Alnwick Castle: The Home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland - Hardcover

James McDonald

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0711232377 ISBN 13: 9780711232372

Publisher: Frances Lincoln, 2012

Synopsis

Alnwick Castle is at the heart of Northumberland, England's most northerly county, a land filled with ancient market towns, golden beaches, moorland, and the remains of Hadrian's Wall. This imposing medieval castle sits by the River Aln on the edge of Alnwick town overlooking a landscape by Capability Brown. The home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, Alnwick Castle has belonged to the Percy family for over seven centuries. One of the largest inhabited castles in Britain, it is also visited by hundreds of thousands of people every summer. Some visitors are intrigued by the staterooms, some because the castle was used as 'Hogwarts' in the first two Harry Potter movies: very few until now have seen the private rooms.
With unique access to both the castle and the Percy family archives, and the full cooperation of the Duke and Duchess, their staff, builders and interior designers, James McDonald takes the reader on a tour of twenty-first century castle living. He goes behind the scenes to talk to those who help make the castle function as a home for a modern family, and he visits both the extraordinary garden and the surrounding Hulne park. While describing the changes each generation of Dukes and Duchesses has bought, above all this is the story of Jane Northumberland, who since becoming Duchess in 1995 has remade the private side and has renovated the state rooms, blending English country house style with the existing Italianate grandeur.
Illustrated with archive pictures and over 200 new photographs of both public and private rooms, this sumptuous book is a revealing portrait of one of the world's great castles, its magnificent recent restoration, and the people who live and work here.

About this title

About the Author:

James McDonald is British, lives in London and is a freelance photographer and writer, and a contributor to leading interior magazines such as Vogue Living, House and Garden and The World of Interiors. He studied interior design in Cape Town before returning to London to work in public relations. He changed careers to study photography, practicing on the Duke of Northumberland's Syon House in London, and secured his first commission with World of Interiors in 2009. McDonald has made private books for royal families in the Middle East, but this is his first public book. His latest work can be seen in Alidad: The Timeless Home, published by Rizzoli, October 2013.  

Review:

'This attractive book follows the well-established format of the genre, a galloping history followed by a room guide. The talented photographer, James McDonald, is also the author and he writes a lively text.'

Quote from Duchess: "it has been well researched, is very well written and the stunning photographs do the castle justice"

A sumptuous armchair visit to Alnwick Castle lavishly illustrated with photographs of the State rooms and the private rooms.

One of the largest inhabited castles in Britain, Alnwick has been the residence of the Percy family for over seven centuries and this history and guide, enhanced by excellent photography, describes the changes that each generation of Dukes and Duchesses has brought

Features an array of grandiose images that explore one of Britain's most historic and famouse castles

ÿ

This is an attractive, enjoyable account

'This attractive book follows the well-established format of the genre, a galloping history followed by a room guide. The talented photographer, James McDonald, is also the author and he writes a lively text.'

This is an attractive, enjoyable account

A sumptuous armchair visit to Alnwick Castle lavishly illustrated with photographs of the State rooms and the private rooms.

About this edition

• Publisher: Frances Lincoln
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0711232377
• ISBN 13: 9780711232372
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240