Günter Endres grew up in Germany, where he studied to become a Roman Catholic priest. Although this quest remained unfulfilled, his interest in religion was undiminished and he started taking a great interest in English monasticism and its relationship to the most powerful nobles of the land, after he reached these shores some fifty-five years ago. Trained as a structural engineer, he later also became fascinated by aircraft and air transport and has written some twenty books on aviation, while also contributing to numerous magazines. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Graham Hobster is a graduate biologist, trained teacher and self-confessed technophile. His thirty five years at the chalk-face included four years each in Uganda and Dorset followed by twenty five years back in his native Derbyshire as Head of Science and one of the country's first Advanced Skills Teachers. He took his first photograph at the age of five and has maintained his enthusiasm throughout the next sixty-five years. His photographic darkroom has been replaced by digital files and he worked with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign to produce the layout for this book. Having visited most of the sites, to photograph and document them, Graham now lives in Canada, working as a freelance book designer. His photographic skills now include aerial images from his drone.
Quote from Amazon.ca verified customer: Power & Piety - The ultimate guide for seeking out the magnificent monastic houses of medieval England. Well laid out with maps and detailed descriptions to help the visitor seek out the some 900 monastic houses of UK's medieval Christendom. Having visited this area of England before, I began with volume four of the series. Through the wonderful photographs and county by county details, one becomes immersed in the rise of monasticism in the late 6th century; through the widespread destruction by the Danes, the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the final dissolution by Henry VIII in mid-16th century. Through all of this, great and modest abbeys and cathedrals were built, many destroyed and rebuilt, some just lost to time; but many magnificent buildings are still with us today. From Gloucester Cathedral that graces the cover to Lady Godiva's statue, to the magnificent wood carving of King David's father Jesse in Wales, history comes alive. If you're planning a visit to witness first-hand the living history as expressed in these wonderful structures, this book series is a must.