Civilisation

Kenneth Clark has used his masterly knowledge and understanding of the arts of Western Civilisation to describe and appraise its creative achievements.

'He convincingly makes the case for the development of European art and architecture since the end of the Roman Empire as the foundations on which modern Western society rests'

Combines great learning with a shrewd mind, a wonderful eye and an admirable generosity of taste ... again and again he compels us to look at some more or less familiar work of art and see it afresh.

He is without equal

One of the too few living authors who tempt me to use superlatives, and also the best for making his profound feeling for the arts contagious. The book glows with excitement for us general readers.

'The most famous art historian of his generation'

'Civilisation is an improving text, even after 35 years'