I have always been enthralled with Oxford. Even as a teenager, I would imagine what it would be like to be a student there. The history, the buildings, the libraries, and all the people! Unfortunately, I was too afraid to leave the Midwest, cross the Atlantic and take a chance on an Oxford education. But now that I'm retired, it's on my bucket list!
The author has awakened the dreamer in me. His telling of the history, the stories, and the buildings sounds fascinating. And the illustrations are fantastic.
If, like me, you're a dreamer and romantic, you'll really enjoy this book!

This is such a fun, pretty book!

I really enjoyed learning more about Oxford and the history of its stunning architecture. The illustrations were beautiful and brought back the wonder of seeing the place in person.

My only complaint is that the introductions and handwritten notes were often hard to read due to run-on sentences, fragments, and missing words.

I still recommend this to anyone who wants to look at lovely illustrations of Oxford though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for an ARC.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

This is a very niche book: it focuses on the architecture of Oxford—the University and the city—providing context in the way of historical influences on the choices made in different eras.

There are numerous detailed, colored drawings of many buildings, and a few sketched maps; this book is predominantly illustrations. It’s well down but probably too detailed and esoteric for a general audience.

What fun! If you've visited Oxford or lived there for a season, you'll love this book of paintings and information. Or, if you're a tourist and ready to explore the treasures of the city, pick up a copy.

It's a unique look at the architecture and history of a beautiful part of England. Combined art and words have always been part of this university town - enjoy a fresh look.

i lived in oxford for 3 years before i moved back up to scotland and i miss the beautiful city! i'm always telling people how lovely it is and how beautiful the buildings are. also due to my job i knew the city better than anywhere else i've been and i really loved reading about the history of the buildings. the illustrations were so lovely as well

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

Although I did find the writing hard to read on my tablet and hurt my eyes, what I did read was fascinating and well written

The illusion is amazing. The cover art is what caught my attention, and I'm glad it did. I shall go look for an actual page turning copy of Oxford so I can educate myself a bit more.

I originally thought to read this because CS Lewis’s and J.R.R. Tolkien’s (former Oxford professors) works have been a profound influence in my life.

I’m probably a bit of a different reader type for this, considering that I’ve not been able to visit Oxford (it’s on my list of things to do when my family and I take our first visit to England), so seeing the buildings that are so familiar to some was a new experience for me.

This book was a delight - the watercolor paintings and pencil sketches are gorgeous and full of life. As I read a PDF of this, I did have a difficult time with the size of the font ( I imagine the size in the book will be easier to read) but the writing is rich with history.

A wonderful coffee table book, perfect for Oxford lovers, Anglophiles, architecture appreciators, and armchair historians.



Thank you to Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for the DRC

A stunning visual feast telling the story of Oxford. Matthew Rice’s illustration portrays the sights of Oxford in his own distinctive style and results in a fascinating and immersive experience.
I would not hesitate in recommending this book to anyone interested in art, design, architecture or Oxford.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to view this.

Really loved this - lots of cool information that I would have never come across if not for this book. Really delves into the "little things" that make oxford so remarkable. Highly recommend. I would say it was quite difficult to read as an e-book, but I imagine it would work wonderfully in print.

I’ve never been to Oxford but I’ve always wanted to. I’ve heard of and (digitally) seen the beautiful buildings and the rich history and architecture and it was nice to view the city through the eyes of this book.

It covers a great mix of old and more modern, breaking down eras into sections and heading each chapter with a few pages of writing followed by images. And can I just say, the artwork in the book was absolutely STUNNING. It was so easy just to stall on the pages and just appreciate the beauty of the art.

I think it will mean more to those who have been and know Oxford and can see places they recognise within the pages but still a wonderful little flow through for those wanting to see and know more about the place. It’s so rich in history!

It’s very easy to flick through or read from cover to cover. A great read for any lover or student of Oxford.

This book is a delight for anyone with even a small interest in the buildings of Oxford.

Filled with Matthew’s trademark watercolour paintings that many of us are so used to seeing over our morning cup of tea, all types of architecture are represented-whether he likes them or not!

Personally I would have liked slightly more text/information to accompany the hand-written notes, but the art speaks volumes.

With thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group.

I received a free copy of, Oxford, by Matthew Rice, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a good book for Oxford lovers. This book has beautiful pictures and information on Oxford. All the rich history of Oxford is explored.

