Places in Jordan by Francis Russell
In this compact guide, the erudite and highly readable Francis Russell describes fifty-two places in Jordan, following an itinerary that allows the independent sightseer to see as many major monuments in their proper contexts as is practical in a limited time. Best known for the astonishing Petra, carved out of rock by the Nabateans, the territory has seen many former rulers. From the Romans whose desert forts long protected the urban civilization represented so splendidly at Jerash to their Byzantine successors whose mosaics at Madaba and elsewhere still testify to their brilliance, from the Umayyads of Damascus, builders of remarkable desert palaces, to the Crusaders who controlled their Oultre Jourdaine from Karak and Montreal, many of the major sites of Jordan have been spared intrusive development and it is still possible for a visitor to see through the eyes of early travelers like T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell. Russell's easy and elegant ability to share with the reader his knowledge of Jordan's history, geography and culture makes the book, like his earlier ones on Italy, Turkey and Syria 'a labour of love, a passionate commitment to mood, to the chance remnants of history, architecture and craft. It returns to us the animating purpose of travel: to arrive, to look, to contemplate and to learn' (Country Life).Like all the best guides Russell draws out connections for the amateur to see
Francis Russell was born in 1949 and educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford. Since 1972, he has worked at Christie's. He has been associated, as a selector or cataloguer, with a number of exibitions, including Treasure Houses of Britain (Washington, The National Gallery of Art, 1985-1986). He contributes for specialised review to 'Apollo' and 'The Burlington Magazine', and has written Portraits of Sir Walter Scott (1987), John, 3rd Earl of Bute, Patron and Collector (2004) and 52 Italian Places: A Pocket Grand Tour (2007).
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780711232693 |
| ISBN 10 | 0711232695 |
| Title | Places in Jordan |
| Author | Francis Russell |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Quarto Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2012-02-02 |
| Number of pages | 224 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |