Ruskin, O Ruskin, how oft I find
Thy languid musings echo in my mind! ( )

This is an abridged version, edited by JG Links, which comes in at just under 250 pages compared to the original's twelve hundred or more (three volumes of around 400 pages each). Each of the original volumes is represented here in three divisions of this book, though much compressed.
The first part of this edition provides the introduction to architecture, which is very useful if like me, the reader is lacking a proper understanding of the fundamentals. This section is both interesting and easy to follow, and familiarises the reader with the knowledge, understanding, and vocabulary required for the following chapters. This includes the function and structure of foundations, walls, buttresses, arches, cornices etc, as well the varieties and virtues of their corresponding types in the different architectural styles.
The second part of the book then deals with the nature of Byzantine architecture, and examples of it at Torcello and St Marks in Venice. After this we are introduced to Gothic architecture, and the Ducal Palace in Venice is discussed at length. We are told about the history of these types of architecture, their defining characteristics, and aesthetic merits. The third and final part of the book concerns Renaissance architecture, and its corruption. Ruskin quite clearly favours the Gothic, and his passion for this is quite persuasive and backed up by both practical, social, and aesthetic arguments.
While this edition serves as an excellent introduction to architecture, especially the Gothic which Ruskin enthuses over, much of the original book is left out with it being only around a fifth of the size. For those specifically wanting to learn about Venetian architecture, only Torcello, St Marks, and the Ducal (Doge's) palace are discussed at length. Having looked at the contents of the unabridged edition, there are a greater number of illustrations, as well as sections on the Venetian island of Murano, balconies, and other Byzantine and Gothic palaces in Venice, which are all left out of this edition.
However, though much is left out of the original, what is left is a highly readable literary venture into architecture, that is far less imposing than the large original version. Though it was written over 150 years ago, there is much to recommend this book to anyone with a passing interest in art, architecture, Venice, aesthetics, or just good literature in general. ( )

As a non-architect, I enjoyed some aspects of this book, but frankly, it can't be abridged enough. ( )