I have long standing connections with the city of Oxford, so I could not resist this book. It is just beautiful and is a great mix of history and detailed illustrations. It is organised as a timeline of the city, so you learn about Oxford and its origins and changes through the years.

If you are interested in architecture and historic buildings the book captures some fabulous images and details which will be instantly recognisable to residents and visitors alike. My favourite images have to be the Radcliffe Camera which is just stunning by day or night. The illustration of Trinity gates is also noteworthy. This is a book you can browse and it will make you want to walk the city to look at some of the interesting details it has picked up.

Both a coffee table browsing book and one to read from cover to cover!

When I think of Oxford, i imagine the “dreaming spires”…Dorothy Sayers (Gaudy Night)…C.S. Lewis…Morse (and his Lewis)and more. Oxford is a place that conjures images in people’s minds.

Whether a person has been to Oxford and wants to go back virtually, wants to know more of its history, or just wants to explore the city virtually for fun, this book is a good resource.

Rice covers the history of Oxford beginning with monastic Oxford (up to 1536) and makes his way to the era of Modern Oxford (1945 to now). He also looks at hotels, streets, houses and more.

The illustrations and maps in this book make it a completely enjoyable experience for book lovers. There are so many and they are just lovely. It can be tempting to look at the art and skip the text but that would be a mistake.

I highly recommend this title to anyone who has an affinity with Oxford. They are sure to enjoy it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

An informative look at the architectural history of Oxford, paired with illustrations of buildings and some close-up design. I liked that the book was light on text, providing just enough context to get a general overview of the forces that have shaped Oxford's aesthetic. But the handwriting-style script used to caption the illustrations was rather difficult to read.

I’ve never been to Oxford, but I was very curious to “travel” by proxy and learn a few things about its architecture. Overall, the font size and formatting style don’t make it very user-friendly for a digital read, so I would surely enjoy the text more in a paper version. As for the style of the illustrations, I liked the retro ambiance at first, but it took on an “austere” look that I didn’t particularly enjoy all the way through. I think it might be better appreciated by people who trained in the craft.
I do think this book would especially appeal to fellow architects or big architecture enthusiasts, because it can get very detailed (like the tiny elements of ionic columns or the history behind specific stone carvings). If you’re into this kind of specific knowledge, then you’ll enjoy it. If you’re looking for a broader perspective, it might get a bit tedious and boring.

"Discover Oxford, one of the jewels of European architecture. Much loved and much visited, the city offers an unparalleled collection of the best of English building through the centuries.

Matthew Rice's Oxford is a feast of delightful watercolour illustrations and an informed and witty text, explaining how the city came into being and what to look out for today.

While the focus is on architectural detail, Rice describes how the city has been shaped by its history, topography and geology, but most of all by generations of patrons who had the education and the resources to commission work from the greatest architects and builders of their day, an astonishing range of which still stands.

Ranging from the medieval to the contemporary, the book covers all the iconic buildings, such as the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre and the college quads, as well as the distinctive details that you might otherwise miss.

More than anywhere else in England, it is possible in Oxford to take in the history of English architecture simply by walking today's streets, lanes, parks and meadows. This book is the perfect guide."

I have been wanting this book for ages and even contemplated ordering from abroad, but now, thankfully, it's finally available stateside.

Beautifully illustrated in Rice's trademark watercolours, this book takes the reader on a tour of Oxford's fascinating architectural history. From the time when Oxford comprised 900 monastic buildings to recent years and the advent of the much maligned Westgate, each stace is accompanied by examples you can see while out and about in the city.

Oxford by Matthew Rice is, as others have said, a delightful historical read about Oxford. It is filled with pencil and watercolor illustrations and covers the period from 1536 to the present. The introduction was a pleasure to read and quite informative by itself. I've never been to Oxford, and this book makes me want to call a travel agent. Plenty of illustrations and details of the monastic institutions are pleasing to the eye. I do wish he had used the watercolors on the nature scenes. The only negative thing about this book is a bit of cursive handwriting next to the illustrations. It's not horrid writing, but it does take a touch of concentration. This tome would fit nicely as a table book.

