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Bernard Meehan
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The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin Paperback – February 17, 1995

by Bernard Meehan (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 302 ratings
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"Beautiful … by far the best modern short account of one of the great monuments of early Irish civilization … required reading for anyone interested in the subject."―The Irish Times

The Book of Kells is a masterpiece of medieval art―a brilliantly decorated version of the four Gospels with full-page depictions of Christ, the Virgin and the Evangelists as well as a wealth of smaller decorative painting. The strange imagination displayed in the pages, the impeccable technique and the very fine state of preservation make The Book of Kells an object of endless fascination.

This edition reproduces the most important of the fully decorated pages plus a series of enlargements showing the almost unbelievable minuteness of the detail; spiral and interlaced patterns, human and animal ornament―a combination of high seriousness and humor. The text is by Bernard Meehan, the Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College, Dublin. 110 color illustrations
Previous page
  1. Print length
    96 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thames & Hudson
  4. Publication date
    February 17, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    7.5 x 0.4 x 9.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0500277907
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0500277904
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is essentially a scholarly introduction to the Book of Kells, the ancient illuminated manuscript of the gospels housed at Trinity College in Dublin. The text is laced with 117 mostly color photographs of the book's beautifully illustrated pages. For religious and art collections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

For the fiscally conservative library, this fine, small book is an ideal substitute for the recent $18,000 facsimile of Ireland's renowned Book of Kells, the most famous of all illuminated medieval Gospels. This representation might not include all 680 illuminated pages, but it does offer 110 color illustrations, including dozens of enlargements, that permit the reader to ponder the excruciatingly complex ornamentation which makes the Book a masterpiece of Celtic interlacing. Meehan, keeper of manuscripts at Trinity College Dublin, which has housed the Book since the seventeenth century, provides erudite but direct commentary about the Book's background, its motifs and themes, and even the material from which it is constructed. Patricia Monaghan

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thames & Hudson; Second edition (February 17, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0500277907
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0500277904
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 0.4 x 9.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 302 ratings

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Bernard Meehan

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
302 global ratings
Very good.
5 Stars
Very good.
This book has just what I hoped it would: good, sufficient-sized images of the book of kells. (I'm sure the text is good too, although I have not yet had time to read it. I purchased the book mainly for the images, but my quick glance of the text proves satisfactory as well).I am VERY happy with this purchase, and would gladly recommend it.
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Top reviews from the United States

Edmond J. (Skip) O'Neill
5.0 out of 5 stars The "Poor Man's (or Woman's) Book of Kells, -- arguably, the greatest illuminated Irish Illumination, and National Treasure !
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
The Book of Kells, a masterful illuminated latin Gospel form ca. 800 AD was composed under the direction of St. Columkille of Iona [Scotland] at Kells, Ireland. I was priveleged to view the original 3 times, twice at its home in the Trinty College Library, Dblin, and once in the late '70s at the Philadelphia Museum of Art when the National Treasures of Ireland were on tour in the US. AT the Philly Museum, The Book of Kells was accompanied by armed guards. Arguably, it is one of the greatest illuminated Gospels manuscripts from the "Dark Ages," a masterful depiction of the Hiberno-Norse style. It is certainly among the top National Treasures of Ireland. A few years ago it even was the subject of an Award-winning animated film (for adults as much as children), aptly named "The Secret of Kells," How could anyone interested in art from this period and/or proud of his or her Irish heritage not want to own least a piece of this ? With this moderately priced volume almost anyone can ! Sure, there are better, more comprehensive, and expensive depictions. If you can afford those get one of them, if not, this is the very thing. I have it sitting on my piano open to an illuminated page on a late medieval knockoff book stand. Or, it's exactly right for your coffee table. This is not something designed to waste away on a bookshelf gathering dust. It's like your best pressed Sunday suit at the right price !
29 people found this helpful
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Nicholas T.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, and I mean WOWIE WHOA-HE-HO-WOW!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2023
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Just buy it!!!
One person found this helpful
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North Woods Homie
5.0 out of 5 stars Good illustrations; Good history and descriptions; easily understood
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2012
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This used book was in excellent condition; although there was an inscription in the front cover (which actually lent a charming personalization to the book) showing it had been given as a gift. The illustrations and descriptions are very good; the history is very well written - concise and easy to understand. Because we had the book, we skipped the long time to be spent at Trinity College and devoted our one day in Dublin to other attractions--The National Gallery, Archaelogical Museum, (admission to museums and the National Gallery is free) Temple Bar, the old jail, etc. Others in our group who did go to see The Book of Kells did not have the history of it and did not fully understand or appreciate what they were seeing. Therefore, if you are going to Dublin and wish to see The Book of Kells, I would suggest reading this book first to comprehend what it is all about. Our next visit to Dublin will include a visit to Trinity College to view The Book of Kells.
2 people found this helpful
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R. M. Peterson
4.0 out of 5 stars A sumptuously illustrated, and affordable, introduction to one of the treasures of the western world
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2013
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On an upcoming trip to Ireland, I plan to see whatever I am allowed to see of the Book of Kells at the library of Trinity College in Dublin. I fear that it will be as sterile and remote as seeing the Gutenberg Bible under glass at the Library of Congress, although there might be a tad more zing given that the Book of Kells is illuminated. In any event, in preparation for the experience I bought and read THE BOOK OF KELLS by Bernard Meehan.

