Overview
Frank Furness' energy, confidence, brashness, vulgarity, and full-throated love of life vibrate in his architecture.
This first biography details his abolitionist upbringing in staid Philadelphia, the horror of war and its translation into aggressive architecture - train stations, banks, and libraries - and illuminates his influence on his century and the world.
Synopsis
Frank Furness' energy, confidence, brashness, vulgarity, and full-throated love of life vibrate in his architecture.
Booknews
Lewis (history of American art, Williams College) provides a biography of Furness (1839-1912), whose architecture is considered both eye-catching and aggressive, that explains the ways that his abolitionist upbringing and experiences during the Civil War led to an architectural style that fit perfectly with the commercial imagery of the Gilded Age. B&w photographs on nearly every page highlight Furness' development and scope of his work, from libraries and churches, to row houses and mansions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)