- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd; New edition edition (16 July 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0500282994
- ISBN-13: 978-0500282991
- Product Dimensions: 28.8 x 23.2 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
305,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Middle East > Syria
- See Complete Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Captures the essence of the place and pins it to the printed page. Vivid, perceptive and entertaining, Damascus looks set to become a standard introduction to this most intriguing and ancient of cities' - William Dalrymple 'A handsome and long overdue tribute to one of the most fascinating of Islamic cities' - Colin Thubron 'Excellent... a feast of a volume' - The Sunday Times
Product Description
Damascus, reputed to be the oldest continually inhabited city on earth, has enjoyed eras of immense power, and great cultural and artistic achievement. Alongside some of the most magnificent architecture in the Islamic world, such as the Umayyad Mosque, the city can also boast a heritage of fairytale palaces and sumptuous private houses now threatened by neglect. This book sets out to record these architectural gems and to raise the awareness of the outside world to the plight of the Old City of Damascus before it is too late. The authors were given unprecedented access to the "hidden" city in order to complete the task. The text describes Damascus through the ages, gives an account of daily life and concludes with descriptions of the houses and the people who built and lived in them.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a rare opportunity to see inside some of Damscus' most beautiful buildings, with complex histories stretching back many centuries. Having lived in this still vibrant and bustling city, I've seen a few of the best known of the buildings in this book. This book's real selling point, however, is its access to houses that the average student or tourist has little hope of seeing unless fortunate enough to meet the families that live in them. The accompanying text also strikes the right balance between historical depth and sheer readability with a blend of history, anecdote and explanation. It also ties in well to the beautiful photography, meaning there is not much in the way of flipping back and forth. Highly recommended.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having lived in Damascus, there are better guidebooks but few books that compare with Ms Keenan's and bring Damascus alive in the way that it deserves. This author gained exceptional access to the hidden corners of this historic city, whose real splendours are the old houses, not its museums or monuments. Full of gems.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book after having read Brigid Keenan's excellent book about her life as a diplomat's wife, and from a sense of perhaps having lived in Damascus in a previous life! I was not disappointed-the book is beautifully illustrated with wonderful photographs and very easily-read text. There is a lot of background history, which makes you understand a lot more about what is happening today in the middle east and at the same time strikes a note of poignancy and sadness at the lost world within this area.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
wonderful book
This is a wonderful book about a magical city. Superb photos of stunning architecture, and a fascinating reflection of the history, heritage and beauty of a great Arab capital... Read more
Published 7 months ago by br1anstorm
Hidden Treasures of Damascus
This book is absolutely is stunning. The photo's of the homes and artifacts, past and the present, make it well worth having.
Published 15 months ago by Alan Jones
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
