A perfect example for me of a book that fully engaged, despite it being on a subject I'd never have placed money on me reading about. The author had inherited a collection of souvenir bells from her great-grandma who had travelled the world in her seventies, for want of anything better to do, and partly inspired by that shows us the gamut of the world's bells. So we travel with her, crossing the planet and learning about temple bells in Japan weighing multiples of tons, and the most fragile-seeming Meissen handbells, and everything in between.

We start with the symbology of the bell, perhaps – what it and its sound means, and then the science – the techniques to found a cast metal one, and the tuning and playing thereof. And then we're off, being told a lot around the context for each and every bell, as well as a brief bit where relevant about the travel involved.

All of this is thoroughly and comprehensively pictorial, making this an Amber Books-styled photobook, almost, even if it has the 'Object Lessons' style of, as I say, bringing to your attention something so distantly adjacent to our everyday lives. The images can be too welcome when the writing gets a bit too deep – I failed to appreciate the Tibetan Buddhists' mandala as much as its musical companion, nor the yams and ceremonial art of Benin.

But this is a rich and interesting book throughout, on the whole. It doesn't manage to grasp a chronology, so the modern church bell we hear that is quite often automated is not mentioned, and social uses of ringing the things like the 'cancer clear' chimes that mean so much to so many people never get a look in. But I feel little need to say what is wrong about these pages and what they don't carry, for what they do is surprisingly enjoyable. A strong four stars.

Inspired by her great grandmother, Nannie Spelman Melville, and her collection of hand bells, the author has written a fascinating history of bells across the world. With wonderful photographs and illustrations, this is a hugely enjoyable insight into something I had little knowledge of. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3 resounding stars
“The stories gathered here explore this world of bells; their magic and mysticism, their political and religious power, their wide-ranging musicality, and their familiarity in our everyday lives.”

Whitehead gives the reader tons of information on making bells and general history. So much information. I personally would have liked more about bells in music and less about bells on ships, trains, reindeer, and the International Space Station. She includes a substantial amount of information on Buddha and fifteen pages on Big Ben. Whitehead has a doctorate in political theory from Princeton. Information is presented in a formal scholarly fashion. I would have preferred true stories over historical facts occasionally. She does try to make the story personal with her grandmother’s bell collection and her own travels visiting and researching bells.

I found the section on Bells of War and Peace particularly fascinating – many were melted down for metal used in armaments, and how people tried to save the ‘best,’ most historical bells.

An avid handbell ringer, I was disappointed at the minimal information on handbells.

The author would sometimes make broad statements like, “the (Liberty) bell became an important symbol of the civil rights movement.” (I grew up in that era and don’t remember anything about the Liberty Bell as a symbol of civil rights.) Some statements seem more like opinion than fact. “The Liberty Bell started as a commemorative symbol, became a symbol of protest, then an icon of achievement, and now is vivid part of the struggle to find new understandings of what liberty means for the American people.”

The book has great pictures of bells from around the world. It even lists a few websites where these bells can be heard. The end of the book lists many books, resources, recordings and videos and an index.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely stunning coffee table book with the rich golds and blacks of the cover. This one delves into the magic and mysticism of bells around their world, from their political to religious power, and their prevalence in daily life. From Tibet to Kyoto to Ancient China to Philadelphia to London to the Arctic and more – this one will have you staring in awe at the beauty of these photographs from around the world, and the music and chimes that have been the background music to centuries of history.

Wow. Absolutely spectacular!

The work that went into this book is amazing! Comprehensive research about not just iconic bells from around the world but really to the beginning of time.

My favorite is 'Bells and their Music'.

I would like to thank Net Galley and the publisher Indelible Editions for the opportunity to read and reviews this fascinating book!

This is written by a white woman and I am alway wary of a white person writing about different cultures. Now that I’ve said that, this was quite interesting and I absolutely love all the photos of bells from around the world! Beautiful!

A historical picture book on the origins and usage of bells throughout the ancient to modern world. A great look for history buffs and fantasy writers hoping to add a bell or two to their work.