Building of England

Dr Simon Thurley is one of the UK’s leading architectural historians. He is Chief Executive of English Heritage – the government’s principal advisor on the historic environment.

'This is a truly stupendous achievement. Thurley [...] is one of the best architectural historians alive in the world - a real scholar. [The book] is an instant classic. Every household should have one [...] This is a beautiful object, crammed with superb colour photographs and ground plans and elevations.' A. N. Wilson, Evening Standard 'This is an impressive book - for its scholarship, for its easy didacticism, for the care with which Thurley has thought things through, and for its inclusiveness. "A bicycle shed is a building; Lincoln Cathedral is a piece of architecture," said the great architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner: Thurley shows that both have a story to tell.' The Sunday Times Praise for Simon Thurley's previous books: '[...] the rarest of things - a coffee table book that is also supremely engaging to read.' Bill Bryson, The Times '[A] stupendous new work of scholarship ... it makes the history complete' Clive Aslet, Country Life 'The text is engagingly written, authoritative and lavishly produced - a revelation and a delight.' Country Life '[...] a rich evocation' History Today