Newarkrsquo;s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the United Statesrsquo; greatest cathedrals and most exceptional Gothic Revival buildings. Rising from Newarkrsquo;s highest ground and visible for miles; it spectacularly evokes its historic models. Gothic Pride sets Sacred Heart in the context of American cathedral building and; blending diverse fields; accounts for the complex circumstances that produced it. Calling upon a wealth of primary sources; Brian Regan describes in a compelling narrative the cathedralrsquo;s almost century-long history. He traces the project to its origins in the late 1850s and the great expectations held by the projectrsquo;s prime moversmdash;all passionate about Gothic architecture and immensely proud of Newarkmdash;that never wavered despite numerous setbacks and challenges. Construction did not begin until 1898 and; when completed in 1954; the cathedral became New Jerseyrsquo;s largest churchmdash;and the most expensive Catholic church ever built in America. During Pope John Paul IIrsquo;s visit to the United States in 1995; he celebrated evening prayer at the Cathedral. On that occasion; the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was elevated to a basilica to become the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Meticulously researched; Gothic Pride brings to life the people who built; contributed to; and worshipped in Sacred Heart; recalling such remarkable personalities as George Hobart Doane; Jeremiah Orsquo;Rourke; Gonippo Raggi; and Archbishop Thomas Walsh. In many ways; the cathedralrsquo;s story is a lens that lets us look at the history of Newark itselfmdash;its rise as an industrial city and its urban culture in the nineteenth century; its transformation in the twentieth century; its immigrants and the profound effects of their cultures; especially their religion; on American life; and the power of architecture to serve as a symbol of community values and pride..
#4410927 in eBooks 2012-08-02 2012-08-02File Name: B00ABVT6RG
Review
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful. A Worthwile ReadBy Stephen D BenedettoIn "Plays One;" all of Frank McGuinness major plays are offered in their entirity; edited by the playwright himself. Compared to legendary Irish playwright Sean OCasey; McGuinness plays are simutaneously striking and complex; and inspire tremendous reflection within the reader. With the exception of the rather simple "Factory Girls;" the remainder of McGuinness plays included in "Plays One" are filled with layer after layer of substance; likely to inspire even the most simple and passive of readers to consider the playwrights many feasible intentions. Whether one is a scholar of Irish Literature or not; it is unlikely that anyone could be disappointed with McGuinness plays. In "Plays One;" Frank McGuinness proves that the comparisons to OCasey are not unwarranted.