Westminster Abbey (Wonders of the World)

Book Description

Westminster Abbey is the most complex church in existence. National cathedral, coronation church, royal mausoleum, burial place of poets, resting place of the great and of the Unknown Warrior, former home of parliament, backdrop to the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales--this rich and extraordinary building unites many functions.

Westminster Abbey is both an appreciation of an architectural masterpiece and an exploration of the building's shifting meanings. We hear the voices of those who have described its forms, moods, and ceremonies, from Shakespeare and Voltaire to Dickens and Henry James; we see how rulers have made use of it, from medieval kings to modern prime ministers. In a highly original book, classicist and cultural historian Richard Jenkyns teaches us to look at this microcosm of history with new eyes.

Customer Reviews:

An English glory of the Gothic style.......2005-08-11

Westminster Abbey has long been a seat of royal and ecclesial significance; certainly since the time of Edward the Confessor (before the Norman Conquest), up until the most recent times (royal weddings and the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, perhaps the most watched funeral in history). According to the introduction of Jenkyns book, it is 'perhaps the most complex building of any kind'. It still bear the stamp of being a 'royal peculiar' - in that the clergy and ecclesial hierarchy of the abbey fall outside the standard patterns of the church, and instead fall under a more direct jurisdiction of the monarch.

Its history is as impressive as its architecture. It has been a cathedral church and an abbey, a coronation church, a 'national church'; it houses Poets' Corner, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, the shrine of a Roman saint, and more. The national legislature (the House of Commons) has met here, and it has been both the National Archive and the National Treasury. Still, it is not as large as the French Gothic cathedrals upon which it is based, and (Henry VII's Chapel excepted) much of the art and architecture of the building, each element taken separately, can be better represented elsewhere. However, as a package whole, Westminster Abbey is second to none.

Jenkyns' book on Westminster Abbey is not a tourist guide, but rather a wholistic history of the building. Looking in detail beginning with the medieval church (there were much older structures on the site, but what we come to think of as Westminster Abbey today was really born in the medieval period), Jenkyns continues chronologically through the Renaissance, Reformation, Baroque and Victorian periods. Jenkins then explores particular aspects of the Abbey overall - as a place of ceremony, as a national cathedral or shrine, as a church in and of the city, and the church as a masoleum of sorts of the famous and historical (this last chapter is somewhat out of place, put among the chronological listings).

Jenkyns draws on wonderful material for a complete picture of the spirit of the place. There are poems from the Renaissance up to the twentieth century - Betjamin's portrayal of a woman visiting the Abbey during the war time is a classic example. He has historians and royals with their own reflections of events that have taken place, and material from clergy and monastics who have lived, worked and worshiped here. 'The world changes, but as a building and as a community, the Abbey continues to do what the Benedictines called the opus Dei, the work of God, to teach and preach and praise.'

Jenkyns is not shy with his opinions. For example, in discussion the change in the north transept rose window, he has little good to say about Pearson's replacement of it in the restoration of the late nineteenth century. 'Pearson was a very fine architect and it is a pity (and puzzling) that he chose to blot his escutcheon in this way.' Jenkyns similarly describes others' attempts at restoration and improvement as 'impertinent', 'controversial', and 'destructive'.

The book could benefit from a few more diagrams and a few colour photographs (the only colour prints are on the sleeve on the outside of the book; the rest are black-and-white, which, while they have their own character and excellence, still do not give a sense of the glory of certain aspects, such as the Henry VII chapel). However, the text is interesting, easy to read and interesting without being simplistic or not engaging with its subject, itself a complex Gothic creation.

Part of a series published in the United States by Harvard University Press, published previously in the United Kingdom by Profile Books Ltd., this volume is a joy to have.

