This Very Short Introduction presents an original and engaging overview of the architecture of Britain, from medieval times to the present day, exploring key aspects of British architecture that endure across time. It also highlights the ways in which architecture can project national and regional identities.
Dana Arnold Book order






- 2024
- 2020
Architecture and Ekphrasis
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
This well-illustrated, accessibly written book examines how eighteenth-century prints and drawings of antique architecture operated as representations of thought. Combining original archival material with cultural theory, the book considers the idea of the past and the role of space and time in the visual ekphrasis or description of its architecture. -- .
- 2016
Von den frühesten Höhlenmalereien bis hin zur heutigen Ästhetik: Dieser kleine Band vollbringt auf knapp 200 Seiten ein gar nicht kleines Wunder. Unterhaltsam und leicht verständlich erzählt, eröffnet er interessierten Laien wie auch Kennern zahlreiche neue Erkenntnisse über Kunst und ihre Geschichte. Dana Arnold orientiert sich in ihrem essayistischen Text an Meilensteinen der Kunstgeschichte, richtet ihren Blick dabei aber weniger auf eine chronologische Abfolge als auf inhaltliche Bezüge, verbindende Themen, Motive und Perspektiven – und das quer hinweg über Epochen, Medien und Genres. So ergibt sich ein Gedankenaustausch über die zentralen Fragen der Kunst: Was sehen wir in Kunst? Was drücken wir mit ihr aus? Mit welchen Mitteln geschieht dies, und wie haben sich diese über die Zeit entwickelt? Nicht nur die Hauptwerke europäischer Malerei stehen dabei im Fokus, sondern auch Kunst aus anderen Teilen der Welt. Eine kluge, erfrischende Lektüre, die Kunstgeschichte greifbar und verständlich macht.
- 2015
A short book about art
- 192 pages
- 7 hours of reading
"Illuminating and lively, this book provides authoritative answers to the key questions about how art is made, interpreted and displayed. Deliberately avoiding unnecessary jargon, A Short Book About Art offers an unusually accessible route to new ways of thinking about the creative drive of individual artists and their relationships with their work. It includes fresh comparisons between works of art from different periods and cultures, from cave paintings to contemporary multi-media work. Thought-provoking and stimulating, it is the ideal companion for anyone who wants to learn about art without a dictionary in their hands." -- Publisher's description.
- 2013
The Spaces of the Hospital
Spatiality and Urban Change in London 1680-1820
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Focusing on the period from 1680 to 1820, this book examines how hospitals in London served as pivotal agents of change, shaping urban life and healthcare practices. It delves into the architectural, social, and cultural dimensions of these institutions, highlighting their influence on public health and the development of medical knowledge during a transformative era. Through an in-depth analysis, it reveals the complex relationship between hospitals and the communities they served.
- 2006
Focusing on a transformative era in early 19th-century London, this book explores the city's ambitious efforts to evolve into a modern European capital. It delves into the social, political, and architectural changes that characterized this intensive period of development, highlighting the challenges and successes faced by the metropolis during its modernization. The narrative provides a unique perspective on how these efforts shaped London's identity and set the stage for its future growth.
- 2004
Art History: A Very Short Introduction
- 144 pages
- 6 hours of reading
This clear and concise new introduction examines all the major debates and issues using a wide range of well-known examples. Importantly, this book explains how the traditional emphasis on periods and styles originates in western art production and can obscure other approaches, as well as art from non-western cultures.
- 2003
Tracing Architecture
- 160 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Tracing Architecture examines the influence of ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and British architecture on aesthetic attitudes and design. It addresses the evolving relationship between text and image before mass reproduction and explores how print facilitated the discovery of antiquity in the long eighteenth century within a pan-European context.
- 2002
Reading Architectural History
- 248 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Focusing on essential texts from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the book explores pivotal themes and methods in architectural history, particularly in Britain. It pairs these primary texts with philosophical and theoretical writings that delve into abstract issues, creating a comprehensive analysis. Each section includes an introduction and discursive essays, fostering a trans-disciplinary dialogue that enriches the understanding of architectural history as a field of study.
- 1980
The country house was the focal point of Georgian architecture, landscape and society. Illustrations, showing exteriors, interiors and landscapes of houses ranging from Blenheim and Harewood to lesser known examples such as A la Ronde, provide a thorough historical and visual survey of the period.

