The scope of this festschrift, and the calibre of those who have contributed to it, bear striking testimony to Professor Eric Fernie’s stature in the field of architectural history. His career and publications – neither of which, curiously, are anywhere set out in this volume – took him from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, to Edinburgh and finally to London as Director of the Courtauld Institute. Both in the context of these appointments and during his retirement he has published extensively, with a particular focus on the subject of the Romanesque. In their prefatory comments many of the contributors also make apparent their debt to Professor Fernie as an inspiring teacher. His ability to illustrate ideas memorably in the lecture theatre is specifically recalled in the introduction to one essay: a comparison he made between the sculpture by Gislebertus at Autun and a Peanuts cartoon.

This is such a varied series of essays that it is difficult to claim any obvious overarching themes or approaches that draw the whole volume together. Indeed, it feels like a concession to the fact that the whole volume of twenty-one essays is divided into three sections. The first, which follows a summary introduction, is entitled ‘Incitements to Interpret in Late Antique and Medieval Architecture’. There follows ‘Authors and Intentions’ and, finally, ‘Architecture Beyond Building’. These are not arbitrary divisions, but the essays in each section span an impressive spectrum of material. It is pointless to list each contribution in a review of this kind, but turn to the index and even the first text column gives some flavour of the varied subjects, themes, periods and cultures discussed. There appear in it Aachen, ‘Abd al-Malik, Adalbert, Áed, King of Uì Dróna, Agen (Lot-et-Garonne), Alberti, Alpirsbach (Germany), Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, al-Jazuli, Amsoldigen, Amsterdam, Apelles and Yasir Arafat.

The contents of the book could also be read as a snapshot of the state of architectural history at the present moment. In this respect, a positive reading of the essays would emphasise the spectrum of methodological approaches reflected in the essays. The empirical study of buildings and their fabric is well represented here, for example, with the discussion of particular buildings and building types from barrel-vaulted churches in late medieval Scotland to the facades of baroque Roman churches. There is, however, also apparent in these essays a willingness to embrace more theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches. In these latter respects John Onions’s essay on ‘neuroarchaeology and the origins of architecture’ is particularly intriguing. To a quite startling degree its fascinating analysis stands or falls on the reader’s reception of its premises. Lastly, the geographical scope of the volume, spanning the Mediterranean and Europe, is impressive. Overall, it is inspiring to see the confident treatment of such disparate material in one volume.

There is to my mind, however, one niggling concern with the overarching picture of the discipline that this volume presents. It is the absence of the proselytising voice. Reading this volume, I find it impossible to forget that medieval architectural history is fighting for its survival as a university subject. It would be absurd to expect this festschrift to be aimed at a general audience, but I feel it is ultimately a volume that will find a professional and specialist readership that picks out individual essays according to their needs. That is ironic when so many of the contributors were themselves so impressed by Eric Fernie’s inspiring teaching, and his ability to articulate complex ideas to a varied audience. But then, to my certain knowledge, many of the contributors themselves have passed on the flame to students of their own in the seminar room and lecture theatre. This book will not recruit a new generation of architectural historians, but it is to be hoped that its authors can.