The Funeral Effigies of Westminster Abbey

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The Funeral Effigies of Westminster Abbey

Manufacturer: Boydell Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Westminster Abbey (Wonders of the World)
Monarchy With David Starkey
The Six Wives of Henry VIII

ASIN: 085115879X

Book Description

The funeral effigies housed in their own quarters in the Norman undercroft are one of the most remarkable yet little-known treasures of Westminster abbey. They derive from a time when an effigy of the dead monarch, statesman or national hero played an important part in funeral ritual, offering a visible likeness as a focus to the ceremonial of the funeral. Surprisingly moving when gathered together, this unexpected pantheon of celebrities includes remarkable medieval wood effigies and later wax figures in contemporary clothing. Among the unique and important group of portrait busts, the death mask of Edward III (1377) dates back to the beginnings of portraiture in medieval Europe; other fine examples include Henry VII, Charles II, Pitt, and Nelson. The collection is also remarkable for its rare historic costumes, including Charles II's Garter robes, Nelson's hat, extraordinary Georgian paste jewellery, rare early silks and shoes, and probably the oldest stuffed bird in England. Some objects are illustrated in this book for the first time, others since their damage in the last war and subsequent restoration. An account of the restoration, a history of the collection, and a discussion of the significance of each object accompany the detailed descriptions of the effigies. This richly illustrated book is the first substantial publication on the funeral effigies of Westminster Abbey since 1936, The expertise of a distinguished group of international specialists has been drawn upon for this book; they are JANET ARNOLD, PATRICIA BLACKETT BARBER, CLAUDE BLAIR, SHIRLEY BURY, HUBERT CHESSHYRE, AVRIL HART, ANTHONY HARVEY, VALERIE KAUFMAN, SHEILA LANDI, JOHN LARSON, SANTINA LEVEY, PHILLIP LINDLEY, JULIAN LITTEN, RICHARD MORTIMER, NATALIE K.A. ROTHSTEIN, JUNE SWANN.

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An Unedited, Poorly Scanned Copy

The Sketch Book
Washington Irving
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This delightful selection of stories and essays was written by Irving under the pseudonym "Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.," and was popular both in America and abroad. In Rip Van Winkle, the title character and Catskill native falls asleep before the American Revolution and awakes 20 years later in the newly formed nation, which seems, in many ways, similar to the colonies of old. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells of self-satisfied schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, who is chased out of Sleepy Hollow (and Katrina Van Tassel\'s embraces) by the headless horseman - and is now rumored to have become a politician. Essay selections focus largely on Irving\'s observations of England from an American perspective.

Customer Reviews:

An Unedited, Poorly Scanned Copy.......2007-09-03

It is incredible that this book has not only made it to print but is actually advertised and sold by Amazon. It appears to have been copied by scanning and then printed, almost unedited, from the product of that copy method. Anyone in the least familiar with the scanning process knows that strange characters appear and words are often distorted and separated in an unusual manner. Nothing was done to "clean up" the text with the original in view. It is an "Elibron Classic" and published in 2006. Were it not that I need the text for a course I am enrolled it, I would have returned it summarily for a refund. Whole sentences are incomplete, strange and unusual words and markings appear [and they are not merely archaic words from a forgotten vocabulary]. It is a frustrating read, but with a little imagination the original elegance of Washington Irving's prose can be gleamed.

Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey, Part 1

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Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey, Part 1
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0766142493

Book Description

1882. This volume on Westminster Abbey discusses the foundations of the Abbey, the coronations, the royal tombs and the monuments. Also found within is a chronological table of events connected with Westminster Abbey, a table with the general dimensions of the Abbey church and a list of special authorities. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with diagrams and plates.

