National Trust: Book Of Ruins

The title of this book may lead people to believe that it is a dry catalogue of mostly unimpressive historical sites around Britain, when nothing could be further than the truth! Brian Bailey is eminently knowledgable of the subject matter, and by turns witty, wise, reverent, and irreverent (at one point, he quotes a poem William Wordsworth wrote on one of the ruins, and comments, "If Wordsworth ever wrote a worse poem I haven't heard it"). He brings the history to life, accurately but not without romance. Ascetic holy men set up small huts in the wilderness, and over time lose their humbleness, building mighty monasteries which dissolve into licensiousness and are stripped of their power. Wealthy families war and squabble, their sons disappointing their fathers. The house is burned to the ground by carelessness or revenge. If you are at all interested in ruins, history, and/or castles and monasteries, this book is a priceless resource. Bailey is a great storyteller matched with an encyclopedic knowledge of place. It's not exactly a picture book (most of the photos are medium to small-sized, and usually black and white) but it is very informative and anything but dull. 4 stars because the pictures could be a little bigger/more artistic, but really, that's nitpicking. 5 stars in my own heart. :)