Universe of Stone

Jan 11, 2025 4:56 PM

Author:Philip Ball

Universe of Stone

In the twelfth century, Christians in Europe began to build a completely new kind of church - soaring, spacious monuments flooded with light from immense windows. These were the first Gothic churches, the crowning example of which was the cathedral of Chartres: a revolution in thought embodied in stone and glass, and a bridge between the ancient and modern worlds.

In Universe of Stone, Philip Ball explains the genesis and development of the Gothic style. He argues that it signified a profound change in the social, intellectual and theological climate of Western Christendom. As the church represented nothing less than a vision of heaven on earth, this shift in architectural style marked the beginning of the argument between faith and reason which continues today, and of a scientific view of the world that threatened to dispense with God altogether.

Reviews

[Ball] has a knack for translating difficult concepts into lucid prose: he offers a refreshingly sceptical guided tour of Chartres Cathedral and the intellectual contents that helped produce it

—— Daily Telegraph

Lucid and resplendent...a model of explanatory writing

—— John Carey , Sunday Times

Consistently and healthily sceptical ... an intelligent, enjoyable and well-produced book which deserves a wide audience

—— Times Literary Supplement

An original and imaginative synthesis of art history and history of science

—— History Today

Lucid and resplendent

—— The Times

Riveting

—— Katie Owen , Sunday Telegraph

[A] richly rewarding book

—— Independent

Illuminating... a masterpiece. The erudition with which Ball imparts his knowledge does nothing to diminish his sense of wonder

—— William Skidelsky , Observer

Philip Ball has done something extraordinary here: he's got me interested in cathedrals

—— William Leith , Evening Standard

Thoughtfully designed book

—— Nicholas Hamilton , Irish Times

As good as the author's previous biography of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and that is saying a great deal

—— Contemporary Review

The sisters' story emerges from their letters, spiced in Jehanne Wake's entertaining narrative with aristocratic gossip and succinct accounts of (such) half-forgotten history

—— Daily Mail

Wake has crafted an entertaining story, based on research of several letters from the period, about the sisters, their loves, lives and ambitions...as a historical account it comes recommended

—— Julian Fleming , Sunday Business Post

Thorpe's superb biography leaves no primary source untapped, and bountiful anecdotes make this account of a truly three-dimensional character a joy to read.

—— Telegraph

Bringing together 35 years of research this biography of Harold Macmillan looks at both his personal and political achievements, conflicts, and events that defined his time. From Eton to prime minister, this is a compelling read.

—— Charlotte Vowden , Daily Express

He is an Aston Martin DB6 kind of writer, who is very English, very stately

—— Anthony Seldon , The Browser

Scholarly, and thoroughly researched, Supermac should nevertheless appeal to the general reader through the accessibility of its proce and the assistance offered by placing events in historical context... Humane, benevolent, and considerable; much like its subject

—— Dr Martin Farr , BBC History Magazine

The best biography of a post-war British Prime Minister yet written.

—— Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government at Oxford University

A unique and astonishing social history book which is revolutionary in its concept, informative and entertaining

—— History magazine

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