The Craftsman and the Critic: Defining Usefulness and Beauty in Arts and Crafts-Era Boston
This is a study of the history of ideas as well as the history of a style, a study of criticism as well as form, and as such will have a long shelf-life.... Thoroughly researched and written with clarity, this book will be an indispensable reference work.(James. F. O'Gorman, American Architects and Their Books, 1840--1915)A welcome addition to the literature of the movement, as it reminds us forcefully that the Arts and Crafts movement promoted not a style, but an attitude.... The book will...attract readers interested not only in Boston's cultural history but also in the broader narrative of design reform in the nineteenth century.... Brandt, having gathered an impressive array of materials, has helped pin down an elusive subject. Readers of The Craftsman and the Critic will be able to return to this valuable resource repeatedly.(New England Quarterly)Brandt offers a welcome contribution to the literature that provides and in-depth sociocultural examination of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Boston.... (She) brings to light in detail the close ties between England and Boston that gave the Boston movement its distinctive aura among American centers.... Recommended.(Choice)This long-awaited study investigates the interrelationships between design critics and the craftspeople belonging to the Society of Arts and Crafts in the turn-of-the-century Boston.... This outstanding analysis and understandable presentation provides a sophisticated appreciation of the Arts and Crafts movement.(Style 1900 Magazine)Brandt offers a welcome contribution to the literature that provides an in-depth sociocultural examination of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Boston.... Brandt brings to light in detail the close ties between England and Boston that gave the Boston movement its distinctive aura among American centers.... Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above.(Choice)50 Must Read Must Have Books for 2013: This book places emphasis upon the Arts & Crafts Movement, stresses trans-disciplinary collaboration, an important concept in today's practice and education while relating the quest for 'Usefulness' and 'Beauty' to timeless values, which continue to inspire architects, designers, students, and clients today.(International Federation of Interior Architects/ Designers)