Gabriele Hasmann

This got two stars from me because the pictures are good. They deserve to be with a much better text. The text itself is boring. There are factual problems. ( For example, Paris was not a Greek God, as claimed on page 123, but a human prince.) I really can't be bothered to check everything on Google, therefore cannot trust anything she writes.

If you're going to throw a book together which is just a lot of unconnected trivia, at least get the trivia right. This is the second book I have tried to read by this author with the same problem.

If this was really intended as an invitation to visit some of the places mentioned, a few maps would be necessary.… (more)

Rather a mishmash. Some information WRONG (New testament/ Stauros for cross is Greek, not Hebrew). There is a long bit on various 'Free mason' signs in the Cathedral from long before the Free masons. The symbols are there, but to make a big mysterious thing about them is questionable.

This book is also not usable as a guide in any way, because you have to know Stephansdom rather well to know what they are actually refering to. A map or two showing the various things they talk about would be in order. It is well illustrated, although some of the pictures are reproduced too small to actually see what is being refered to.

Still, there are a lot of nice little tidbits I hadn't known and legends I hadn't heard.… (more)