This is not a book that merely devotes a chapter to each cathedral and showcases its wonders in lavish photographs. You can put it on your coffee table, but it is very much a book to read rather than gaze at. Half of it is devoted to cathedrals as a whole and their history. This is a long period, starting with timber buildings in the 6th century and going on to the Reformation. Read about the times they were built in and their meanings, the people who commissioned and built them, and the three main styles of architecture. Find out about the code of symbols that adorn them, and the services and rituals of the secular and monastic communities with their differences. The cathedrals themselves are described and their histories given, with ground plans, short lists of what to see, and some photographs to whet the appetite for a visit.

At the back are some fascinating lists and charts, showing what it cost to build the cathedrals, their size and wealth, what the parts of cathedrals are called and how to read the ground plans. This is an impressive and indispensable guide for anybody who wants to understand the importance of cathedrals in the mediaeval world. Never be taken for an ignorant tourist again!