 Excellent book -- if only there were more color illustrations
Anyone who has read Jane Austen or Thackeray, or followed the adventures of Hercule Poirot, or has watched "Gosford Park," has had some exposure to the cliché of the English country house and its denizens. There were large estates in medieval times, of course, but the country estate to which the wealthy (which usually meant the titled) could escape from the city, is largely an outgrowth of Henry VIII stripping the Church of its rural properties and turning them over to those families who had supported him and to whom he owed a favor. The large houses, whether converted monasteries or purpose-built, grew in number during the Georgian era and especially in the 19th century, but the heavy taxation of the 20th century reduced their number greatly. The notion of the country house, with jowly gentlemen in dinner jackets playing billiards and bored ladies doing needlepoint on the veranda, now seems almost quaint, but there's a great deal of social history there -- much of it preserved by the large and intricate administrative systems required to run such an establishment. Girouard was both an architectural historian and a noted figure on the BBC and he does an excellent job of leading the reader through the evolution of the buildings themselves, as well as describing the lives of the family upstairs and the much larger number of staff downstairs and in the gardens and stables. The volume is heavily illustrated (mostly in black-and-white, unfortunately) with paintings, portraits, architectural plans, and photographs, and the narrative never becomes too specialized or technical. An excellent piece of work.
The evolution of the english country house and its inhabitants.
I was more interested in the beautiful pictures this book offered when I purchased it, but after reading a few pages I became completely engrossed in the ins and outs of english country house. The book begins with the medieval house and whisks the readers through centuries of changes that altered not only the country house, but those who occupied them.
Life in the English Country House offers a history of the great hall, the backstairs, the great chamber, the parlor, and many others. The book also offers a history of the people who once lived in these grand homes. You will find a history of the steward, the footman, the butler, and the gradual segregation of the country house servant.
There are also many fascinating stories that the author shares with the readers. One of my favorites was surrounding The King of of Spain's visit to the Duke of Somerset's Petworth in 1703. The King was welcome, but not by the Duke, but by Queen Anne's husband, Prince George, who showed him around the estate as if the country house was his own. The author writes that "the principal function of the duke seems to have been to pay the bills." I also enjoyed the story of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Edward Seymour's Elvethan, who the author writes nearly went bankrupt after his extravagant but politically necessary hospitality.
Life in the English Country House is not only a fascinating read, but it contains beautiful illustrations of some of England's most breathtaking country houses. Most of the pictures are in black and white, but there are quite a few in color. Whether you are doing research for a novel or just curious about english country house, this will book will educate you on the complicated history behind these beautiful historic buildings.
8 Centuries of English Country Homes & the Societies and Functions They Served.
With all that one can read and see of the impressive country homes of England's landed classes, the reasons the houses were designed as they were and the role they served is not always apparent. Architectural historian Mark Girouard addresses this critical gap in understanding in "Life in the English Country House: A Social and Architectural History", explaining whom these households comprised, how they functioned, and how their design served its purposes from the Middle Ages until World War II. Over the course of centuries, the style, nature and number of rooms changed, as did the relationships of those who occupied them, so examining the homes of the ruling classes proves to be a fascinating lesson in social history.
Girouard presents the history of the country home alongside that of its household according to era: The Medieval Household and House, The Elizabethan and Jacobean House, The Formal House 1630-1720, The Social House 1720-70, The Arrival of Informality 1770-1830, The Moral House 1830-1900, and The Indian Summer 1900-1940. One chapter digresses to recount the history of books, collections and the rooms that housed them, and another talks about the evolving technologies used to heat, light, supply water, and dispose of sewage through the ages. Included are over 200 illustrations: floor plans, photographs, and drawings in black-and-white and color. "Life in the English Country House" is a literate and enlightening history of the homes and the power that they both reflected and fostered for eight centuries.
The Archaeology of the British
This book is brilliant. It reminded me of a paleontology book where the author looks at the shells of ancient marine fossils and reconstructs their lives from the shape of the shells.
From the structure of the English Country House Girouard recreates the lives of those who lived in them. Not just the Lord and Lady but all those who lived and worked there. How many people were in this room during dinner? How did the food get to the dining area (usually a long trek. This minimized the chance the kitchen would burn the place down but mimimized the chance dinner hadn't congealed). How many people (ladies in waiting, servants, servants of servants) were sleeping in the room together in 1500, 1700 or 1890? The idea that one would actually have any privacy is a very recent concept.
A fascinating reconstruction of what life was like not just for the head of the household, but for all who lived on the estate.
Very informative
Don't be put off at first by the black and white photos. This book has some color photos, and I was at first hesitant to purchase this book because it seemed to be mostly black and white photography.
However, once I began to read this book, all thoughts about photos went out of my head! This book is informative, intelligent and thorough. The author has studied his subject very well, and writes in a clear and easy to follow manner. I really do find the floorplans to be an invaluable tool towards understanding the buildings the author is describing.
I am currently using this book as a research tool for my novel, but I did buy this book just for the love of the subject and I was not disappointed.
I would recommend this book again and again to anyone with a love of history and architecture.
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