The Book of Kells (Bernard Meehan)

The Book of Kells is "an illustrated introduction to the manuscript" of the same name.  The intricately-illustrated and wonderfully-decorated original work is "a large-format manuscript codex of the Latin text of the gospels" and includes etymologies, canon tables, summaries of gospel narratives, and "prefaces characterizing the evangelists."

Considered a national Irish treasure, we know little of the "where, when, and who" of the original manuscript.  It is thought to be been written either on Iona (an island off Mull, in Scotland) or Kells in Ireland circa 800; it was certainly in existence by 1000.  Never finished, at least three artists and three scribes are believed to have spent months creating it.  Author Bernard Meehan goes over these topics and more, focusing on the work's numerous illustrated themes: Christ, the evangelists, angels, peacocks & doves, and more animals/people that dot the pages.

An example page

This introduction was good, but could have been better.  The selected illustrations were excellent and of high quality; these are why I'm keeping the book.  The text discussing the manuscript was dry and a touch too detailed to be an overview; it was easy to get lost as the author droned on.  Still, it's worth owning this just to page through the drawings and marvel and the intricacy and beauty of this Medieval work of magnificence.

Rating: B