It has been twenty-six years since the publication of CATHEDRAL. David Macaulay's first book, CATHEDRAL, introduced readers around the world to his...
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reviews
Jul 05, 2011
Andres
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Though almost 40 years old, this storybook about the construction of a fictional Gothic cathedral is just as informative to adults as it is to the book's intended audience: kids. The illustrations wonderfully... well, illustrate the long (80+ years!), difficult, and costly process of building such a large structure at a time that didn't have the benefit of modern equipment like cranes (or even trucks!).
I also read the 25th anniversary edition of the book, called "Building the Bo More...
I also read the 25th anniversary edition of the book, called "Building the Bo More...
Dec 08, 2010
Chris
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Macaulay, David. Cathedral: The Story of its Construction (1973)
Cathedral tells the story of the building of a magnificent gothic cathedral in the imaginary village of Chutreaux, France starting in the year 1252. God was good to the people of this village, so they decided to build the longest, widest, highest and most beautiful cathedral in all of France in his honor. The book describes the tedious step-by-step process of building from making a plan, erecting walls, and finally hanging More...
Cathedral tells the story of the building of a magnificent gothic cathedral in the imaginary village of Chutreaux, France starting in the year 1252. God was good to the people of this village, so they decided to build the longest, widest, highest and most beautiful cathedral in all of France in his honor. The book describes the tedious step-by-step process of building from making a plan, erecting walls, and finally hanging More...
Jan 04, 2009
K.
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This marvelous illustrated book, supposedly for children, is the most useful book on cathedral-building I've found. I've been reading a number of scholarly books and histories on the subject, and all of them serve to verify that Macaulay got it right. He doesn't go into the theory, the complex geometry, or the depth of historical and political context, of course, but his pictures helped me to understand how the flying buttresses were constructed (and why), as well as how these astonishing struct
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Aug 11, 2010
Daniel
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As an artist, a trained architect, and a lifelong lover of children's books, I fiercely love this little book of step-by-step ink drawings of a medieval Gothic cathedral being built. The level of knowledge and care that went into each picture is awe-inspiring, and yet instantly legible. It reminds me of a quote by Dizzy Gillespie,; "It's taken me my whole life to learn what not to play". There's an astonishing level of mastery here to be able to compress so much obviously painstakingly
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Nov 17, 2010
Esther
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Published in 1981 by Houghton Mifflin
Interest Level: 3-6th Grade
This is a great book about cathedrals that allows the reader to look inside every detailed sketch and learn more and more with every page turn. All my past students have always appreciated this book for its detailed schematics and interesting details. This informational text does not simply explain a Cathedral and what it was but it allows for the reader to see what is being described. I think this is perhaps one o More...
Interest Level: 3-6th Grade
This is a great book about cathedrals that allows the reader to look inside every detailed sketch and learn more and more with every page turn. All my past students have always appreciated this book for its detailed schematics and interesting details. This informational text does not simply explain a Cathedral and what it was but it allows for the reader to see what is being described. I think this is perhaps one o More...
May 08, 2008
Ruth
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Really nice ink drawings. Interesting explanations. Used this in my Art History classes.
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Jul 07, 2010
John
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This book is an amazing exploration of how a cathedral during the Medieval Period in Europe was built. This book provides a clear and easily understood graphic representation so that children of all reading abilities can understand the complex building process (there are no steps held back), while providing text that is not made overly simple for children so that when they have a high enough reading level to fully access the text will learn real, and functional architectural, artistic, and other
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Nov 16, 2008
Andrew
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I think this was the first of David David Macaulay's books, and it's by far the best. He follows the people of Chutreaux, an imaginary market town in France, as they set out to build the longest, tallest, widest and most beautiful cathedral in the entire kingdom, in the Gothic style. The companion video is ok, but not great.
One of the things that impresses me about this book is the degree of long-term thinking that went into building a cathedral. The roof timbers come from Scandi More...
One of the things that impresses me about this book is the degree of long-term thinking that went into building a cathedral. The roof timbers come from Scandi More...
Jun 27, 2011
Melody
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Imaginary cathedral, true to life construction process. Fascinating. Simple to read with no more than a few paragraphs per page and plenty of white space; Macaulay uses specific vocabulary to keep the explanations succinct. The drawings are very well done and illustrate what the paragraphs are describing. Not sure if more labels would spoil the art but they would be helpful clarifiers. It would be good to pair this book with another one describing the function of a cathedral.
Dec 02, 2009
Rachel
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Nick and I both loved this book. The drawings are lush, detailed, and architecturally precise. The same can be said for the text, come to think of it. This is a book about history, religion, architecture, engineering, and the human quest for perfection, all wrapped up neatly in an appealing story and presented in such a way that a seven-year-old and and thirty-something can both learn something new.
