Three Rivers (Paperback)

Robert Winder

ISBN 10: 1783969253 / ISBN 13: 9781783969258

Published by Elliott & Thompson Limited, London, 2025

About this Item

Paperback. Three of Europes greatest rivers begin in the same geological cradle: one fertile patch of high Alpine ice in the jagged heights of central Switzerland. The consequences of this small fact can hardly be overstated: taken together, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po do not simply symbolise three different cultures of Europe French, German and Italian they were the dynamo that gave them life. Between them these extraordinary waterways have not only shaped the landscape, carving out the valleys in which early humans settled, they influenced the structure of Europes societies the pattern of its towns and cities, roads and railways. They laid the foundation for its economies, creating an intricate network of agriculture and trade. And they enriched its cultural diversity: language, religion, philosophy, science, politics and art from the Romanesque buttresses and vines of Provence and the Wagnerian music of the Rhine to the spiritual and artistic miracles of Lombardy. The heart of Western European civilisation has been nourished by these waters. But while their importance is by no means diminished today, their source is. The glaciers that have filled Europes Alpine water tank for so long are vanishing fast. This is a catastrophic change, and the implication is clear: we can no longer take Europes great triumvirate of rivers for granted. Three Rivers explores the dramatic mountain landscape where this story begins, telling the story of the glaciers themselves while also meditating on the enormous cultural consequences that have (quite literally) flowed from their cold and fragile presence and how momentous would be their loss. A fascinating exploration of the rich and varied cultural worlds shaped by the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781783969258

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Three Rivers (Paperback)
• Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited, London
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1783969253
• ISBN 13: 9781783969258
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A fascinating exploration of the rich and varied cultural worlds shaped by the Rhine, the Rhone and the PoThree of Europe's greatest rivers share the same geological cradle: one fertile patch of Alpine ice in the jagged heights of central Switzerland. Coursing down through the peaks, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po gave birth to three different European cultures - French, German and Italian - as they flowed across the continent. These extraordinary waterways have shaped the landscape, carving out the valleys in which early humans settled. Their pathways have influenced the pattern of Europe's towns and cities, laid the foundation for its economies and created an intricate network of transport, trade and agriculture. From the Romanesque buttresses and vines of Provence to the Wagnerian music of the Rhine and the spiritual and artistic miracles of Lombardy, the heart of Western Europe - its languages, religion, philosophy, science, politics and art - has been nourished by these waters.