Angkor: An Illustrated Guide to the Monuments
by Jean Laur
Category: Architecture

Angkor is a fascinating, mysterious site, twice the size of Paris. Protected by UNESCO as part of humanity's common heritage, it is truly unique. This new guide by Jean Laur, former Director of Monuments at the site, explores the history and significance of Angkor in great depth. It is the first scholarly work to review the site of Angkor since the 1940s. The author's great familiarity with the people and culture of Cambodia and his grasp of the Khmer language means he is perfectly situated to place the monuments in their historical, cultural, and artistic context, providing a fascinating, thoroughly documented, yet accessible guide to the individual ruins. He covers over one hundred temples in great depth, giving details of the construction methods and materials used and describing their elaborate ornamentation. The work also includes numerous maps, plans, and details of the bas reliefs and sculptures, drawn by the author himself. The guide also contains more general information on visiting Cambodia, and the history of the Khmer people and their art. As Southeast Asia in general, and Cambodia in particular, open up to visitors after decades of unrest, this guide is perfectly timed to introduce a greater understanding of the significance of this fascinating site.