Cities and People: A Social and Architectural History
Girouard, author of a dozen well-re ceived books on English architecture, here is concerned with Western cities from the Middle Ages to the present. He aims to show why selected cities grew and developed as they did, with first a potted history of the revival of urban life, then discussions of the great preindustrial cities, and finally a consideration of industry (Manches ter), suburbs (London), and the sky scraper. Although Girouard writes well, his subject is too broad and the treatment too episodic for the book to amount to much, even at an introduc tory level. The author provides exposi tion, but no synthesis. Only for com prehensive collections, or where Girouard's name will create a de mand. Jack Perry Brown, Art Int. of Chicago Libs.Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.