Synopsis from the book cover:

Churches are all around us. Their steeples remain landmarks in our towns, villages and cities, even as their influence and quthority has waned. They contain art and architectural wonders – one huge gallery scattered, like a hanful of jewels, across these isles.

Thoughts:

The book meanders through through Britain exploring churches and sharing their history, art, nature and people. It was lovely to revisit old gems and see them through the eyes of others and learn new things about them. I was also introduced to new churches that I am tempted to visit. After my recent visit to Southwark Cathedral I returned to the book to re-read Peter’s experiences of the Cathedral, he is right; the Cathedral is an oasis of calm in contrast to the hustle and bustle surrounding it.

Synopsis: (from  book preface by The Duke of Northumberland 1983)

It is approximately 4000 years ago that our remote ancestors, who are sometimes known as the ‘Beaker People’ because of the distinctively decorated cinerary urns they fashioned to contain ashes of the dead, incised markings on the sandstone rocks of Northumberland, which are generally but not always associated with burial sites.

It is these markings so similar yet varied in form, and the identification of the places where they may be found with which this interesting book details.

The book brings together not only the results of a long tradition of research in which my predecessors took great interest but also in the personal observations of the author who has devoted many years to the discovery of new examples and the careful assessment of sites and individual stones already recorded.

It is therefore a definitive work and has a great deal to contribute to the international study of rock carvings.

The title refers to ‘a mystery explained’, The mystery is certainly well explained but as the author states it is not solved and there in part lies the fascination of the subject. Clearly the form of the markings is symbolic rather than decorative but the question remains – symbolic of what?

Review:

The book is a comprehensive study of the rock art in Northumberland. The types of carvings on the rock and types of locations are explained followed by detailed descriptions of the rocks and where they can be found. The text is accompanied by black and white photographs of the stones and diagrams of the carvings. I found the book a fascinating read especially as, despite trying, I failed miserably to locate any of the stones on my most recent visit to Northumberland.

Synopsis from the book cover:

Truth is stranger than fiction. And nowhere in literature is it so apparent as in this classic work, The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest. This autobiography of a Jesuit priest in Elizbethan England is most remarkable document and John Gerard, its author,  a most remarkable priest in a time when to be a Catholic in England courted imprisonment and torture; to be a priest was treason by act of Parliament.

Smuggled into England after his ordination and dumped on a Norfolk beach at night, Fr. Gerard disguised himself as a country gentleman and traveled about the country saying Mass, preaching, and ministering to the faithful in secret – always in constant danger. The houses in which he found shelter were frequently raided by “priest hunters”; priest-holes, hide-outs, and hair-breadth escapes were part of daily life. He was finally caught and imprisoned, and later remove to the infamous Tower of London, where he was brutally tortured.

The stirring account of his escape, by means of a rope thrown across the moat, is a daring and magnificent climax to a true story which, for sheer narrative power and interest, far exceeds any fiction.

But more than the story of a single priest, The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest epitomizes the constant struggle of all human beings through the ages to maintain their freedom. It is a book of courage and conviction, whose message is most timely for our age.

Review:

In the comments section of my post on John Gerard in the Tower of London my friend Lisl recommended this book.

The story is a historical account of religious persecution in the Elizabethan era from a Jesuit perspective. The story of John is both inspiring and humbling in equal measures. His faith, determination and gentleness enabled him to overcome extreme and impossible situations.

The final paragraph of the synopsis sums up the essence of the book. I recommend you read the book and be inspired by John’s courage, gentleness and conviction.

Synopsis (from back cover):

Enormous, elephantine and extinct the mammoth is the iconic animal of the Ice Age. These colossal creatures roamed the cold, open landscapes of Europe, Asia and North America as recently as 20,000 years ago. Today, their well-preserved fossil remains generate much fascination and speculation around the world. Mammoths: Ice age Giants reveals what their life was really like. It describes their environment, behaviour, evolution and appearance, including new DNA analysis that shows what colour mammoths actually were. Unravelling the latest scientific research, Adrian Lister explains why this incredible species died out and whether it may be possible to clone them in the future. He also draws challenging parallels between the fate of the mammoths and that of their close relatives, the living elephants.

Throughout the book there are striking photographs of skeletons, skulls, tusks and preserved flesh from the world-famous collections of the Natural History Museum in London, as well as images of the best preserved mammoth in the world, Lyuba. From the Pleistocene period to our recent past, Mammoths: Ice Age Giants captures evolution in action in the dynamic world of the mammoth.

Review:

This book was published by the Natural History Museum to co-inside with their exhibition of the same name. The lavishly illustrated book is divided into five chapters; Mammoths and elephants, Tusks and trunks, The world of the Ice Age, Frozen and living and Endangered and extinct.

The book compliments the exhibition well, but there is no need to have seen the exhibition to enjoy the book. Adrian presents the evolution of the mammoth, their environment and suggests why it may have become extinct.  The book is very readable with up to date information.  Well worth a read if you are interested in this subject.

