Great Houses of London

The title truly speaks for the contents of this attractive book. It is large,very well bound and documents over 40 houses across London. Each house is given 4-6 pages with a brief text at the beginning summarizing the history and architectural significance of each one of them. The photos are the true star of this book, and it is generously loaded with hundreds of large bright color photographs showing the immaculate architectural details and rich interiors, all the houses get 1-2 external views as well. Most of the houses chosen rarely appeared before and the photos are specially commissioned for this book making it a beautiful addition to any architecture library and would also make a stunning coffee-table book.

Having been to London twice in my life, I often went by regal homes, and tidy facades, wondering what was inside. This volume takes you there. Of the many houses featured, there is ample text to explain the provenance of the place, and the photography is as outstanding as the magnificance of the architecture, the extreme detail, and the sheer beauty of staircases, dining rooms, drawing rooms and libraries. After looking at this book, you understand completely why Churchill was so adamant that he would not preside over the decline of the British Empire. Remove from your mind the ideas of property taxes and maintenance and simply enjoy what is presented in this wonderful work. The small purchase price of this great work is nothing in significance to the treats that will unfold before you. Highly recommend.

The country homes of England overshadow their London cousins, the author of this book tell us. That is a relatively new phenomena as the great London houses used to be more well-known and important in the centuries before. James Stourton, the chairman of Sotheby's, opens the door on over 40 houses discussing their architecture, history and occupants. Unlike their country counterparts, these great London homes, haven't had the continuity of ownership and use. Most of them have succumbed to adaptation and change becoming clubs, hotels, museums, embassies and offices. Unfortunately, many great London homes succumbed to the London blitz during WWII and were lost to us. Those which remain are worth preserving. Stourton takes us on a chatty tour. We get to visit Spencer House, 10 Downing Street, Robert Adam's 20 St. James Square and Home House among others. The author describes how he was inspired to write this book: "This book is about three things: houses, architects and owners. The idea of writing it came to me one spring morning while walking through Green Park. At the eastern edge my eye roamed from Wimborne House down past Spencer House to Bridgewater House, Warwick House, Stornoway House, Lancaster House, and at the northern fringes to Coventry and Egremont, some more famous than others. How strange that there was no book that described them in their present circumstances. Their country cousins have consumed all the light and each year another book comes out which follows the same well-worn path....This is a reversal of the position in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when London houses were generally better known than country houses." Six to eight pages are devoted to each house, with about two pages of text and four to six pages of lustrous photos of the houses by famed international photographer Fritz von der Schulenburg. If you enjoy English architecture, London, English history, then you should find this book of interest. The book is quality with thick pages and excellent color. It is a lively read of over 300 pages.

Have not seen the majority of these mansions and never the interiors. This book balances out the many devoted to homes of the English countryside. Excellent photographs and historical information. Delivery was two days earlier than quoted.

Great pictures of the interiors and exteriors of many London mansions and former palaces. Each great house or mansion is accompanied by a history of the house and how it came to be built, who the various owners were over the years, and in most cases how the houses are being used today.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because there's not a lot of information out there about this subject, and it makes a nice addition. The positive aspect of this book is that it has many large color photos of the houses, and, in some cases, their interiors. On the downside, it is mostly a picture book, so don't expect to see any architectural drawings or plans.

Lovely photographs; just what I expected. Clear photos, good text, a joy to look through; looks good on the coffee table.

I loved this book and the history that it conveys--it's just breathtaking. The photos are absolutely marvelous with incredible attention to detail. I will enjoy this book for years to come.

MUY BUEN LIBRO CON BUENAS FOTOGRAFÍAS, EXPLICACIONES E HISTORIA DE GRANDES CASAS DE LONDRES. MUY RECOMENDABLE Y A UN PRECIO MUY ASEQUIBLE.

I had great expectations about this book, they weren't disappointed. Over 40 of London's most beautiful palaces, mansions and town houses in a 300+ page book. Great paper quality, excellent photos, a must for any exterior and interior architecture lover and discerning connoisseur of London.

Ein außergewöhnlich schöner, informativer und hochwertiger Bildband. Die Pressestimmen in der Produktinformation sind wirklich zutreffend, was ja nicht immer der Fall ist. Ein weiterer London-Besuch wird nun noch interessanter. Vielen Gebäuden sieht man von außen nicht an, was sich dahinter verbirgt. Es ist ein wunderbarer Einblick in die Geschichte und Architektur der Häuser, verbunden mit Geschichten zu den Erbauern/Besitzern/Bewohnern/Nutzern. Ein Buch, das man immer wieder gern zur Hand nimmt. Das alles zu einem wirklich angemessenem Preis.

Beautiful photography and detailed, concise information about the various properties contained within it s pages. This is lovely to give and receive. I bought it as a gift but would be so pleased to own a copy myself. Urges one to seek the houses out and explore these truly extraordinary houses in our great capital city.

Especially the text gives a lot of Information and - together with the good photos - a very good insight into these houses you usually will not be able to look at.