The Curiosities of Heraldry

Church windows, seals and carved shields provide Mark Antony Lower with evidence for reading the past. He explains how heraldry can identify families, clarify relationships and help interpret old buildings and pictures. Written for the general reader, his account draws on old English writers, historical and biographical sketches, and wood engravings to explain the origins and meanings of armorial figures.

The book also considers the pleasure and precision of heraldic language. Lower connects familiar emblems with poetry and national feeling, then examines coats of arms granted for military service and loyalty to rulers. His judgments can be pointed: elaborate shields crowded with landscapes, large lettering and assorted figures offend his sense of good design. For readers interested in family records, medieval history or the symbolism of historic buildings, these examples offer a way to understand marks that can otherwise seem puzzling.