In 1904, American writer Henry Adams wrote a book called "Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres" about the shift in architectural styles from the 11th century to the 14th. In several recent studies, photographer Richard Nilsen has illustrated some of the themes of Adams' book with images of not only Chartres and Mt. St. Michel, but of many of the other cathedrals, basilicas and churches of northern France, with a personal text describing the sites and explaining the architectural principles involved.