Jaan Whitehead has been researching and collecting bells for over twenty-five years. She graduated from Wellesley College with a major in economics, has a M. A. in economics from the University of Michigan, and a Ph. D in political theory from Princeton University. In recent years, she has been working in the theater world and is the co-editor of The Art of Governance: Boards in the Performing Arts, as well as several articles about theater in the American culture. She lives in New York City.

“[Whitehead’s] passion and enthusiasm for bells of all types is marvelously infectious. At the same time, it is a movingly personal work, connecting Whitehead through her travels and collecting with her remarkable great-grandmother. The stories in the book are charming, educational, accessible, and universal. It will make you begin to appreciate the myriad of bells that surround us in our daily lives.” —Jayson Kerr Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge, Department of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art"This wonderful book is eloquently written and beautifully illustrated with stories of bells. Whether made of copper and tin, china or glass, these simple musical instruments are woven into the history and culture of peoples all over the world. Jaan's love of bells make this a personal story as well as a captivating travel book.  And, I did not know there was a bell in space! A joy to read."—Mark Regan, former Ringing Master, Worcester Cathedral, England“Beautifully illustrated, impressively informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented.” —Midwest Book ReviewA beautiful book compiling what bells mean in the history of humans." —The Advocate

• Contents Introduction Part I The World of Bells The History and Culture of Bells Bells and their Music Part II The Bells of Asia and Africa Journey to China: The Zeng Bells The Buddha is Calling: The Temple Bells of Kyoto Ringing the Mandala: The Sacred Bells of Tibet Turning Art into Power: The Bells of Benin Part III The Bells of Britain Visiting Iona: Scotland’s “Sacred Isle” Calling the Changes: St. Mary-le-Bow Creating an Icon: Big Ben Part IV The Bells of Europe and Russia Playing the Carillon: The “Singing Towers” Remembering: The Bells of War and Peace Ringing the Zvon: The Bells of Russia Following the Reindeer: Arctic Norway Part V The Bells of America Witness to History: The Liberty Bell America’s Bells: Trains, Cable Cars, and Circus Wagons Bells Beneath the Sea: The Fitzgerald and the Erebus Bells in Space: The International Space Station Afterword Acknowledgements References

Jaan Whitehead has been researching and collecting bells for over twenty-five years. She graduated from Wellesley College with a major in economics, has a M. A. in economics from the University of Michigan, and a Ph. D in political theory from Princeton University. In recent years, she has been working in the theater world and is the co-editor of The Art of Governance: Boards in the Performing Arts, as well as several articles about theater in the American culture. She lives in New York City.

“[Whitehead’s] passion and enthusiasm for bells of all types is marvelously infectious. At the same time, it is a movingly personal work, connecting Whitehead through her travels and collecting with her remarkable great-grandmother. The stories in the book are charming, educational, accessible, and universal. It will make you begin to appreciate the myriad of bells that surround us in our daily lives.” —Jayson Kerr Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge, Department of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art"This wonderful book is eloquently written and beautifully illustrated with stories of bells. Whether made of copper and tin, china or glass, these simple musical instruments are woven into the history and culture of peoples all over the world. Jaan's love of bells make this a personal story as well as a captivating travel book.  And, I did not know there was a bell in space! A joy to read."—Mark Regan, former Ringing Master, Worcester Cathedral, England“Beautifully illustrated, impressively informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented.” —Midwest Book ReviewA beautiful book compiling what bells mean in the history of humans." —The Advocate

• Contents Introduction Part I The World of Bells The History and Culture of Bells Bells and their Music Part II The Bells of Asia and Africa Journey to China: The Zeng Bells The Buddha is Calling: The Temple Bells of Kyoto Ringing the Mandala: The Sacred Bells of Tibet Turning Art into Power: The Bells of Benin Part III The Bells of Britain Visiting Iona: Scotland’s “Sacred Isle” Calling the Changes: St. Mary-le-Bow Creating an Icon: Big Ben Part IV The Bells of Europe and Russia Playing the Carillon: The “Singing Towers” Remembering: The Bells of War and Peace Ringing the Zvon: The Bells of Russia Following the Reindeer: Arctic Norway Part V The Bells of America Witness to History: The Liberty Bell America’s Bells: Trains, Cable Cars, and Circus Wagons Bells Beneath the Sea: The Fitzgerald and the Erebus Bells in Space: The International Space Station Afterword Acknowledgements References

Jaan Whitehead has been researching and collecting bells for over twenty-five years. She graduated from Wellesley College with a major in economics, has a M. A. in economics from the University of Michigan, and a Ph. D in political theory from Princeton University. In recent years, she has been working in the theater world and is the co-editor of The Art of Governance: Boards in the Performing Arts, as well as several articles about theater in the American culture. She lives in New York City.

“[Whitehead’s] passion and enthusiasm for bells of all types is marvelously infectious. At the same time, it is a movingly personal work, connecting Whitehead through her travels and collecting with her remarkable great-grandmother. The stories in the book are charming, educational, accessible, and universal. It will make you begin to appreciate the myriad of bells that surround us in our daily lives.” —Jayson Kerr Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge, Department of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art"This wonderful book is eloquently written and beautifully illustrated with stories of bells. Whether made of copper and tin, china or glass, these simple musical instruments are woven into the history and culture of peoples all over the world. Jaan's love of bells make this a personal story as well as a captivating travel book.  And, I did not know there was a bell in space! A joy to read."—Mark Regan, former Ringing Master, Worcester Cathedral, England“Beautifully illustrated, impressively informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented.” —Midwest Book ReviewA beautiful book compiling what bells mean in the history of humans." —The Advocate

• Contents Introduction Part I The World of Bells The History and Culture of Bells Bells and their Music Part II The Bells of Asia and Africa Journey to China: The Zeng Bells The Buddha is Calling: The Temple Bells of Kyoto Ringing the Mandala: The Sacred Bells of Tibet Turning Art into Power: The Bells of Benin Part III The Bells of Britain Visiting Iona: Scotland’s “Sacred Isle” Calling the Changes: St. Mary-le-Bow Creating an Icon: Big Ben Part IV The Bells of Europe and Russia Playing the Carillon: The “Singing Towers” Remembering: The Bells of War and Peace Ringing the Zvon: The Bells of Russia Following the Reindeer: Arctic Norway Part V The Bells of America Witness to History: The Liberty Bell America’s Bells: Trains, Cable Cars, and Circus Wagons Bells Beneath the Sea: The Fitzgerald and the Erebus Bells in Space: The International Space Station Afterword Acknowledgements References