The American Country House

This magnificent book describes the great country houses built with American industrial fortunes from the end of the Civil War until 1940. The American Country House draws on the rich and often amusing writings of contemporaries to evoke the lives the buildings served as well as architectural shapes they took. 275 illustrations.

From Kykuit to Winterthur and San Simeon, American country houses evoke the grandeur of a bygone era of wealth and privilege. This magnificent book describes the great country homes built with American industrial fortunes from the end of the Civil War until 1940.
"Dazzling."--J. Mordaunt Crook, "Country Life"
" Aslet perceives architecture the way it should be perceived--in all the full, rich context of social history, with all its humanity, bravery, and absurdity."--Robert Campbell, "Boston Globe"
"Intriguing."--"Economist
""Entertaining. . . . The focus here is on the conspicuously consumptive lifestyles of the homes' privileged occupants. Aslet often draws on vintage publications to amusing effect."--Lynn Van Matre, "Chicago Tribune"
"Engaging."--Paul R. Baker, "Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians"