The imagined histories of twenty-five architectural drawings and models, told through reminiscences, stories, conversations, letters, and monologues.

Even when an architectural drawing does not show any human figures, we can imagine many different characters just off the page: architects, artists, onlookers, clients, builders, developers, philanthropists—working, observing, admiring, arguing. In Stories from Architecture, Philippa Lewis captures some of these personalities through reminiscences, anecdotes, conversations, letters, and monologues that collectively offer the imagined histories of twenty-five architectural drawings.

Some of these untold stories are factual, like Frank Lloyd Wright’s correspondence with a Wisconsin librarian regarding her $5,000 dream home, or letters written by the English architect John Nash to his irascible aristocratic client. Others recount a fictional, if credible, scenario by placing these drawings—and with them their characters—into their immediate social context. For instance, the dilemmas facing a Regency couple who are considering a move to a suburban villa; a request from the office of Richard Neutra for an assistant to measure Josef von Sternberg’s Rolls-Royce so that the director’s beloved vehicle might fit into the garage being designed by his architect; a teenager dreaming of a life away from parental supervision by gazing at a gadget-filled bachelor pad in Playboy magazine; even a policeman recording the ground plans of the house of a murder scene.

The drawings, reproduced in color, are all sourced from the Drawing Matter collection in Somerset, UK, and are fascinating objects in themselves; but Lewis shifts our attention beyond the image to other possible histories that linger, invisible, beyond the page, and in the process animates not just a series of archival documents but the writing of architectural history.

About the Author

Philippa Lewis is a writer, photographer, and picture editor. She is the author of A Dictionary of Ornament (with Gillian Darley); Details: A Guide to House Design in Britain; Everything You Can Do in the Garden without Actually Gardening; Everyman's Castle; and other books.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We are independent booksellers from the Caribbean specializing in books on the Caribbean - its history, cultures, and origins of its people and their diasporas. We source scarce publications - books, pamphlets, government publications, publications from regional organizations. We keep abreast of the self-publishing that can that indicate developments in writing in the region and new writers of interest. We are a product of the Caribbean, have always lived here and know and care deeply about this region.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Black Rock Books
Barbados

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.

Shipping Terms

Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. We will also contact you if there can be significant savings on postage. Orders of single books - 50pp or less - can sometimes be sent more cheaply as airmail.

Shipping rates from Barbados to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from Barbados to U.S.A.
Order quantity	14 to 45 business days	8 to 14 business days
First item	US$ 8.00	US$ 12.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.