Rudolf Klein's lively and insightful history fills a long-standing need for a more detailed analysis of Budapest's Dohány Street Synagogue. Klein digs deep into the social, political and religious context of the building, universally recognized as a flagship European synagogue. He shows that the great synagogue is not just an archaic curiosity. It was a trend-setting building in its time. It is still awe inspiring today, modern and exciting in its use of exotic decoration and new technologies. Klein's clear text is supplemented by his excellent photographs that fully join word to image. Prof. Samuel D. Gruber International Survey of Jewish Monuments, Syracuse, N.Y.