York Minster

Purey-Cust, Arthur P. (Arthur Perceval), 1828-Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 46K words
Chapters: 5

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.York Minster by Arthur P. Purey-CustAuthor: Purey-Cust, Arthur P. (Arthur Perceval), 1828-,Language: English, Class: NA: Fine Arts: Architecture, Release Date: Jun 28, 2011

Editor's review

This is a monograph on York Minster, and its author, Arthur P. Purey-Cust, was closely connected with the building, giving the book a firsthand perspective. It is not a general guidebook but approaches the subject through architectural art, guiding readers to understand the structure, proportions, and details of this English Gothic cathedral. For readers unable to visit, the descriptions serve as a paper tour; for those planning to go, it helps you know what to look at before you look up. The Project Gutenberg electronic edition makes it portable and searchable, especially suitable for consulting relevant chapters before and after a visit. Note that the language and concerns of such early architectural writing bear the mark of their time; readers may treat it as a historical document and cross-check it with contemporary architectural history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Travelers planning to visit York Minster who want to prepare in advance
Readers interested in Gothic architecture and English church art
Architectural history students or researchers needing primary documents
Readers who enjoy paper tours and reading chapter by chapter by architectural part

Not a good fit for

Visual readers wanting richly illustrated, photo-based books
Tourists needing the latest restoration information and contemporary guide data
Readers impatient with architectural terminology and descriptive prose

Reading tips

Read the overview chapters first for an overall impression, then read the detailed chapters by architectural part.
Mark sections of interest before visiting and verify your reading impressions against the actual building.
Look up architectural terms in an illustrated dictionary as needed; no need to memorize them.
Read alongside other York Minster materials to fill in period and restoration information.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can this book replace an on-site guide?

Not entirely. It provides textual description and interpretation at the level of architectural art, lacking the sense of spatial scale on site and the latest guide information. It is better used as preparation before a visit or as a review afterward, and works best alongside on-site observation or a contemporary guide.

Does the book contain illustrations or photographs?

The information does not mention illustrations, only that the book is classified under art and architecture. Project Gutenberg electronic texts are usually text-based, with illustrations varying by book. Readers who value visual material should consult illustrated books on the cathedral's architecture separately.

How does the author's identity help the reader?

Arthur P. Purey-Cust was directly connected with York Minster, which gives his descriptions the detailed observation of a firsthand witness rather than secondhand report. Readers can note his specific judgments on architectural details, while bearing in mind the perspective limitations of his era.

Is it suitable for readers with no architectural background?

It can be read, but requires some patience. The book involves basic concepts and part names of Gothic architecture; readers with no background might first read an illustrated architectural primer, then return to this book for a smoother understanding. It works well as a real-case reader before more advanced study.

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About the author

Purey-Cust, Arthur P. (Arthur Perceval), 1828- Author · British · 1828–1916

Arthur P. Purey-Cust (1828–1916) was an Anglican clergyman in England and served as Dean of York Minster. Public information about his early life, education and the course of his career is limited; his principal confirmed identity and office are those of dean of this renowned cathedral. One work by him is held in the collection, York Minster, a description of the cathedral and its setting, typical of writing on church architecture and religious sites. Such works generally combine a detailed account of the building's history, liturgical spaces and religious background with value as both guide and historical record, addressing visitors, church members and readers interested in English cathedral architecture and religious culture. His religious writings likewise reflect a clergyman's concern with faith and church affairs, in a plain descriptive rather than literary style. Because available material is limited, the later circulation and influence of his works are difficult to assess in detail, though they remain of reference value in literature on York Minster.