Kim Kardashian is seen on February 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Team GT/GC Images)

Abbey Clancy attends Warner Music Brits after party on February 22, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by FameFlynet)

TV host/blogger Louise Roe attends The Weinstein Company's Academy Awards viewing and after party in partnership with Grey Goose at TAO Los Angeles at TAO Hollywood on February 26, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)

American actress and model Megan Fox nearly busts out of red silk bra as she celebrates 35th birthday with boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly in Santa Monica, California on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

While communism, collectivism, worms, dry rot and casual looting failed to destroy the majestic wooden churches of Russia, it may be ordinary neglect that finally does them in. Dwindled now to several hundred remaining examples, these glories of vernacular architecture lie scattered amid the vastness of the world’s largest country. Just over a decade ago, Richard Davies, a British architectural photographer, struck out on a mission to record the fragile and poetic structures. Austerely beautiful and haunting, “Wooden Churches: Traveling in the Russian North” (White Sea Publishing; $132) is the result. Covering thousands of miles, Mr. Davies described how he and the writer Matilda Moreton tracked down the survivors from among the thousands of onion-domed structures built after Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity in 988.

Emily Ratajkowski sun bathes at Paradise Cove in Malibu, CA on March 9, 2017. Emily showed off her stunning figure in a white bikini and large sunhat. She sipped beer as she relaxed with her boyfriend Jeff Magid. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

British model and UK Love Island's star India Reynolds attends the boohooMAN Dinner to celebrate the launch of BoohooMAN collaboration with Tommy Fury at Sushisamba City in London, England on September 2, 2019. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

American plus-size model and television presenter Ashley Graham is seen outside the today show on October 30, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)