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Westminster Abbey Official Guide

Manufacturer: Jarrold & Sons, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0853063028

Product Description

New and Revised Edition: 1971

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Westminster Abbey (English Edition)
Trevor Beeson
Manufacturer: Editorial Escudo de Oro
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8437808545

A Hertfordshire Demesne of Westminster Abbey: Profits, Productivity and Weather (Studies in Regional and Local History)

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A Hertfordshire Demesne of Westminster Abbey: Profits, Productivity and Weather (Studies in Regional and Local History)
Derek Vincent Stern
Manufacturer: University Of Hertfordshire Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Historical Description of Westminster Abbey: Its Monuments and Curiosities

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A Historical Description of Westminster Abbey: Its Monuments and Curiosities

Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Westminster Abbey (Wonders of the World)
Kensington Palace: The Official Illustrated History

ASIN: 142124022X
Release Date: 2002-01-30

Book Description

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1846 edition by James Truscott, London.

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Child in Westminster Abbey
Mary E. Palgrave
Manufacturer: Lomondside P.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0952103524

Westminster Abbey (New Bell's Cathedral Guides)

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Westminster Abbey (New Bell's Cathedral Guides)

Manufacturer: Salem House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

This sometimes hilarious, sometimes scathing book is the most honest account to be found of the fashionable, fabulous, and often ugly New York art world of the last quarter century. This was the first time in history when visual artists came fully under the glare of the media and evolved into pop cultural figures. Here are Andy, Jean-Michel, Leo, and Julian as only art and cultural critic Anthony Haden-Guest can present them. Revealing anecdotes (and gossip) offer a sense of how the art world really works, its politics, its scene, and how artists survive in it or not. Wry, witty, and insightful, Hayden-Guest provides an absorbing narrative on how the art world got the way it is and where it is likely to go from here. This fresh look into art and artists is quite a thing apart from studying at the museum or library; True Colors makes you feel genuinely present at the most chi-chi art opening or cocktail party in town.

Customer Reviews:

I enjoy reading it........2007-03-14

This review is written long after I have read it, about 9 years !

As it is the first book I have a glimpse about the contemporary art world (focused mostly on US and a tiny part of Europe), I enjoy reading it. I did not (at that time) find any book with simiar nature. It looks like there are more books in the same category now.

Have fun reading it at your leisure time!

This book makes dolphin operas? a secret review.......2005-10-03

Although certainly with the pages are these words, these purpose built spores, like
feilds or kansas. And although again, like a cousin. I read this book and yet somewhere there were people outside the cover, some other story. Perhaps is pehaps is a juice box, what is needed here are vitamins. Such bitter health.

Read about art maybe?

for more secret reviews visit secrettechnology (add the normal web page bit to the end of that).

True Colors:The Real Life of the Art World.......2005-09-19

This book really has provided me the insight into collecting that I had always wanted to see. It was a fantastic,important and redefining period for art and collecting. Tremendously well done.

Entertaining (but dated) Nonsense.......2004-08-23

Trashy & obsequious. A gossipy journal of obliquely connected anecdotes about characters from the 80s and 90s art world, most of whom have lost most of their importance, and some of whom are even dead now. Begins with a section on the 70s minimalists and conceptualists, etc., by way of introduction. . . Not lacking in intelligence, but not employing much of it either. Haden-Guest places himself more strategically in the narrative than he most likely was in reality, but what journalist doesen't? Don't expect anything memorable or important (except perhaps the section on Donald Judd's various amusing feuds with native Texans and his rich European benefactors). I suppose it makes for good beach reading for those with a taste for the lurid. Be advised that it's also hopelessly dated (not documenting anything after the mid-nineties), which puts it in a strange position: it offers little information of historical significance, yet in the terms of the world it documents is now filled with ancient history! In short, an ephemeral amusement.

anecdotal evidence.......2003-10-08

With only the most banal of polemical perspectives and no aesthetic undepinning, this journalistic description of the recent fluctuations of the art market and its suppliers falls sadly short of the potential interest and excitement of the subject. It's readable. That's it.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning pictures.......2007-05-12

Mike Fay has done it again with this collection of amazing photos. Each picture tells a unique and compelling story that make you feel the real struggles in Gabon.