The illustrations are sumptuous. (There are 117 of them, 110 in color.) They certainly whet my anticipation, and I suspect they give me better and closer access to the Book of Kells than I will get in person. Bernard Meehan's text does not quite measure up to the illustrations. Meehan, the current Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College Dublin, certainly is knowledgeable. But his text assumes that the reader already has more knowledge about pre-medieval illuminated manuscripts than at least this reader in fact had, and it is a little on the dry side. I learned a lot from it, but I had to work harder than I think I ought to have had to work in an introductory work. Still, Meehan's BOOK OF KELLS is a more affordable simulacrum of what the 11th-century Annals of Ulster called "the most precious object of the western world" than was the compete facsimile edition published in Switzerland in 1990, which carried a retail price of $18,000.
14 people found this helpful
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Joseph Bloch
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, quality paper for bright reproduction of illustrations.
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
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The book is quality, with beautiful reproductions of the art work, and the accompanying text is very helpful. There is one caveat, however, and that is the packaging. Apparently my copy passed through some rain and since the packaging was only unprotected cardboard, it was soaked through and starting to come apart. Luckily the book inside was only a bit damp and with some drying was rescued. Obviously this book must be shipped in some sort of waterproof envelope such as UPS and FEDEX use.
4 people found this helpful
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Matt N
5.0 out of 5 stars Medieval manuscript art at its peak
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
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Along with the Lindisfarne Gospel, this ranks as perhaps the most beautiful piece of medieval era writing and artistry ever found. While not a page by page reproduction, the full-page, full-color portraits show the Book of Kells at it's finest. The illumination, range of colors, intricate designs and carefully woven religious symbolism bring the dark ages back to life as you turn the pages. Some pages exhibit almost impossible levels of detail for the time in which they were written, though I think they would be a worthy challenge for even modern tools and expert calligraphers to reproduce. In short, well worth the price and a fascinating piece of history.
23 people found this helpful
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Gram's Hugs
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful birthday Gift
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2010
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My husband and I just came back from Ireland. While there, we visited the Book of Kells but I didn't have enough time to visit the book store. I decided to look into Amazon and when I saw the Book of Kells I couldn't wait to get it. It was a gift for my son who is very involved with calligraphy and the fine art. When he received the book, he was so excited. He loves the book and the art work. The ease of purchase and the delivery time was 5 stars. I highly recommend this book.
2 people found this helpful
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carneye
5.0 out of 5 stars Bernard Meehan's "The Book of Kells (etc.)" -- Wonderful study of detailed, portable visuals w/accompaying histiory
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2013
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117 illustrations, 110 in color. Published in '94 in USA, Bernard Meehan was (is?) "the current Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College Dublin". It truly does give a "scholarly analysis of these exuberant inventions, the artists, the text and the writing, and a full account of the historical background to the miraculous world of the Book of Kells". Necessary if you're studying Kells. Lovely if you're just looking. Interesting if you're tired of watching nonsense on television. A joy if you love to swim in the rhythms of the interlocking lines and swirls, and wonder what daydream created them.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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terry
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely photos
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2024
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Very nicely produced book, lovely illustrations, nice pick up and browse book. Also helpful reference book.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in Canada on May 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
A really lovely work with illustrations of the most prominent pages of the Book of Kells, as well as numerous detail images. Until someone produces an inexpensive replica of the original, this is a good way to get a feel for the great book.
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Jose Renato Coury
4.0 out of 5 stars Boa introducao
Reviewed in Brazil on July 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
Bastante objetivo. Cumpre a função de informar o necessário ao curioso sobre o assunto. Recomendo como introdução. O preço condiz.
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P.B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Jahrtausendwerk
Reviewed in Germany on January 12, 2018
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Die berühmteste und schönste Handschrift des Mittelalters. Da im Trinity College in Dumblin immer nur eine Seite gezeigt wird, ist hier mehr zu sehen und, mit. Klugen Texten kommentiert, auch viel über dieses Jahrtausendwerk zu erfahren. Es gibt auch eine Version in deutscher Sprache, hat Amazon wohl auch
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Juan Manuel Cantera Maortua
4.0 out of 5 stars THE BOOK OF KELLS
Reviewed in Spain on May 13, 2017
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THE BOOK OF KELLS.El libro es de segunda mano pero como ya se anunciaba esta en perfecto estado.Es un libro iluminado irlandés muy interesante predecesor de muchos aspectos del románico
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