A charming read with very charming illustrations about the historical architecture of Oxford. Whether you've been to Oxford or not, this will surely make you want to book a city break to visit it ASAP.

As a current Oxford University student, it was so fun to see places I walk past everyday in watercolour form. The paintings in this book were absolutely stunning and I was impressed by how much of the city and university the author managed to capture. I did find there was quite a lot of text and it was quite dense in places so I did skim read but the illustrations more than made up for it.

This was a great read and I could definitely see myself picking up again in the future for a sense of nostalgia.

On the one hand, I decided after reading this that I needed to go to Oxford, even going so far as to price tickets on the train and the London to Oxford tube (how cool is that?) This book has all the history and architecture you need to have a great trip. On the other hand, I wanted at least a few photos to get perspective on what it will actually be like. The most interesting thing to me, that I'd never thought about, was how much isn't associated with the university. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

A gorgeously rendered and delightful illustrated history of the architecture of Oxford.

If you’re familiar with the town and the university you’ll recognize pretty much every building featured here, though the illustrations are wonderful regardless, and Rice zeroes in on many intriguing details that you may not have noticed previously. The book would also be a terrific way to get to know the architecture of Oxford.

It’s a good blend of history and some more technical architectural content, and the illustrations are both abundant and gorgeously done. If only Rice would choose to tackle the interior architecture of the university’s structures as his next project!

There is little doubt that Oxford is one of England's most popular tourist destinations. In this beautiful book, the author takes us to the city to learn about its history and architecture. The book is a delightful guide that presents the history of the city in a readable, clear and not overwhelming way. Reading it, I learned a lot of fascinating facts that I didn't know before. I particularly liked the chapter on 'The Battle of the Styles', which covers my favourite period of the 19th century. I was very interested in the mention of the Oxford Movement.
The historical narrative is enhanced by beautiful watercolour illustrations. I am impressed by the attention to detail in these illustrations. I particularly liked the one of the Bodleian Library (page 88) and the buildings of Georgian Oxford - especially the Radcliffe Observatory (pages 112-113).
I don't know Oxford well enough, having only been there once. Reading Matthew Rice's book made me want to go back. I highly recommend it to all fans of urban history and architecture.

Oxford by Matthew Rice is a gorgeous and insightful visual study of the city of Oxford. This is a city I know very well and as such was absolutely mesmerised by the beautiful watercolours and pencil sketches within.

My favourite image was that of St Pauls Walton St which reflects two era's1836 and modern day. The painting is wonderfully juxtaposed and reflects the change in the use of the building from day to night, from pious endeavours to celebrations

It the beginning of every chapter, the reader is treated to a very well researched history that is concise and intelligent. This complements the beautifully handwritten notes onn many of the illustrations

This book is absolutely delightful. If you have never been to Oxford, you will love it, if you are of Oxford, you will adore the heart and soul of the images. If you just enjoy art and architecture, you will love, love this book. Stunning

Thank you very much to Netgalley, Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, Frances Lincoln, and the authorMatthew Rice for this stunning and informative ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

As I'm not an expert Oxfordian here, you're the master--so I'm just enjoying whatever is served on the page as someone who could only dream of Oxford & the closest I can get is watching youtube about it. So I'll get to the reading experience. I wish the font was slightly bigger? I need to scrunch my eyes a bit & zoom in to be very clear, especially that the content is very packed. Now, the illustrations are lovely & perfectly detailed, and though a lot of the notes are in raw handwriting, I find it easy to read still. Overall, thank you for this digital copy that I thoroughly enjoy!

A lovely, informative book that may not appear that spectacular until you realize how much time and work it would require to actually draw all of these buildings, facades and walls. The author takes you for a walk among historic constructions, churches and houses and gives you a fun history lesson on the away, along with curious tidbits on art and architecture. And he drew it all by hand! Absolutely marvelous! And I love his style and attention to detail. Even a quick browse through the illustrations is fun.
The only problem I have is the handwriting – it was difficult to read for me, and I can't imagine a person with dyslexia deciphering it. I believe that in such publications it's better to use a font that resembles handwriting.

Charming illustrations and interesting asides. This lovely, whimsical romp through Oxford took me right back to my student days.