Great Book.......2007-04-16

Bought this book for my mother-in-law as a birthday present. She has traveled to Africa many times so it was perfect for her. She was thrilled with the book. The book is spectacular. We would recommend highly.

The most Impressive Book in my Library.......2007-03-08

Having been a member of The National Geographic Society since 1952 and with a library accumulated in that time, I have not seen before Last Place on Earth such a fine book so magnificently produced.

Incredible Adventure and Book.......2007-03-08

As a photographer and a journalist who has a passion for intense travel and the natural world, I think this is one of the most amazing books published in the past 20 years. Passionate, heartbreaking, and beautiful the world and work of Nick Nichols and Mike Fay shown in this book was eye opening. Highly reccomend. Only comment that maybe negative is the size a bulk of the book.

Retrospective.......2007-01-27

This is a beautifully bound book covering a wide range of areas in and about the jungles of Africa. The images are possible only for someone who spent as much time there as these two did, and the breathtaking work shows this condition. The mega-transect journal is a very nice companion to the photographs, and really helps to convey a mood and philosophy of their work. There passion is obvious.

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Wonderful for Tiger lovers
Excellent

Year of the Tiger (National Geographic)
Michael Nichols , and Geoffrey Ward
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Last Place on Earth (National Geographic)

ASIN: 079227377X
Release Date: 1998-11-01

Book Description

Sleek, stealthy, powerful, and beautiful, the tiger has always evoked awe, fear, and utter fascination. Once undisputed lord of vast stretches of Asia, India, and Indonesia, the tiger now stalks a sadly diminished realm, despite the best efforts of dedicated conservationists all over the world. Some strains are extinct; all are threatened. But, as this dramatic volume demonstrates, the species has lost none of its mesmerizing appeal.

Glorying in more than 100 stunning full-color photographs, The Year of the Tiger combines the talents of two gifted, knowledgeable men: National Geographic veteran Michael "Nick" Nichols, who has been described as the Indiana Jones of photography, and writer Geoffrey Ward, a tiger admirer ever since his youth in India. Together, they have created an engrossing, unforgettable portrait of this magnificent creature, featuring many images of tigers in the wild never before captured on film.

Here are arresting visions from Southeast Asia and Siberia, along with remarkable and unprecedented photographs that reveal the hidden life of an Indian tigress, named Sita, and her cubs. Over a period of two years, Nichols visited the tigers, documenting Sita's unflagging efforts to feed and safeguard her young. To obtain his extraordinary shots, Nichols tracked the tigers on elephant-back through rough terrain and more than once risked his life to bring back a unique record of their lives.

Here too is a gallery of tigers in captivity, heartbreaking in its juxtaposition with their wild brethren. For whether they're entertaining Las Vegas crowds or living in the relative security of a first-rate zoo, these are animals who have lost -- or never learned -- the skills that would allow them to survive in the wild. And yet they too have inherited all the majesty and wonder that mark their breed -- and may perhaps be the last, best hope for the most endangered of today's great cats.

Stunning in its visual appeal, sobering in its message, The Year of the Tiger is at once a vivid celebration and a vital call to arms on behalf of a creature whose very existence is menaced by mankind's encroachment on its delicately-balanced environment. It's a book for anyone who cares about preserving our world's astonishing diversity, and for anyone who's fallen under the tiger's spell -- and that, it's safe to say, is everyone.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful for Tiger lovers.......2000-05-03

This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves tigers. It is packed with spectacular photos of tigers, most in their natural environment. There are also some pictures of other wildlife & of native peoples.

There are pictures of tigers with their cubs, ready to pounce & many close-ups. Sadly, there are others of tigers in captivity. I loved the pictures of the white tigers especially a rare one with orange stripes instead of black.

If you can tear yourself away from the pictures the text is equally impressive. The author tells of his adventures in national parks throughout Asia.

He also discusses the plight of tigers & other animals of the area being killed for there furs or horns and what is being done to protect them. There is a list of conservationists in the back if you want to help.

