The Rhine : culture and landscape at the heart of Europe /

Categorizing this handsome volume presents a challenge. While definitely an excellent pretrip resource for those planning a visit to Germany along the Rhine River, it is also a complete and scholarly treatment of the art, architecture, history, landscape, and geography of the Rhine, from its origins in Switzerland to its final destination at the Rhine delta in Holland. Recht (art history, Marc-Bloch Univ., Strasbourg) starts with a discursive history of the development of the culture along the Rhine and also offers a useful discussion of the Rhine's place in European and especially British imagination. He then discusses main historical attractions along the Rhine in such cities as Strasbourg, Colmar, Cologne, Worms, and Heidelberg. The magnificent color photographs of the landscape, artworks, statuary, churches, cathedrals, and castles document the rich legacy of the area. Ancillary materials include excellent indexes of people and places, ground plans for the main churches and cathedrals described, and comprehensive maps. Definitely recommended for larger art history or travel collections as well as collections specializing in German culture and history. Olga B. Wise, Compaq Computer Corp., Austin, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.