This beautiful, oversize (8.75x21.75<">) volume is filled with full-page color and some b&w plates in the superb quality typical of Abrams' publications. The plates feature exterior and interior views of the cathedrals and details of their sculpture, mosaic, and stained glass. The prejudice in favor of French monuments is avoided here, where cathedrals in France, England, Spain, Italy, and the former Holy Roman Empire are equally represented by between five and eight cathedrals each. The entry for each cathedral, written by Schütz (architectural history, U. of Munich, Germany), gives the history of construction and describes the architecture in formal terms. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)