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Title details for The Story of the Country House by Clive Aslet - Available

The Story of the Country House

A History of Places and People

by Clive Aslet
Simon Vance
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
The fascinating story of the evolution of the country house in Britain, from its Roman precursors to the present
The Story of the Country House is an authoritative and vivid account of the British country house, exploring how they have evolved with the changing political and economic landscape. Clive Aslet reveals the captivating stories behind individual houses, their architects, and occupants, and paints a vivid picture of the wider context in which the country house in Britain flourished and subsequently fell into decline before enjoying a renaissance in the twenty-first century. The genesis, style, and purpose of architectural masterpieces such as Hardwick Hall, Hatfield House, and Chatsworth are explored, alongside the numerous country houses lost to war and economic decline. We also meet a cavalcade of characters, owners with all their dynastic obsessions and diverse sources of wealth, and architects such as Inigo Jones, Sir John Vanbrugh, Robert Adam, Sir John Soane and A. W. N. Pugin, who dazzled or in some cases outraged their contemporaries. The Story of the Country House takes a fresh look at this enduringly popular building type, exploring why it continues to hold such fascination for us today.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 30, 2021

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781666173857
      • File size: 238465 KB
      • Duration: 08:16:48

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Simon Vance's orotund delivery and thoughtful pacing perfectly suit Clive Aslet's noteworthy examination of the phenomenon and history of the English country house. Of interest to anyone who enjoys hearing about history and the oddities of the English upper classes, the audiobook takes listeners through the time from the Roman Britons to the hunting lodges of the Middle Ages to the heyday of the early twentieth century and up to today. The story is full of geniuses and crackpots, astronomical sums of money, clever solutions to intractable problems, over-the-top design, and history that troubles as well as enchants--for many homes were funded by the profits of slavery. Vance keeps the story flowing without rushing and characterizes the protagonists without getting in the way. Altogether a pleasure. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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