By Bob Tedder • “Westminster Abbey” by Trevor Beeson is another in a series of little books perfectly suited for coffee shop perusal. The book’s 63 pages are graced with 96 gorgeous, full-color photographs. Considering the images were made inside a poorly lit cathedral, they still meet if not exceed the National Geographic standard for photojournalism. They are accompanied by an explanatory narrative that bolsters but never intrudes. Although perfect for its imagery alone, those who chose to follow the narrative – your reviewer included – will enjoy discovering many tasteful, hidden nuggets of historical trivia.
Nonetheless, the book does have flaws. And it is appropriate to initially delineate these minor detractors. The publisher manages a duo of minor annoyances. The table of contents is on page 63 and there is no overall floor plan for the cathedral. The latter – especially for those who do not know their nave from their apse – renders an illustration captioned, “The South Transept” architecturally moot. Finally, the book is dated; the Stone of Scone was officially returned to Scotland in 1995, and the book’s illustrated royal wedding of Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips has been eclipsed by far more notable and recent royal nuptials.
After listing an entire paragraph of faults, a potential reader would not necessarily be blamed for ignoring this book. However, doing so would be the reader’s loss. The quality of the photographs has already been lauded but it is the careful editorial selection of subject matter that makes them even more noteworthy. If you fancy you may count the jewels on the full-page picture of the coronation crown or catch a glimpse of the Stone of Scone under the coronation throne. Incidentally, the depth of field on that previously mentioned south transept is amazing.
Finally, if you do choose to read the narrative there are some interesting bits of nuanced history which produce wondering smiles. I now know the origin of the phrase “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” So, while you’re looking at Queen Elizabeth’s tomb (on page 29), read the page and join those of us in the know. This task marries well with a cup of delicious coffee.