Notre-Dame
A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals From the Multi-million Copy Bestseller
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
‘A treasure of a book’ – The New Yorker
Now with an exclusive new introduction from the author, Ken Follett, who will donate all royalties to the charity La Fondation du Patrimoine.
‘Two days after Notre-Dame burned, I flew to Paris to appear on the TV programme La Grande Librairie for a discussion about cathedrals. The following morning I had breakfast at the Hotel Bristol with my French publisher, and she asked me to write a short book about Notre-Dame and what it means to all of us. She said she would donate the publisher’s profits to the rebuilding fund and, if I wished, I could do the same with my royalties. Yes, I said; of course, I’d love to.’ – Ken Follett
Originally written in aid of the crucial restoration work to restore Paris’s great cathedral, Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals is a moving, short piece of non-fiction celebrating the stunning history of this beloved building from Ken Follett, author of the multi-million-copy-selling Kingsbridge series.
Praise for Notre-Dame:
‘Fans of Follett and cathedrals alike will enjoy his exploration of the great Parisian edifice — and will want more’ – Kirkus Reviews
‘A must-read’ – Publishers Weekly
‘Simply masterful . . . a great pleasure to read’ – Catholic Library World
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this concise and informative work, written to raise money for the restoration of Notre Dame after its recent fire, Follett (Eye of the Needle) focuses on six key dates in the cathedral's history. These include 1163, when work first began on constructing a Gothic church; 1831, when Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame was published, helping to immortalize the structure; and 1844, when Viollet-Le-Duc began his controversial restoration of the crumbling building. Another significant date, 1944, was when Charles de Gaulle boldly faced snipers to walk 190 feet to the cathedral's front pew to commemorate the ousting of the Nazis from Paris. Follett, whose novel The Pillars of the Earth concerns the building of a medieval cathedral, brings his expert scene building to these snippets of Notre Dame's history. He packs a great deal into a short space, emphasizing that, starting as a Romanesque structure and ending with current post-fire rebuilding efforts, Notre Dame has never been a church unaltered; instead, the monument has been reinvented many times during its long history. Follett's appreciative tribute provides comfort that the scars of the recent fire will pass, as well. This satisfying book will be a must-read for those interested in the rebuilding of Notre Dame.
