say so, you will discover a very deep knowledge of structural design. In fact, I had the chance to read first John Fitchen's The Construction of Gothic Cathedrals, and I can assure that I enjoyed Mr. Macaulay's work much more. Perhaps "Cathedral. The Story of Its Construction" falls short in words and should have been beefed up with more text. Still, I recommend this book. It is hard to find another book with drawings so detailed showing perhaps the most accurate construction means used by the medieval builders, from the very beginning of the construction of these espiritual and community gothic buildings to the end.
Rating:
Summary: didnt go into detail, brief description, very short
Review: it shouldnt take you anymore than 30 minutes to read this book. it's very short, didn't go into detail, just told the basic facts about the cathedral and it's construction. i didn't think it was terribly well written and could've used less pictures and more words. though it didn't go into much detail it still gave the important facts about the cathedral and i thought it was informative and well researched.
Rating:
Summary: Blue Prints for History
Review: MacAuley clearly loves his subject and attends to fine details that provide a landscape for studies of medieval Europe. The complexity of the society that chose such grand architecture is revealed in drawings that engage child and adult in a reading partnership. The ingenuity of the engineer, the courage of the workers on the perilous stage of religious expression, the minuatae of life in the period, all combine in an extraordinarily respectful book. Respect is accorded to the original workers, and to you dear reader as MacAulay permits you to claim your own ignorance and delight you with marvels and wonders. "City" and "Castle" make companion volumes of the highest order.
|
