Roel Jacobs

This seemed to provide an insight into the history of Bruges and its buildings. Clearly the author is thoroughly versed in all the history, the locations and the key families to Bruges several contortions. Without a doubt there is so much more to Bruges than the cheap easy paraphrase that serves in the guide books. It proved a struggle not to get in all the author's easy but so detailed unravelling's of succeeding families and redevelopment or renovations of buildings he was so readily familiar with. To do him justice I now need to go back, book and map in hand to acquaint myself with all the twist and turns then fix the building, street or canal in my mind before the evolving history of the place gets fixed in my mind. So yes I found it hard to track the changing fortunes of key building, institutions, or the families, or guilds that supported them. I certainly did not take away a comprehensive overview.
Having said that the book was a revelation! I did get a clear insight into how Bruges a key city in mediaeval trade lost its way, became very conservative then clung onto to a building style other cities left behind. I only persevered because, even more than that, I began to glimmer an understanding of mediaeval life with its trade between countries, the ups and downs of the trade depending on rival Sovereigns or religious fortunes and the networks of merchants with their foreign outposts. It revealed this new undercurrent of entrepreneurs of their times, following the money, trying to make money off the money then buying and brandishing status symbols when successful.
So yes an insight into Bruges not for the first time visitor but for those already easily familiar with their way around. With that background then an expose of the complexities of merchant life that breathes life and meaning into all the familiar landmark buildings. A pity there was not more substance on the evolution of the conservative building codes nor more help in fixing places in their times. Too much detail in the end confused the well and easily told story.… (mer)