The Book of Kells, Ireland's greatest national art treasure, is an illuminated manuscript that presents a Latin translation of the Four Gospels and their Preliminaries in a lush majuscule script accompanied by a dazzling array of decorative ornamentation, iconography and illustration. The book is named after the Abbey of Kells in County Meath, Ireland where it is believed most of its pages were created by monks associated with the monastic order of St. Columba in the late eighth to early ninth centuries. This edition has the benefit of a clear and authoritative introduction by Charles Gidley that provides the reader with background and context and the tools necessary to enter into this strange and magical world. Over fifty of the most striking pages are meticulously reproduced at full size to show the depth of color and intricacy of design.