Life in an English Country House
KeskusteluFolio Society Devotees
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1RRCBS
I was wondering if anyone has read this book? Is it more a reference book, or a book you read from start to finish?
2English-bookseller
It is wonderful book written by one of the best social/architectural historians.
Reviewers had this to say:
This best-selling book is a beautifully illustrated history of the English country house from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. In it, renowned architectural historian Mark Girouard presents a rare and revealing glimpse of the English upper classes―their public and personal lives, their servants, and their homes. "A deeply important book, one of the most interesting contributions to architectural history."―J. H. Plumb, The New York Review of Books "A survey of country houses through the past five centuries, from a broad range of materials: family archives, literature, plans and photographs.... The book itself is a physical artifact of surpassing beauty which could fit on the grandest table in the houses it describes."―David Hackett Fischer, The New Republic "Informative, balanced, knowledgeable, and witty."―The New Yorker "This enthralling and immensely informative book...tells with wit, scholarship, and lucidity how the country house evolved to meet the needs and reflect the social attitudes of the times."―Philip Ziegler, The Times "One of those very useful and very enjoyable books that the learned can seldom write, and the entertaining seldom achieve―clear, detailed, and witty."―Angus Wilson, The Observer Winner of the 1978 Duff Cooper Memorial Prize and the W. H. Smith & Son Annual Literary Award for 1979.
Reviewers had this to say:
This best-selling book is a beautifully illustrated history of the English country house from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. In it, renowned architectural historian Mark Girouard presents a rare and revealing glimpse of the English upper classes―their public and personal lives, their servants, and their homes. "A deeply important book, one of the most interesting contributions to architectural history."―J. H. Plumb, The New York Review of Books "A survey of country houses through the past five centuries, from a broad range of materials: family archives, literature, plans and photographs.... The book itself is a physical artifact of surpassing beauty which could fit on the grandest table in the houses it describes."―David Hackett Fischer, The New Republic "Informative, balanced, knowledgeable, and witty."―The New Yorker "This enthralling and immensely informative book...tells with wit, scholarship, and lucidity how the country house evolved to meet the needs and reflect the social attitudes of the times."―Philip Ziegler, The Times "One of those very useful and very enjoyable books that the learned can seldom write, and the entertaining seldom achieve―clear, detailed, and witty."―Angus Wilson, The Observer Winner of the 1978 Duff Cooper Memorial Prize and the W. H. Smith & Son Annual Literary Award for 1979.
3wcarter
I concur, it is a very readable book full of interesting stories. Not dry at all, but still could be used as a reference for some lovely old houses, one of which (Audley End) I knew quite well decades ago when I lived nearby.
5LondonLawyer
It’s an excellent read and a beautiful edition. Highly recommend!
6jsg1976
I very much enjoyed this book when I read it earlier this year, and came across this article in the New Yorker, which I also found interesting, and thought I’d share in case others who enjoyed the book would find the article interesting as well.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/23/britains-idyllic-country-houses-re...
(This is an article that relates to the topic of the book, not the book itself, so apologies if this is against the rules)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/23/britains-idyllic-country-houses-re...
(This is an article that relates to the topic of the book, not the book itself, so apologies if this is against the rules)
7woodstock8786
Thank you to the topic creator and the others!
I have been thinking about ordering this one for some time now. The price tag is a bit steep for not knowing if the book is worth reading, but I think I will go forward now and order it.
>6 jsg1976: Thank you for the article! That was a very interesting read!