The Exhibition:

One of the main reasons for my recent visit to London was to see the ‘Mammoths: Ice Age Giants’ exhibition at the Natural History Museum in order to see baby Lyuba, the most complete woolly mammoth ever found. Whilst there I was surprised to learn that there are three types of elephant not just two because there are two types of African elephant; plains and forest.

This exhibition opens with a replica of a mammoth skeleton in bedrock and an actual thigh bone just to give a context of their scale. From here, the show never lets up on this sense of scale with mammoth skulls, tusks and hair samples adding to the wonder of a towering full-scale model of a Columbian mammoth, alongside other giants of the time including a short faced bear and a sabre toothed cat.

The display is littered with interesting facts such as the elephant family tree showing us that mammoths aren’t actually direct descendants or ancestors of elephants — they both diverged from an earlier common ancestor. It also tackles questions such as how close we are to being able to clone a mammoth, and the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve modern day elephants.

The highlight is of course Lyuba — a baby mammoth who was found in Northern Russia in 2007. She is remarkably well preserved and it’s a great opportunity to see the detail of the skin and hair up close.

The exhibition (now coming to a close) was very well done and well worth a visit. The two mammoth pictures are photographs I have taken of illustrations in the book.

Book Overview (from book cover):

Silbury Hill is an iconic monument within the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, and the largest prehistoric mound in Europe. Written by two authors with unrivalled information and knowldedge of the Hill and combining scholarly research and readable narrative, the book tells the story of the early recognition of its importance and of the later antiquarion and archaeological investigations. Each is described and set within its own historical and political context alongside the extraordinary characters of the time.

For the first time, the results of recent work – the collapse of the summit in 2000 leading to the re-opening of the famous tunnel in 2007 – are set out from first-hand knowledge, and the origins of the monument and construction techniques fully outlined. The book also describes how the mound was seen and used by later communities and considers what Silbury means to people today.

Review:

The Story of Silbury Hill is very readable and provides up to date archeological information regarding the Hill and surrounding area. In 2000 a hole appeared on the top of Silbury Hill.  The hole was caused by a period of heavy rain causing previous archaological excavations and tunnels to collapse. This is the story from two of the archaologists that worked on the site whilst English Heritage decided on the best way to secure the Hill for future generations.

We are told of the archeological history of Silbury Hill and the characters that undertook the investigations.  The book also explains how the Hill was constructed in several stages and how it connects up with the wider landscape. We are also told of the problems caused by the previous excavations and what was done to try and repair the damage.

Many photographs and diagrams accompany the text, which made the book a joy to read.  There is a comprehensive index and bibliography, essential for any good reference book

How many days are there between full moons – think you know?  Is there an ancient key to the calendar hidden in the stone circles?  What is the magical secret of the Sun-Moon-Earth system?

If you have ever wondered about eclipses,  tides or the seasons, this amazing little book by acknowledged time-lord Robin Heath will quickly introduce you to the astonishing beauty of the primary cycles around this planet.  Advanced wizarding at its best!

Review:

This book may be tiny but it is perfectly formed, giving a detailed overview of the subject. The pages in the book are crammed full of interesting facts and information, although you may need to don your specs so that you do not miss some of the tiny script that hides in and around the book’s illustrations.

The book left me wanting to do further (more detailed) reading and research on the subject.

Synopsis (from the author’s website):

In Virgile’s Vineyard, Patrick Moon explores the world of Languedoc wine. Among the cast of characters that Patrick meets during his year of discovery is Virgile, a young local wine-maker who offers to initiate him into the mysteries of each seasons work in the fields and in the cellar. Virgile is passionately committed to perfection, even though his limited means afford him just a handful of hectares and the smallest cellar imaginable.

At the other extreme is Manu, Patricks dipsomaniac neighbour, a diehard traditionalist producing a private wine-lake of unspeakable rouge. With Manu as his self-appointed guide, Patrick embarks on a quest for the revolutions leading lights a succession of lively encounters with growers as diverse as the wines themselves interwoven with entertaining digressions into the history of the regions wine-making.

Meanwhile the author struggles to deal with his long-neglected French home an unfamiliar and unpredictable world where the brambles have grown as tall as the olive trees, the water supply has just dried up and there is a ferocious animal under the roof tiles…

Review:

The book is set out in months of the year, giving insight into what typically occurs in each season. I found the book delightfully refreshing and full of humour.

I warmed to the many characters who were described in the book and also learned a lot about wine making and the exacting requirements for appellation controle rather vin de table…

The author’s adventures reminded me of my visit to Carcassonne and left me with the feeling of wanting to live in that area of France…

PS: I have received a gift of the sequel (Arrazat’s Aubergines) from Mr C.  I am looking forward to reading it on our upcoming long weekend away.  Our Christmas present to each other

… Sacred knowledge of the Ancient Britains

Synopsis from (from book cover):

The huge stone circle built in the British Isles and northwest France from 6500 to 3500 years ago are among civilisation’s strangest monuments.  Ignored or plundered for centuries, they have only in modern times begun to reveal their remarkable complexity.

