Angkor: An Introduction to the Temples (Angkor (Odyssey), 3rd ed)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 300 pages
• Published by: Odyssey Pubns
• Edition: 3rd Edition October 1999
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 9622176011
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-9622176010
• Book Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

National Geographic Traveler, February 2000
These handsome, well-edited books from a Hong Kong-based publisher cover places few other guidebooks go. The writers are particularly well-chosen.Odyssey fans tend to be adventurous travelers with a literary bent. If you're lucky enough to find an Odyssey Guide to where you're going, grab it.

Book Description
The great legacy of the ancient Khmer civilization, the temples of Angkor, cover an area of 77 square miles in central Cambodia. These monuments, built between the ninth and 15th centuries - the classic period of Khmer art - are unrivaled in architectural greatness. They are, undoubtedly, one of the wonders of the world, astounding in their splendor and evoking a real sense of awe. The book is divided into three sections. The first contains background information on Khmer history, religious beliefs and legends depicted on the bas-reliefs, as well as descriptions of the decorations and architectural features. The second part is a detailed, monument-by-monument guide to the sites, including detailed maps and plans, while the third has all the practical information needed by the visitor for staying and getting around in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

* great guide to one of the Wonders of the World
* Comprehensive historical and cultural background
* Detailed architectural descriptions
* Complete survey of all the temples
* Background to Khmer religious traditions
* Profusely illustrated with color photographs and temple diagrams
* Extensive bibliography

Reader Reviews
This excellent guide to the temples contains sections of introduction to Khmer architecture, art, religion, and history and then a site-by-site guide to the temples with plans, descriptions, and tips for better exploration. The book also contains highly evocative quotations from the literature of earlier travelers. The only improvement would be for the photographs to more closely illustrate the text in the introductory sections, as they do beautifully in the site guide sections. The guide prepared me extremely well for my visit, and I brought it to the sites to get more out of them -- there's a lot to see! Comment | | (Report this)