Excellent.......2000-04-01

I thought that this book was remarkable in the explanation of the year of the tiger and with what cultures that it pertains to.

National Geographic: The Wildlife Photographs

Average customer rating:

Pretty poor photographs.
Great photographers,photographs - VERY POOR reproductions!

National Geographic: The Wildlife Photographs
John G. Mitchell
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Through the Lens: National Geographic's Greatest Photographs
Wide Angle: National Geographic Greatest Places
In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits
National Geographic Eyewitness to the 20th Century
The Photographs

ASIN: 0792263561
Release Date: 2001-09-01

Amazon.com

National Geographic: The Wildlife Photographs has just what we expect from the National Geographic Society: unforgettable images of animals in the wild. Page after page takes viewers into the private world of animals and reveals such sights as a dense furry nest of bats, the perfectly etched feathers on the back of a bald eagle's head, cheetah cubs dining on an impala, or a bleak forest of garden eels at the bottom of the Red Sea. The book is not without a mission: essays on habitat and endangered ecosystems underscore how precious the lives of these creatures are.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty poor photographs........2002-04-29

For the most part I agree with the previous reader. I don't think the paperstock is that bad but the photographs do come across as blured, or out of focus. I think this is, potentially, an awesome book but something needs to be done about the photo reproductions.

Great photographers,photographs - VERY POOR reproductions!.......2002-03-08

I used to enjoy everything from NG - magazine (still very good) books etc., however this book continues to show the NGS as it slides downhill. The photographic reproduction is marginal at best (as in so many of their latest offerings) where great, often heroic photos are shown soft or seemingly out of focus. The paper stock is awful. This could have been a wonderful book, and it winds up as almost an insult to past and present Geographic photographers. I'd gladly pay ten dollars more if they could work to improve it. I suppose that's what happens when a non-profit organization moves to a for-profit one!

National Geographic's Last Wild Places (National Geographic)

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my review
my review
An emotional experience...

National Geographic's Last Wild Places (National Geographic)
National Geographic Society
Manufacturer: National Geographic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Wide Angle: National Geographic Greatest Places
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National Geographic Eyewitness to the 20th Century

ASIN: 0792235002

Customer Reviews:

my review.......2001-03-14

The book Last Wild Places is an inspiration to the mind. When my grandma sent me the book I started to look through it. The wonderful pictures are even more wonderful the caption of animals in their habitat made me want to read on. The untouched and undisturbed wildlife tell about the wild that the way it's supposed to be. The moving through the different wild places like the frozen polar region to the hot savanna of Africa to Australia and to the tropical forest of Africa takes you all most everywhere, where nature still rules. This book made me think about how wonderful nature can be and can be for you. I thought this book was marvelous and creative. I recommend it to everyone who likes nature and animals.

my review.......2001-03-14

An emotional experience..........2000-06-25

It began by my casually flipping through the book at a friend's party, but soon I was hooked. I spent over an hour reading the fascinating articles and admiring the incredible National Geographic photos. If you doubted the existence of pure, untouched and untainted nature, then this book will renew your faith in the beauty of the natural world. For me, reading this book not only made my day, it also renewed my desire to travel and to see all of the stunningly beautiful parts of the world.

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It is what it is.
Te quita el aliento, absolutamente increible
Manna on mulch
How best to describe -The Photographs
Not the best

National Geographic: The Photographs

Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photojournalism | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Reference | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Travel with Pets | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

Through the Lens: National Geographic's Greatest Photographs
In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits
Wide Angle: National Geographic Greatest Places
Women Photographers at National Geographic
The Art of Photography at National Geographic (Evergreen)

ASIN: 0870449869
Release Date: 1994-10-01

Book Description

National Geographic The Photographs is a captivating, full-color presentation of National Geographic magazine's best and most memorable photographs of the last 25 years, the facts behind them, and the stories of the men and women who took them.