Jul 09, 2011
Phyllis
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I liked this book which was just about at my level of understanding about the constructions of
a mosque a castle and a cathedral. So many things that I think of as modern were developed in
the middle ages. It amazes me at the skill of people who did not have modern machinery and these
buildings still stand while relatively recently buildings are shoddy and would not stand up to
the test of time.
a mosque a castle and a cathedral. So many things that I think of as modern were developed in
the middle ages. It amazes me at the skill of people who did not have modern machinery and these
buildings still stand while relatively recently buildings are shoddy and would not stand up to
the test of time.
Apr 05, 2009
Luann
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Thank goodness for the illustrations, because I wouldn't have enjoyed following the text without them. It was very interesting learning the procedure for building a cathedral, and I'm in awe of what the people had to go through to accomplish it. I was especially interested in the process the glass makers used to create the colored glass windows.
Sep 21, 2007
Jennifer
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I absolutely adore this series (Pyramid, Cathedral, Castle, etc.) I had the opportunity to meet the author at a benefit hosted at the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania around 1987 or so, he's amazing.
This book, and the companion video, give incredible insight into the mammoth human effort, gargantuan investment, and astonishing technical knowledge that went into building the monuments we still tour in awe today. McCauley balances technical information with accessible character More...
This book, and the companion video, give incredible insight into the mammoth human effort, gargantuan investment, and astonishing technical knowledge that went into building the monuments we still tour in awe today. McCauley balances technical information with accessible character More...
Nov 18, 2011
g
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An accessible, engaging, and charmingly illustrated children's book about the construction of a fictional medieval cathedral. See also the accompanying PBS film, which in addition to an animated story includes wonderful camera footage of the author and a beautiful French lady at many different cathedrals throughout Europe (mostly France).
Feb 06, 2011
Kaye
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1975 Caldecott Honor Book
In black and white pencil drawings, Macaulay shows step by step drawings of the architecture techniques in building of a cathedral. The life of the town and the generations of families that become part of the building of a monumental building. I love the story of life in a new "cathedral" town and the importance of apprenticeship. Great book!
In black and white pencil drawings, Macaulay shows step by step drawings of the architecture techniques in building of a cathedral. The life of the town and the generations of families that become part of the building of a monumental building. I love the story of life in a new "cathedral" town and the importance of apprenticeship. Great book!
Sep 24, 2011
I'm looking for that little tiny staircase up into the high lofts of the area around the nave(?) I almost got all the way up into the one in Sainte, but it was too dangerous--maybe it's in here...
Jan 20, 2009
Ina
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Fond book from my past and... a lovely book to read to little kids! An archetypal cathedral is built from the ground up in the fictional town of Chutreaux.
Jul 02, 2009
Lesley
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Facinatingly detailed illustrations of a cathedral in different phases of development and construction! The text was informative, but a little dry at times.
Mar 18, 2010
Kaethe
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Another impulse check-out. Those New shelves are located right by the desk, you understand. We flipped through it during reading time, not to read the text, but just to gawk at Macaulay's amazing pictures. I'll go back later and reread the text, too.
15 March, 2010
15 March, 2010
Sep 03, 2010
Megan
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Black and white drawings highlight this history of the construction of the cathedral of Chutreaux. A truly incredible undertaking!
May 31, 2011
Mckinley
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Interesting for children and adults. Especially if one has visited cathedrals.
Caldecott honor.
Caldecott honor.
Apr 07, 2009
Remember this book? I own the way things work and can't really get over this author/illustrator.
Jul 18, 2009
Heather
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I'm not sure why, but I found this one much more interesting than Mosque (my first foray into David Macaulay's architecture books.)
May 03, 2010
Kitty
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Great illustrations and commentary. It was interesting concept and very enlightening.
Oct 19, 2011
Alex
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The pen and ink drawings in this book are wonderful, but I think David Macaulay missed the mark by fictionalizing the true story of the construction of Chartres cathedral.
Jul 05, 2009
Eddy
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A fantastic book that puts the architecture into the larger story of a town and culture. Fantastic drawings. Great detail. Insightful text. Like all of Macaulay's books: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Apr 08, 2011
Carter
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I truly enjoyed this insight into the building of a book (on building a cathedral). I think the one thing that I would've liked to see in this is the editor's side of things. All the changes seem to be coming from Macaulay, but surely his editor had something to do with it. We see a little bit of that at the beginning w/ the manuscript, but that's very little in the overall scheme of things.
