To look down at the pages of this awe-inspiring book is to look up at the mesmerizing vaulted ceilings of 80 medieval churches, cathedrals, and basilicas of Europe in all their structural complexity and ornate design. From the rich blue hues of the Basilica of St. Francis d’Assisi to the geometric details in the Orvieto Cathedral, Stephenson’s flawless photography allows us to take in entire Gothic ceilings with their every lavish detail. This is an exquisite gift for lovers of architecture, photography, travel, history, or for those who just enjoy the rapturous beauty of these impossibly complex human accomplishments.

Laura G.