Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture. ( Twentieth Edition )
Product ID: 7310341
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The 20th edition of Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture is the first major work of history to include an overview of the architectural achievements of the 20th Century. Banister Fletcher has been the standard one volume architectural history for over 100 years and continues to give a concise and factual account of world architecture from the earliest times. In this twentieth and centenary edition, edited by Dan Cruickshank with three consultant editors and fourteen new contributors, chapters have been recast and expanded and a third of the text is new. * There are new chapters on the twentieth-century architecture of the Middle East (including Israel), South-east Asia, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, the Indian subcontinent, Russia and the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Latin America. * The chapter on traditional architecture of India has been rewritten and the section on traditional Chinese architecture has been expanded, both with new specially commissioned drawings * The architecture of the Americas before 1900 has been enlarged to include, for the first time, detailed coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean * The book's scope has been widened to include more architecture from outside Europe * The bibliography has been expanded into a separate section and is a key source of information on every period of world architecture * The coverage of the 20th century architecture of North America has been divided into two chapters to allow fuller coverage of contemporary works * 20th century architecture of Western Europe has been radically recast * For the first time the architecture of the twentieth century is considered as a whole and assessed in an historical perspective * Coverage has been extended to include buildings completed during the last ten years * The coverage of Islamic architecture has been increased and re-organised to form a self contained section This unique reference book places buildings in their social, cultural and historical settings to describe the main patterns of architectural development, from Prehistoric to the International Style. Again in the words of Sir Banister Fletcher, this book shows that 'Architecture ... provides a key to the habits, thoughts and aspirations of the people, and without a knowledge of this art the history of any period lacks that human interest with which it should be invested.' Review: Beautiful edition of a classic architectural tome... - Nice like-new copy of this magisterial work at a very reasonable price. Couldn't be more pleased with this purchase. Review: Full of historical detail - Mine is a new 1975 edition (which was a small fraction of the new price). It is as much a history of the world--and an incredibly detailed one--as a history of architecture. It opens each of its 40 chapters with a discussion of a civilization or era, then describes the buildings very matter-of-factly. Sometimes opinions emerge: Louis Kahn is cited as an example of a flash-in-the-pan; FLLW's Guggenheim is criticized as impractical. The photos are top quality B/W, often very old. Its real strength is early architecture; by chapter 35, it is only finishing up the Renaissance. The authors are so knowledgeable, the writing so polished after 18 editions, all others pale by comparison. I don't think there's much of a market for these books outside of libraries, but those who read it will marvel at its erudition.
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,526,602 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #297 in Architecture Study & Teaching (Books) #926 in Architectural Criticism #3,170 in Architectural History |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 29 Reviews |
G**K
Beautiful edition of a classic architectural tome...
Nice like-new copy of this magisterial work at a very reasonable price. Couldn't be more pleased with this purchase.
M**S
Full of historical detail
Mine is a new 1975 edition (which was a small fraction of the new price). It is as much a history of the world--and an incredibly detailed one--as a history of architecture. It opens each of its 40 chapters with a discussion of a civilization or era, then describes the buildings very matter-of-factly. Sometimes opinions emerge: Louis Kahn is cited as an example of a flash-in-the-pan; FLLW's Guggenheim is criticized as impractical. The photos are top quality B/W, often very old. Its real strength is early architecture; by chapter 35, it is only finishing up the Renaissance. The authors are so knowledgeable, the writing so polished after 18 editions, all others pale by comparison. I don't think there's much of a market for these books outside of libraries, but those who read it will marvel at its erudition.
J**N
An essential book from a great seller
This is a review of a used copy of the 20th edition from Congo Marketplace for about half the price of a new copy. It was listed as ‘Condition: Used - Good - All books have been personally inspected to meet or exceed Amazon expectations.’ Still, the 20th edition was published over 20 years ago (1996), so I was nervous about the condition. I was amazed when it arrived. It was packed in a sturdy cardboard box that fit the book so perfectly that no padding was needed. The book was shrink-wrapped. The dust jacket was in near-perfect condition and was wrapped in an archival jacket cover. It was a professional job, and I understood once I saw where the book came from. The front page has two stamps. One is a red ‘DISCARD’ stamp, and the other is the name of a public library in Indiana. Those are the only markings in the book, and they’re fine. They give the history of the book and do not detract from it in any way. Aside from those stamps, the book is, in my opinion, in new condition. The gold lettering in Amazon’s photo is darkened, and it’s barely readable. The gold lettering on my copy is bright and shiny, and it jumps out at you like it’s powered by electricity. This book was not only well cared for; I’d say it’s virtually unused. It’s found a home where it will be used. Sir Banister Fletcher’s book is the most iconic book on the history of architecture in the English speaking world. I have a copy of the 16th edition published in 1954. It was the last edition Banister personally worked on (he died in 1953). The method of analysis was changed in the 19th edition, and its scope was expanded to give equal treatment to the rest of the world and not be so European-centric. I am looking forward to comparing the 16th and 20th editions to see the differences. Bottom line: I trust Congo Marketplace. And thanks also to Amazon for having standards that matter.
R**K
Architectural History
An old textbook from college. Excellent resource.
M**S
COMPREHENSIVE BEAUTIFUL DIAGRAMS
THIS BOOK FROM 1880 UPDATED BUT NEVER AGES, FROM LEAN TO SHELTERS OF CAVEMEN THROUGH GREECE, ROME, MIDDLE AGES AND CATHEDRALS, EVERY STEP IS DEAITLED, THE DIAGRAMS EVEN HAVE FORCE AND LOAD COMPONENTS . NOT JUST PRETTY PICTURES
M**E
A great book
It's great book and in good condition. I think everyone want to have a comprehensive survey of architecture will like it.
L**O
The book is great, but I bought a new book and what arrived wasn't a new one.
The book is great, but I bought a new book and what arrived wasn't a new one. I paid over 200€, it was a present.
G**O
Five Stars
The most complete volume on architectural history you can have in your library.
A**K
Great
Excellent book, delivered as promised!
F**R
Superb book! Superb delivery service!
I purchased this updated edition of Banister Fletcher's book because, for a few decades now, I had relied on the 18th edition. I am fully satisfied, not only with the newer version, but also with the prompt, responsive service and delivery from Amazon. Well done, and thank you!
H**A
Five Stars
This is a book that I have wanted to purchase since I was a student.
G**Y
Five Stars
Comprehesiveandstimulating
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