This book gives you a century by century history of Salisbury Cathedral from the time of William the Conqueror in 1066 to nowadays. It’s very detailed and official. Even the Foreward is penned by the Bishop of Salisbury. But what I find most compelling are the color photographs of the Cathedral as well as the floor plans and maps, including photos of the stained glass windows. It gives you the feel of taking a tour of the chief Gothic Cathedral in England and perhaps in all of Europe with the famous spire that also makes it the tallest medieval cathedral. It inspires me to recall my visit this past July 13 on a shore excursion when I looked up towards the arches that reminded me of hands raised in prayer.
P.S. Salisbury Cathedral seems to grow out of the setting of the New Forest itself. For windy, twisty roads in the south of England have trees that form arches over the highway so that you never know what you will see around the next bend. The gorse bushes give you an eerie feeling that someone is watching you. And someone is! Those yellow eyes peering out from the bushes are the wild ponies that you see everywhere along the road. The Cathedral, the Forest, and indeed the town of Salisbury itself with its narrow roads, dark looming skies, and many Elizabethan style buildings all remind me of a Gothic novel!
Added to Facebook review: I've never seen anything that felt more Gothic than Salisbury Cathedral. I"ve never been anywhere that looked more Gothic than the south of England this past summer.