Page after page of this beautiful, large-format book presents stunning images that capture the major themes of the National Geographic Society: wildlife on land and underwater, cultures in the United States and around the world, and science—from astronomy and archaeology to the human senses. Accompanying the images are the photographers' accounts of the techniques they used and their various adventures in the field—sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying, always vividly compelling. National Geographic The Photographs also includes an introductory chapter that chronicles the evolution of the photographic principles that have kept National Geographic at the forefront of the field and presents the visionaries who believed that photography had the power to tell important truths.

Customer Reviews:

It is what it is. .......2007-06-08

It's a collection of National Geographic photos that were printed in previous issues. It is what you expect, fantastic. Interesting narrative laced throughout the book as well, about the history of the organization and its photojournalists. It may be hard to locate but well worth the money. Add it to your cart.

Te quita el aliento, absolutamente increible.......2006-05-16

Pagina tras pagina, una experiencia, te hacer sentir, un gran libro, un trabajo sublime que uno amante de la fotografia no puede dejar pasar.
Lo recomiendo con lagrimas de felicidad

Manna on mulch.......2005-03-11

The strength of the photographs in National Geographic is that they are often gorgeously-shot and expertly composed by professionals who clearly know their craft. Their weakness is that their perfection sometimes masks a banality of subject matter and narrative, often sinking them beyond the level of illustration. "National Geographic: the Photographs" embodies both aspects of the magazine's photography.

While more than a few photos barely rise above the snapshot level, most are thoughtfully (if a bit too artfully) composed, though a few are absolutely standouts. Steve McCurry's haunting 1984 shot of Sharbat Gula, the green-eyed Afghan refugee girl, is the classic example. The girl's haunted expression speaks volumes about the hardships she has experienced. The photo graces the book's cover, while her updated portrait, shot 18 years later, adorns the back. Now a wife and mother, the same hauntedness appears in Gula's eyes, now encased in a face grown older and wearier. Another standout -- an overhead shot of camels traversing the wastes of Djibouti -- is disconcerting until one recognizes the camera's vantage point. The straightforward grace of some photos belies the difficulty with which they were taken. It takes only a second to flip past an underwater picture of an approaching hippo; but the photograph cannot capture the hours of patience and luck it took to take it.

"National Geographic: The Photographs" includes the expected pictures of wildlife, nature and human cultures from around the globe as well as several topical spreads -- Spain, sleep, and the Titanic. The book's large format helps many photos communicate the grandeur of their natural subjects. When the subject and composition coincide, the photographs are strikingly beautiful.

How best to describe -The Photographs.......2004-04-25

How can we best describe the National Geographic's publication, The Photographs? Creative, aesthetic, unnatural perspectives, abstract, ultra realistic, surreal, vibrant, and the list of adjectives is endless! However, I guess what best sums up this book is that it constitutes one of the most important and impressive contributions to photojournalism.

It is in reality an excellent survey or synthesis of photo images that permits readers to follow the evolution of photography dating back one hundred years until today. In fact, as mentioned in the book, although the techniques may differ, some of the earliest photos still compare favourably with those of today.

This is quite evident when you view the 1902 photo shot by photographer George Shiras lll entitled Loon Lake, Ontario, Canada. Here we notice a lynx sitting proudly along the banks of the lake and unfazed by the photographer's lantern that detects the glow of its eyes. However, as indicated, the lynx was alarmed by the flash photography. As an added detail, the reader is apprised of the fact that Shiras pioneered nighttime close-ups of wildlife and the use of remote-control devices. It is noteworthy to mention that scattered throughout the book are these very interesting tidbits pertaining to the history and science of photography.

Fast forward to the cover and back of the book where we immediately are exposed to the renowned photographer Steve McCurry's spellbinding images of the young Afghan girl with the penetrating eyes taken in a refugee camp in Pakistan in 1984 when she was 17 years and rediscovered in Afghanistan in 2002.

In all of these instances we see the superb focusing of the lens on the subject matter and the reflection of someone or something. It is an encouragement of some sort of reaction or level of contemplation. Moreover, the creation of a great photograph lies in the photographer's ability to use the full range of options at his or her disposal. It is these essential ingredients that are continuously prevalent in the multitude of impressive images contained in the five sections of the book dealing with such topics as science, astrology, archaeology, wildlife, underwater, and cultures.

What enhances the value of this spectacular book is the many captions, articles, essays and descriptions that have been contributed by the editor Leah Bendavid-Val and her many National Geographic assistants. Without these contributory writings the book would not have been able to effectively aid the reader in appreciating the moving and penetrating characteristics of the photographs, as well as following the evolution of the history of photography.

Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

Not the best.......2003-05-21

After looking through national geographics, I don't know if I would classify these as their best pictures. I've seen better and expected more.

National Geographic Photographs: The Milestones

Average customer rating:

NG Does it again!

National Geographic Photographs: The Milestones

Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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National Geographic Photographs Then and Now (National Geographic)
Through the Lens: National Geographic's Greatest Photographs
The Photographs
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National Geographic Moments: Home (National Geographic Moments)

ASIN: 0792275209
Release Date: 1999-10-15

Book Description

The extraordinary history of National Geographic photography spare more than a hundred years and tens of thousands of unforgettable pictures, a history never before fully presented. Since January 1896, when the subtitle "An Illustrated Monthly" was first added to the magazine's masthead, the Geographic has maintained a tradition of photojournalistic excellence that continues to set new standards, both artistic and technical. With the publication of startlingly unique photographs from great explorations sponsored by the Society, such at Robert Peary's turn-of-the-century Arctic expeditions. Hiram Bingham's discovery of Machu Picchu, early panoramas of the American West by William Henry Jackson, Joseph Rock's rare scenes of inner China in the 1920s, the first bird's-eye views from stratospheric balloons, and never-before-seen images from the earliest voyages beneath the sea, the National Geographic has been at the forefront of presenting the world in all its magnificent variety.

Now, on the brink of the 21st century, six authors in the field of photography -- respected curators, award-winning writers, distinguished university professors -- have been asked to discuss what they regard as the significant accomplishments of National Geographic and place them within the greater context of the history of photography. Era by era, these experts offer invaluable analysis and fascinating commentary on the pivotal role played by the Geographic in the development of this very special kind of photojournalism. To make their points, these experts have assembled a wonderfully varied representation of great photographs from the Society archives -- many previously unpublished -- and they further highlight important historical developments in special portfolios devoted to the milestones et each period: from the magazine's first color photographs in 1910 to the first color underwater pictures in 1927 to the cutting-edge technologies of today and the issues they present, and more.

For generations, National Geographic's commitment to a groundbreaking blend of stunning, innovative photography and informative, engaging text has consistently delivered the irresistible attractions of this astonishing world into the eager imagination of armchair travelers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

NG Does it again!.......2000-04-05

One of my favorite things about National Geographic has always been the photos and this book is no exception. It is filled with a beautiful photos that span many years and great changes and advancements in photography. I devoured this book, photos only, in an evening at the local bookshop. When I am looking for a relaxing evening I can think of nothing better than to have a National Geographic magazine or collection of photos to pour over.

Book Description

Featured on the editorial pages of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and syndicated to 250 newspapers across the nation, David Horsey's cartoons deliver social and political commentary with a punch. This collection of more than 150 editorial cartoons from the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner chronicles recent events in America and the world, while delivering social and political commentary with a punch. The recurring character in this collection is George W. Bush. Horsey's cartoons track his rise from a candidate who won the White House without winning the most votes to a commander-in-chief who went to war in spite of worldwide protest. From Hanging Chad to Baghdad features the rich - almost voluptuous -black-and-white imagery that has made Horsey famous, as well as 24 color pages that show off the celebrated cartoonist's skill at an extended comic form.

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