Colonial Americans; if they could afford it; liked to emulate the fashions of London and the style and manners of English country society while at the same time thinking of themselves as distinctly American. The houses they built reflected this ongoing cultural tension. By the mid-eighteenth century; Americans had developed their own version of the bourgeois English countryseat; a class of estate equally distinct in social function and form from townhouses; rural plantations; and farms. The metropolis of Philadelphia was surrounded by a particularly extraordinary collection of country houses and landscapes. Taken together; these estates make up one of the most significant groups of homes in colonial America.In this masterly volume; Mark Reinberger; a senior architectural historian; and Elizabeth McLean; an accomplished scholar of landscape history; examine the country houses that the urban gentry built on the outskirts of Philadelphia in response to both local and international economic forces; social imperatives; and fashion. What do these structures and their gardens say about the taste of the people who conceived and executed them? How did their evolving forms demonstrate the persistence of European templates while embodying the spirit of American adaptation? The Philadelphia Country House explores the myriad ways in which these estates―which were located in the country but responded to the ideas and manners of the city―straddled the cultural divide between urban and rural. Moving from general trends and building principles to architectural interiors and landscape design; Reinberger and McLean take readers on an intimate tour of the fine; fashionable elements found in upstairs parlors and formal gardens. They also reveal the intricate working world of servants; cellars; and kitchen gardens. Highlighting an important aspect of American historic architecture; this handsome volume is illustrated with nearly 150 photographs; more than 60 line drawings; and two color galleries.
#755713 in Books Free Press 2007-06-25 2007-06-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.44 x .50 x 5.50l; .66 #File Name: 1416567895224 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The long road homeBy R. DelPartoThe year 1776 tends to be lodged in the minds of those who have studied American history. But does anyone remember what happened in 1783? With relation to the revolutionary war; GENERAL WASHINGTON'S CHRISTMAS FAREWELL chronicles George Washington's concluding tenure as one of the most distinguishable military leader; which covers the last few months of 1783. Historian Stanley Weintraub paints a picture of America's first president as a compassionate and unselfish man who wholeheartedly was concerned about preserving life and liberty for his country and the people he led; he bridges the gap between Washington as the larger than life founding father to the Virginia farmer who longed to return home.The book begins with Weintraub's story about his visit to his grandsons' first grade class at Thomas Jefferson School where he was surprised to hear how much these young and inquisitive minds knew about the American Revolution and its key figures. But the most fascinating aspect about this story is that the Washington family's Christmas was not documented; but with the culmination of sources that derived from Washington's letters and addresses and a series of publications; Weintraub weaves a unique narrative that reflects upon the hardships of 1776; but the success thereafter with the ratification of the Peace Treaty of Paris. The last two chapters are quite moving because Washington's farewell address; which was written by Thomas Jefferson; is included within the passages; and provides accounts from Thomas Mifflin and James McHenry who had attended the ceremony; the scene was emotional; and depicted a man approaching the twilight of his life.GENERAL WASHINGTON'S CHRISTMAS FAREWELL does not revel with new material about George Washington. However; Weintraub acknowledges a moment in history that commemorates the end of a monumental career of one of history's unforgettable leaders; and shows how he was influential and instrumental with regard to the founding and birth of the United States of America. Indeed; this is another piece of history worth reading.40 of 41 people found the following review helpful. Goin' South......By Bruce LoveittDon't be put-off by the cheesy title of this book. Yes...it's obviously a marketing ploy meant to tie in to the holiday season. In any case; Mr. Weintraub has crafted an interesting book. We follow Washington from West Point to Mount Vernon; as he tries to get home for Christmas. Most notably; he stops in New York City; Philadelphia; and Annapolis. In NYC he says farewell to his officers. He also puzzles his subordinates by going to visit a bookseller who is a known Tory sympathizer. (Unknown to Washington's underlings; the man was part of the commander-in-chief's network of spies who kept Washington informed of the goings-on in British occupied NYC.) In Philadelphia; amongst other things; Washington orders some new spectacles from the noted scientist David Rittenhouse. In Annapolis; Washington returns his commission to Congress; thus making formal his resignation from public service and return to private life. The book is only about 175 pages and can easily be read in a day or two. However; Mr. Weintraub manages to provide a lot of information. Some of it is interesting on a "serious" level - for example; we see Washington at the start of the journey insisting that his departure from public life will be permanent. He made several speeches on the way home; and he constantly stressed that Congress needed strong legislative powers so that it could hold the bickering colonies together. By the time he reached Annapolis; Washington had come to the conclusion that it was going to be an extremely difficult process to turn a loose confederation; which no longer had the "glue" of battling a common enemy ; into a true nation. Washington was not being an egomaniac; just realistic; when he came to understand that he was the only person who could be a unifying force. Therefore; when he gave the speech in Annapolis in which he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief he changed the language so as to leave the door open for a later return to public service; if such a thing proved to be necessary...which it did. Washington was remarkably unambitious for someone who was held in such awe. He was; indeed; the man who could have been king. (In his own day; everyone wanted to touch him; as though he were holy. Many years later; people had relics - as though he were a saint. Lincoln had a splinter of Washington's coffin contained in a gold ring he wore. McKinley had several strands of Washington's hair.) We owe Washington an eternal debt that he turned his back on dictatorship. On the lighter side; we see Washington the man; warts and all. We see him losing his temper; we see his pride in his dancing ability; his love of fine wine; etc. We also get to hear about his expense account; where it seems as though he put down every possible item; down to the last pound; shilling; and pence. (He even included tips he had given out to people who had waited on him.) I especially enjoyed the little personal touches that Mr. Weintraub included - such as letting us know that the 6'4" Washington slept in a 6'6" bed. The author also tells us about the time that Washington fired a Mount Vernon gardener for getting drunk. Then; when the man expressed remorse and wanted his job back; Washington agreed....but he made the man sign a contract specifying that he could only get looped at certain times of the year. For example; he was allowed 4 days of drunkenness around Christmas! The book; on rare occasions; becomes tedious when Mr. Weintraub gives us excerpts from speeches delivered during the various "farewell" dinners. But; for the most part; this book will hold your interest with its nice balance between the public and the private Washington.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I enjoyed the bookBy VictorsI enjoyed the book. If the reader has little knowledge of Washington this is a fine book. I could have done without all the filler material about his career and details about the war since I've read many book about Washington and the Revolution. I was interested in the details of his journey home and his journey back to the life of a gentleman farmer. The book covered his journeys very well.
