The guide to Lotus HAL Book

This book is an excellent overview of a rarely-addressed aspect of medieval art. Alongside the obvious religious symbolism, medieval art and architecture is full of quirky little details that are still a mystery to modern viewers. From the clever to the off-color, Benton does a wonderful job of describing all the various types of medieval wit and humor, including their contexts, possible interpretations, and geographical areas of appearance. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in medieval architecture, folklore, and symbolism. The existence and nebulous meanings of these little decorative details are difficult to fathom and certainly invite questions about how much we really understand the medieval European mindset. My only criticism is that I wish there were a few more photos and that some were of slightly better quality.