It is now widely acknowledged that these ancient sites were precisely aligned to major celestial events, probably lined to the agricultural calendar of early farming settlements.  But the mystery remains as to how the megalithic builders achieved such extraordinary accuracy in their measurements and construction.

Inspired by the surveying work of Alexander Thom, Anne Macaulay devoted her life to an investigation of the stone circle sites, seeking out their hidden geometry and deeper cultural significance.  In this book she draws on ideas from geometry and metrology, archaeology and anthropology, history and mythology, astronomy and music.

Macaulay concludes that the extraordinary mathematical skills of the ancient Britains were original and self-contained.  In turn, the elite of this society became the proto-Greeks, their knowledge flowing to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Review:

Anne Macaulay’s life work was collated by Vivian T. Linacre and Richard A. Batchelor and published posthumously.

The first part the book covers the geometry of megalithic rings throughout Great Britain and Northern France.  The measurements that Anne took are compared with the original measurements taken by Alexander Thom. Her work shows how the ancients had advanced mathematical knowledge and that the stone circles were measured out based on Fibonacci numbers.

In his works Thom proposed that two ancient measurements were used in the making of the megalithic rings; The Megalithic Yard and the Megalithic Rod.  Anne introduces I third measurement, The Greek Foot.  She further proposes that measuring sticks (ancient rulers) were used to measure out the sites and that this knowledge seemed to have died out after the megalithic era and was later rediscovered later by Leonardo of Pisa.

Anne thought that the transition from hunter gatherer to a settled farming community led to the requirement for astronomical and geometrical skills for forecasting the seasons and measuring boundaries and suggested that these skills were taken from Britain and the Atlantic to the Eastern Mediterranean.

It is a thoroughly fascinating book and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject.

Synopsis (from book cover):

The Hereford mappa mundi is the largest an most elaborate world map surviving from before teh fifteenth century.  Designed at Lincoln by one Richard of Holdingham, it was made for Hereford in about 1300 and Hereford has been its home ever since.

There has been much speculation as to the identity of the author of the map, and the purposes for which it might have been made.  More than just a map, it can be seen as an encuuclopaedia of distant lands, their peoples, myths and natural history, all held to gether within a framework of Christian belief – the figure of Christ in judgement is placed in a prominent position at the top of the map.  It presents an illuminating view of the world as it appeared to a cultured and will read person in theirteenth-century England.

In this book P. D. A. Harvey provides an authoritative introduction to the map, based on recent work, showing how it was made, what it depicts and what sources the author used.  Many detailed photgraphs, specially commiddioned for the purpose, together with illustrations of othe related medieval maps, accompany the text.

Book Review:

I picked this book up in Hereford Cathedral, when I visited the Mappa Mundi.  The book dated 2010 is an updated version of an earlier book that was first published in 1996.  The book covers the most recent research and findings regarding the map.

The book covers the making of the map, the history of the map and sources of information for the content of the map.  The book also sets the map into context with other similar world maps.  The text is enhanced by many colour photographs showing the Hereford map and other world maps of this type.

I found the book very interesting and recommended it to anyone who is interested in the subject.

…a medieval view of the world

Synopsis (from book cover):

How was it possible for such a large and fragile artifact to have survived intact from the Middle Ages to the present day?  The Hereford Mappa Mundi, moved in April 1996 from the Cathedral Crypt to a purpose built museum, is an unique document.  It provides us with a window into  time past when there were no aeroplanes or cars, no radio or television, no telephones or newspapers and when travel beyond the immediate confines of ones’s home was an arduous and considerable undertaking.  All the more remarkable therefore that such a map of the world is able to show relative positions for cities and whole continents, although the people and animals depicted are often bizarre and fantastical.  The Mappa Mundi gives us today an incomparable insight into the mind of Medieval Christendom, depicting not only the geographical world but also the spirituality, philosophy of life and the political and economic structures of its people.  The creation of such a map was not only a considerable achievement, but a symbol of power and status in a world still in a feudal stat.  This volume takes the reader on a tour of that world as well as of the maps; a journey as fascinating as the Mappa itself.

Book Review:

When I visited Hereford Cathedral in November I particularly wanted to revisit the Mappa Mundi.  I picked up this book whilst I was there.

The book gives added incite to the Mappa Mundi which is housed in a specially built display wing of the Cathedral.  It is uncertain whether the Mappa was created in Hereford or elsewhere.  This book takes the view that the map was created elsewhere and one of the topics is the map’s origins and journey to Hereford.  Other topics include the medieval view of the world, the geography of the map and the creatures (both real and mythical) that feature on the map.

The book is illustrated throughout by Dominic Harbour, it also contains a full colour copy of the Mappa Mundi.

I recommend the book to anyone who wants to find out more about the Hereford Mappa Mundi.