The English Country House: From the Archives of Country Life

I'm enchanted by this book. Of the half dozen or so books I already own dealing with English country houses this I believe will be my favorite. There's a lovely homey and inviting feel to this book, which I think is at least partially due to its very large format which makes all the photos, and especially of the interiors, a pleasure to view. I can almost imagine that I'm inside this book, a part of all the interesting and beautiful homes featured therein with such clarity and beautiful color and detail. The lighting is especially good, which is a lack I felt in others of its kind, where many of the rooms seem to be in shadow or taken on a very overcast day. All in all, a book very worthy of its price and a very happy addition to my library.

I'm obsessed with English houses lately and so far this has been my favorite book. A good variety of houses and the pictures are amazing. Love the bonus map at the end of the book so I can actually tell were each house is located in England.

This definitive book on the English country house will provide the reader with a generous and varied selection of beautiful homes to enjoy. It includes vintage and current photos, and presents exteriors and interiors in vivid color as well as black and white. The history and ownership of the homes are extensively detailed. Since the book is quite heavy, you may wish to keep it as a coffee table book. Or it can be kept on the night stand for a late night relaxing browse to encourage sweet dreams! The print quality is excellent and so is the quality of the paper on which it is printed. Mine was purchased used and arrived in stellar condition. This is the book that you will want to return to time and time again.

This is a brilliant book detailing a vast array of stunning English Country Houses. The houses are nothing short from being exceptional. All the major architectural styles are richly illustrated with gorgeous full page color photos.The photos also reveal the beautiful decorative elements and each property has both exterior and interior shots. The text is also very informative and easy to follow giving just the right amount of information regarding the property and its historical and architectural significance. There are also several short chapters written by expert scholars discussing the unique architectural and decorative motifs which distinguish the English country house.This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in fine architecture and beautiful photography.

I have quite a few of these books on English, Scottish, and Irish homes. This is absolutely the best, hand's down. Pics are fabulous, text is excellent. Unique text interludes between chapters by "guest" authors on specialized topics related to these English Country homes is also a very good feature. But the photos are the reason for the five stars. I look forward for the next edition, since there are thousands of homes in England books like this could feature. Also, it'll take a sturdy coffee table to hold this book up, it's gotta be five pounds easy. Well worth it, and the cost. Buy it.

This is a superb, beautifully photographed book and very well put together. It is a large volume, with large color photographs throughout. It details many English manor houses, both in photographs and the written history of the houses and their owners. This is one of the nicest books of this type I own, and I have a large library. This book is great for merely an armchair traveler, or a person who actually researches these houses and then travels to see them. I highly recommend its purchase to anyone interested in the history of English manor houses.

Anyone who is both an Anglophile (like me) and obsessed with beautiful historic houses, beautiful "things", history and architecture along with interior design will love this. A great Christmas or birthday present. Weighs a ton but you can pore over it for days - account of the history of England's historical "houses" (as they call them in Britain - here they'd be called "palaces") and fabulous color photos you will love. A "coffee table" book you will take out again and again - certainly worth the $$$.

The English Country House is a brilliant compendium from the archives of Country Life, the bible of the good life in Britain's late 19th and early 20th century heyday. Whatever your interest, be it interiors, exteriors and wonderful details or history, this will not disappoint. We are most fortunate to have the ability to be transported to a more genteel era and to be able to imagine just how the privileged lived and played before the Great Wars (WWI and WWII) changed life forever. While not an inexpensive buy, it is a worthwhile investment to any student of history.

Mary Miers has made a selection of 62 English Country Houses as featured in Country Life since about 1980, when beautiful colour photographs were used for the first time. The houses are arranged in a loosely chronological order and are predominantly large and grand. However a few houses such as Beckside are of a more modest scale, built by skilled local craftsmen according the popular builders' pattern books of the day. All photographs are of very high quality, as can be expected from Country Life. In addition to the introduction by Mary Miers there are 6 essays by leading historians presented in the form of small booklets at intervals in the book. This book has primarily been made for the American market and can be seen as complementary to the many books of Aurum Press on Country Houses also based on the archives of Country Life, but mainly from the earlier period with mostly high quality black and white photographs. For a modest price you will get a beautiful coffee table book to dream of a rich and romantic life in the English countryside.

Stunning book great reference guide for designer or interiors enthusiast

A lovely Christmas Book for Dad - its a gorgous book - very pleased

A great coffee table book full of interesting pictures and a source of ideas

quick delivery ,book was as expected. made me a happy buyer