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Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (Sandpiper) Review
User Submitted Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (Sandpiper) ReviewsOctober 24, 2008 Good for kids and grown-ups I was reminded the other day how much I used to love these books when I was a kid so I bought a couple of them. They're still great - and surprisingly dense. I liked the pictures when I was young; now I like the extremely detailed explanation of each step of the process of building. Cathedral's my favorite so far; it was just a lot more complicated than a pyramid. (No offense, dead Egyptian dudes, please don't show up all staggering around in my living room with bits of rotting flesh dripping out from under your bandages; it's bad enough that the cats shed all over the couch.) September 8, 2008 DIY on a Cathedral... I first found out about David Macaulay when I got this book as one of the many text books I had to get in my French Culture class in college. It is a wonderful book showing us how a fictional cathedral was made in France. The sketches are lovely in their detail, and the book is a fine gift for either a child or an adult. I urge you to collect are many of his books are you can get you hands on. I have! July 7, 2008 Stories for Children Magazine 4 Star Review This first book in David Macaulay's series of well illustrated descriptions of how things in history were built explains the construction of a thirteenth-century Gothic cathedral. In 1252, the people of Chutreaux, France, wished to erect a new cathedral to express thanks for peace, the end of the plague, good weather, plenty of food to eat, and successful business for the city's merchants, after the old one was struck by lightning and damaged. Both the cathedral and people of Chutreaux are imaginary, but the methods of the cathedral's construction correspond closely to the actual building of a medieval cathedral, and the single-minded spirit of the city's populace is typical of people from the twelfth through fourteenth century in Europe. The book makes a very good resource to accompany a study of the Middle Ages. The Church was extremely important to life in medieval Europe. Since the work on the cathedral covered 86 years, it took three architects--William of Planz, Robert of Cormont, and Etienne of Gaston--to guide the choosing of timbers and stone, laying the foundation, building the walls, installing the glass, and all the other activities needed for the completion of the cathedral in 1338, said to be the longest, widest, highest, and most beautiful cathedral in all of France. The wonderful drawings are quite helpful in being able to see what was happening and to understand the terms that are used. Cathedral was a 1973 Caldecott Honor book. REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker April 4, 2008 Gothic Cathedral Excellent book with fascinating illustration. Good for children and at the same time for universitary pupils! January 20, 2007 Macaulay's books This book lives up to my expectations of David Macaulay's books in that it's very well drawn, has an abundant amount of useful information and is presented in a clear, exciting manner! November 23, 2006 Another Macaulay Masterpiece Second only to his magnum opus, Castle, this 1981 book continues David Macaulay's tradition of creating intricate (but welcoming and friendly) illustrations as an accompaniment to the telling of his informative tales. Taking its place in a grand series that has included Pyramid, Mill, Castle, Unbuilding, and others, Cathedral details the design and creation of one of the great Gothic churches that came to exist across western Europe during the Age of Faith. The setting here is France during the intellectually-towering High Middle Ages, and in careful steps we come to understand firstly what motivated people to undertake a construction project on such a scale, secondly how the construction was carried out, and finally how a Gothic cathedral, truly a structure that seems to soar untethered to earth, is able to stand so proudly close to a millennium after its dedication. Most marvelously of all, unlike virtually every other Medieval building, the great worship places are still largely in use today, fulfilling their original purposes and continuing on as a tribute to and testimony of the genius of those who erected them. David Macaulay is a master and a treasure, and a book like his teaches without effort. Like all great things, his books are joys to re-visit over the course of a lifetime. February 1, 2006 An excellent masterpiece! Words are useless to describe this masterpiece created by David Macaulay. I have visited France (more specifically Paris, Rheims, Chartres, Chambord, Versailles, Chenonceau) and went on a "cathedral pilgrimage" to see all the greatest French gothic cathedrals. After picking up this book in my local library, I was spellbound by the beauty of Macaulay's drawings. Macaulay is able to recreate the majesticness and grandeur of the cathedrals and draws you into the cathedral. You can almost hear the cathedral choir singing in the backround and the quite chanting of the people. Macaulay's drawings are first rate (no wonder this masterpiece won the Caldacot Medal!) This book should be read by everyone to show what people can achieve through determination and having a united goal. This just occurred to me.... why do man's most significant and most beautiful works of art and architecture result from their religion? David Macaulay's book is pure gold! BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!! August 12, 2005 spellbinding for children and adults alike Like all of Macaulay's architectural books, CATHEDRAL is ripe with vivid illustrations that are both enthralling and educational to behold. The drawings not only illustrate the cathedral's method of construction, but convey the presence and majesty of the space as well. One feels the dizzying height of the tower and the formidable strength of the foundation stones. I was always amazed at the ingenuity of the laborers in completing tasks that I would have otherwise felt impossible to attemp without power tools. While it is hard to predict whether today's children will find the book as captivating as I did in the pre-internet era, I feel that David Macaulay's books make excellent gifts to children. Not only do they stimulate the imagination, but they educate children on architecture, history and culture, and show that magnificent works can be accomplished through cooperation, creativity, planning and hard work. Not bad for a few bucks! I recommend you splurge on the hardback, because this is a book you'll enjoy literally for decades. January 9, 2004 A wonderful introduction to architecture and the Middle Ages 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. October 25, 2003 Chapeau Monsieur David Macaulay! We bought two copies of this book. One for us, and one as a present for appreciation month of our pastor. We may even buy one more for a Christmas present! The author did not bind the book to the Catholic religion. It can be read an enjoyed by everybody. I read this book for the first time in 1988 and I always felt it was very detailed and as close to the truth as possible. Being (born) French and raised in France I lived by this type of cathedrals all my life. The writer was able to keep the mood of the medieval times as well as keeping it enjoyable and modern enough that even our American children (11 and 13 year old) love this book. People who have visited European (French) cathedrals can feel even more in this book the effort accomplished during the construction of a cathedral by medieval people. This book is good for children and for adults. This book is better understood if you traveled in France. From Provence in the South of France to the beaches of Bretagne you will find cathedrals that can fit the description of the building process described in this book. Great family entertainment but it is also a very good introduction to medieval buildings! Chapeau Monsieur David Macaulay! from A French expatriated now American citizen :O) living in Gurley Alabama Webmaster of the Gurley Community & Town History web site For more Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (Sandpiper) reviews click here.
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