The National Trust: Historic Houses of Britain
This fascinating volume intertwines the history of 30 of Britain's most notable country homes with stories of their architects and owners and the prevailing architectural rage of the time. Bequeathed to the National Trust, these homes have mostly survived and now serve as a glimpse into bygone eras. An introductory chapter focuses on the history of the National Trust and its policy to preserve, restore, interpret, and present these magnificent homes to the public. Each of the five remaining chapters surveys a different style and period of building spanning the years 1250 to 1930. The striking illustrations successfully blend exterior and interior photographs, sketches, designs, paintings, and watercolors, and a gazetteer of National Trust historic houses with brief descriptions and bibliographic references concludes the text. The endpapers are maps showing the location of these National Trust homes in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. This volume of architectural treasures would make a welcome addition to any collection.- Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson CityCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.