A ring of spectacular cemeteries, developed at the edges of London in the decade from 1832, have long been referred to as The Magnificent Seven. At the time, they set a new aesthetic for the burial of the dead, and remain rich in social history and beauty to this day. It was entrepreneurs, rather than the religious authorities, who responded to the squalor of the City's brimming churchyards by fi nancing seemly, hygienic concepts of burial in the rural outskirts, now embraced by inner London. The Seven became showcases for neoclassical and neo-Gothic architecture, matched by splendid - sometimes eccentric - memorials recording Victorian society, and the sweep of London's history to the present day. From grand Kensal Green in the west to modest Tower Hamlets in the east; from heady Highgate to charming Norwood and Nunhead; and from the military influences of Brompton to the Non-conformist woodland of Abney Park - a host of characters and stories are visited in this distinctive coverage of the subject.

Following Spains democratic transition during the late 1970s, political and business elites strategically exploited Spains rich Islamic heritage in order to further projects of national redefinition, tourist promotion, and urban revitalisation. Large and ornate mosques were built in several Spanish regions, and the State granted Muslim communities an extensive array of rights and privileges that was arguably without parallel in Europe. Toward the onset of the 21st century, however, tensions surrounding Islams growing presence in Spain became increasingly common, especially in the northeastern region of Catalonia. These tensions centered largely around the presence, or proposed establishment, of mosques in Barcelona and its greater metropolitan area. This book examines how Islam went from being an aspect of Spains national heritage to be recovered and commemorated to a pressing social problem to be managed and controlled. It traces the events and developments that gave rise to this transformation, the diverse actors involved in the process, and the manner in which disputes over Muslim incorporation have become entangled with deeply-divisive debates over church-state relations and territorial autonomy. The core of the book centres on the shifting political and social dynamics surrounding the establishment of mosques, and the question of why anti-mosque mobilisations have been more prevalent and intense in Catalonia than other Spanish regions.

The assault on Samarra, which was built in the period of the Abbasid caliphate in the ninth century CE, therefore came to represent for many a symbol of the destructive civil conflict which engulfed Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion. The Shi'a of Samarra explores and analyses the cultural, architectural and political heritage of the Shi'a in both Samarra and the Middle East, thus highlighting how this city functions as a microcosm for the contentious issues and debates which remain at the forefront of efforts to rebuild the modern Iraqi state. Its examination of the socio-political context of the Shi'a/Sunni divide provides important insights for students and researchers working on the history and politics of Iraq and the Middle East, as well as those interested in the art and architecture of the Islamic world.

Norwich is blessed with more surviving medieval churches than any other city north of the Alps. Architect David Luckhurst worked in the city for more than 40 years before turning to painting and drawing in his retirement, and many buildings he designed are to be seen there. This high-quality paperback reproduces his 32 paintings of Norwich's medieval churches (including the lone surviving tower of the bombed St Benedict), with an emphasis on their street setting. Each painting is accompanied by David's handwritten notes on the surrounding buildings and how the church interacts with them. The book is completed by David's hand-drawn map showing the location of each church and his pen drawing of their combined towers.

The ancient cathedral was the pinnacle of medieval society's spiritual and cultural life employing the best designers, artists, craftsmen and materials that available money could buy. They developed into enclaves of worship, learning, hospitality, art, music, agriculture and medicine in an often chaotic and violent outside world. A change of religion, rulers and constitution has meant they have constantly been rebuilt and altered throughout their 1,700 year history. Many will be overwhelmed by their size and beauty, baffled by their layout and symbolism. They may well ask: Why were they built here and what is so special about the site? Who were the patrons and organizations that commissioned their building? How did they raise the finance to build them? What was the purpose of a cathedral and why were they so big? Where did the design ideas come from and who were the designers? How was it built and by whom? How has it changed over the years and is it still used today? This book aims to answer these and many other frequently asked questions. Overriding themes will cover English history, architecture, building technology and religion, all written in plain English with any specialist terms being fully explained in the glossary. The book includes contemporary accounts of building work at Canterbury and Ely cathedrals, the laying of the first stone at Salisbury Cathedral, the damage done to the cathedrals, abbeys and monasteries by the Reformation and the Puritans following their victory in the English Civil Wars. There are portraits of some of the key-figures in our narrative: the working lives, wealth and training of the monks, bishops, priors, master masons and other craftsmen.