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The Book of Kells is a masterpiece of medieval art - a brilliantly decorated version of the four Gospels with full-page depictions of Christ, the Virgin and the Evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative painting. This new book, by the Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College Library, Dublin, represents on a generous scale the glories of the Book of Kells for today's readers, revealing the astounding detail and richness of one of the greatest treasures of medieval art. Its illustrations feature 59 full-size reproductions of complete pages of the manuscript, and, in addition, enlarged details that allow one to relish the intricacy of elements barely visible to the naked eye. We explore the Book of Kells through its historical background; a display of the elements of the book, actual size; the spectacular openings of the texts that precede the Gospels; a study of earlier and comparable manuscripts; detailed examination of symbols and themes, with special enlarged details; a look at the scribes and artists who worked on the manuscript; and a consideration of technical aspects, illuminated by recent scientific research. 'A sumptuous volume containing more than 80 pages from the manuscript reproduced full-size and in full, ravishing colour ... a triumph of scholarly investigation and interpretation' - Financial Times 'Each reproduction is accompanied by Bernard Meehan's clear and considered exegesis on one of the most complex artefacts of the Christian tradition ... If only all art historians were such illuminating companions' - Marina Vaizey, V&A Magazine 'The value of the new edition of `The Book of Kells' is not merely in the quality of the illustrations but the lucidity of the explanatory texts by Bernard Meehan ... I bask in pride that we did not destroy this masterpiece of European art' - Colm Toibin 'We think we know the Book of Kells, but the plates in this bargain of a book still take your breath away; and its author knows that the unknowns are at least as interesting as the knowns' - Times Literary Supplement

The Book of Kells