Arranged in alphabetical order by country, this is a guide to 83 of the world's great cathedrals, which are described in detail and illustrated with colour photographs and cut-away drawings. An introduction discusses the history of cathedral-building and what motivated the builders, and there are five double-page-spread cut-away features on St Paul's, Notre-Dame, Cologne Cathedral, St Peter's and St Sophia's. Side panels give historical details and additional information on architects and clerics associated with the cathedrals, and an overview of cathedral architecture examines the influence on particular styles, such as Gothic.