I have long standing connections with the city of Oxford, so I could not resist this book. It is just beautiful and is a great mix of history and detailed illustrations. It is organised as a timeline of the city, so you learn about Oxford and its origins and changes through the years.

If you are interested in architecture and historic buildings the book captures some fabulous images and details which will be instantly recognisable to residents and visitors alike. My favourite images have to be the Radcliffe Camera which is just stunning by day or night. The illustration of Trinity gates is also noteworthy. This is a book you can browse and it will make you want to walk the city to look at some of the interesting details it has picked up.

Both a coffee table browsing book and one to read from cover to cover!

When I think of Oxford, i imagine the “dreaming spires”…Dorothy Sayers (Gaudy Night)…C.S. Lewis…Morse (and his Lewis)and more. Oxford is a place that conjures images in people’s minds.

Whether a person has been to Oxford and wants to go back virtually, wants to know more of its history, or just wants to explore the city virtually for fun, this book is a good resource.

Rice covers the history of Oxford beginning with monastic Oxford (up to 1536) and makes his way to the era of Modern Oxford (1945 to now). He also looks at hotels, streets, houses and more.

The illustrations and maps in this book make it a completely enjoyable experience for book lovers. There are so many and they are just lovely. It can be tempting to look at the art and skip the text but that would be a mistake.

I highly recommend this title to anyone who has an affinity with Oxford. They are sure to enjoy it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

An informative look at the architectural history of Oxford, paired with illustrations of buildings and some close-up design. I liked that the book was light on text, providing just enough context to get a general overview of the forces that have shaped Oxford's aesthetic. But the handwriting-style script used to caption the illustrations was rather difficult to read.

I’ve never been to Oxford, but I was very curious to “travel” by proxy and learn a few things about its architecture. Overall, the font size and formatting style don’t make it very user-friendly for a digital read, so I would surely enjoy the text more in a paper version. As for the style of the illustrations, I liked the retro ambiance at first, but it took on an “austere” look that I didn’t particularly enjoy all the way through. I think it might be better appreciated by people who trained in the craft.
I do think this book would especially appeal to fellow architects or big architecture enthusiasts, because it can get very detailed (like the tiny elements of ionic columns or the history behind specific stone carvings). If you’re into this kind of specific knowledge, then you’ll enjoy it. If you’re looking for a broader perspective, it might get a bit tedious and boring.

"Discover Oxford, one of the jewels of European architecture. Much loved and much visited, the city offers an unparalleled collection of the best of English building through the centuries.

Matthew Rice's Oxford is a feast of delightful watercolour illustrations and an informed and witty text, explaining how the city came into being and what to look out for today.

While the focus is on architectural detail, Rice describes how the city has been shaped by its history, topography and geology, but most of all by generations of patrons who had the education and the resources to commission work from the greatest architects and builders of their day, an astonishing range of which still stands.

Ranging from the medieval to the contemporary, the book covers all the iconic buildings, such as the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre and the college quads, as well as the distinctive details that you might otherwise miss.

More than anywhere else in England, it is possible in Oxford to take in the history of English architecture simply by walking today's streets, lanes, parks and meadows. This book is the perfect guide."

I have been wanting this book for ages and even contemplated ordering from abroad, but now, thankfully, it's finally available stateside.

Beautifully illustrated in Rice's trademark watercolours, this book takes the reader on a tour of Oxford's fascinating architectural history. From the time when Oxford comprised 900 monastic buildings to recent years and the advent of the much maligned Westgate, each stace is accompanied by examples you can see while out and about in the city.

Oxford by Matthew Rice is, as others have said, a delightful historical read about Oxford. It is filled with pencil and watercolor illustrations and covers the period from 1536 to the present. The introduction was a pleasure to read and quite informative by itself. I've never been to Oxford, and this book makes me want to call a travel agent. Plenty of illustrations and details of the monastic institutions are pleasing to the eye. I do wish he had used the watercolors on the nature scenes. The only negative thing about this book is a bit of cursive handwriting next to the illustrations. It's not horrid writing, but it does take a touch of concentration. This tome would fit nicely as a table book.

A charming read with very charming illustrations about the historical architecture of Oxford. Whether you've been to Oxford or not, this will surely make you want to book a city break to visit it ASAP.