Professor Kevin Murphy's new book: The Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Paris

Summary:

Even as it has evolved over the course of many centuries, Notre-Dame Cathedral has persisted as a touchstone for Parisians and Christians everywhere, and as an emblem of Frenchness throughout the nation’s history. Its periods of construction, destruction, neglect, and restoration are all outlined here in approachable terms. The decisive mid-19th century restoration of the building by architects E.E. Viollet-le-Duc and J.-B. Lassus, which gave the building its signature spire, is shown to have contributed to Notre-Dame much of its familiar medieval form, tragically damaged in the fire of April 15, 2019.

 

Kevin Murphy deftly untangles the tortured history of Notre-Dame Paris, revealing how this complex and multi-faceted building, with its roots in the Roman past, became the “very face of France.” Engagingly written for both the general reader and specialist, The Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Paris: A Quick Immersion explains how this iconic structure bears witness to France’s political past and present through its construction, destruction and restoration. It presents for the first time a clear and lucid account of this beloved structure’s entire chronology and its representation up to the present day.
Lisa Reilly, Professor Department of Architectural History School of Architecture, University of Virginia.



Dr. Murphy has provided for the layman and academic alike a timely analysis and history of one of the world’s greatest monuments. We discover here that Notre Dame de Paris is not the seamless Gothic structure that we have assumed. Rather, Notre Dame has a rich and complex history that Dr. Murphy brings alive with engaging and accessible style. Although the book is subtitled A Quick Immersion, this account of the cathedral makes the reader feel as if they have had a long and abiding relationship with Notre Dame de Paris. Clifton Ellis, Associate Dean of Research & Faculty Development Elizabeth Sasser Professor of Architectural History Texas Tech University.



Dr. Murphy brings alive the rich history of Notre Dame with an engaging style that makes the reader feel as if they have had a long and abiding relationship with this wonder-filled cathedral. Clifton Ellis, Associate Dean of Research & Faculty Development Elizabeth Sasser Professor of Architectural History Texas Tech University.

 

Quotes from the book's Amazon page.