Angels: the beauty of silent messengers

We encounter angels everywhere - in paintings, in sculpture, in churches, in literature and in films. They are messengers, companions, protectors or guides into the hereafter, and have fascinated humankind for centuries. The idea of a personal guardian angel who watches over one's life is independent of belief in God and also independent of all religions. Angels are a symbol of the concept that we are not alone on earth, but are visited and protected. In this lovingly illustrated book, Clemens Zahn's photography brings to life moving and impressive sculptures of angels in cities throughout Europe, including Berlin, Vienna, Prague and Genoa. These images are accompanied throughout by evocative poetry by authors including Shakespeare, Keats and Blake, which serves to illuminate each sculpture's particular beauty. Cees Nooteboom's poetic essay explores how much we humans may be in need of the protection of angels in these uncertain times and, in an illuminating and entertaining afterword, Claudia Lanfranconi explains the history of angels and their significance in art, from classical antiquity to the present day