Overview
He was the most iconoclastic of architects, and at the height of his career his output of writings about architecture was as prolific and visionary as his architecture itself. Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered a bold new kind of architecture, one in which the spirit of modern man truly "lived in his buildings." The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright is a one-volume compendium of Wright's most critically important—and personally revealing—writings on every conceivable aspect of his craft.
Wright was perhaps the most influential and inspired architect of the twentieth century, and this is the only book that gathers all of his most significant essays, lectures, and articles on architecture. Bruce Pfeiffer includes each piece in its entirety to present the architect's writings as he originally intended them. Beginning early in Wright's career with "The Art and Craft of the Machine" in 1901, the book follows major themes through The Disappearing City, The Natural House, and many other writings, and ends with A Testament in 1957, published two years before his death. This volume is beautifully illustrated with original drawings and photographs, and is complemented by Pfeiffer's general introduction, which provides history and context. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright is a must-have resource for architects and scholars and a delight for general readers.
Synopsis
He was the most iconoclastic of architects, and at the height of his career his output of writings about architecture was as prolific and visionary as his architecture itself. Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered a bold new kind of architecture, one in which the spirit of modern man truly "lived in his buildings." The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright is a one-volume compendium of Wright's most critically important--and personally revealing--writings on every conceivable aspect of his craft. Wright was perhaps the most influential and inspired architect of the twentieth century, and this is the only book that gathers all of his most significant essays, lectures, and articles on architecture. Bruce Pfeiffer includes each piece in its entirety to present the architect's writings as he originally intended them. Beginning early in Wright's career with "The Art and Craft of the Machine" in 1901, the book follows major themes through The Disappearing City, The Natural House, and many other writings, and ends with A Testament in 1957, published two years before his death. This volume is beautifully illustrated with original drawings and photographs, and is complemented by Pfeiffer's general introduction, which provides history and context. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright is a must-have resource for architects and scholars and a delight for general readers.
William J. R. Curtis - Times Literary Supplement
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is a living link to Wright himself and has performed an important service by publishing books of letters, photographs, and drawings which bring us closer to the architect's world, creative process, personal life and literary sources. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright . . . is a well-designed anthology.
Editorials
Library Journal
Wright was the greatest architect who ever lived, both in terms of the staggering quantity of designs he produced (more than 800) and in terms of their extraordinary quality. At least a dozen absolute masterpieces equal to the greatest buildings of any time anchor his achievement from 1900 to 1960. And, as it turns out, Wright also wrote a lot. This book records all of his significant writings-with the exception of his autobiography, which has been amply published elsewhe re-including his books The Disappearing City(1932), Architecture and Modern Life(1937), and A Testament(1957). Edited by Pfeiffer (director, Frank Lloyd Wright Archives, Frank Lloyd Wright Fdn.), this valuable record of Wright's words forms a welcome addition to the three key accounts of his designs that appeared at the end of the 20th century: Neil Levine's The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright(1997), Robert McCarter's Frank Lloyd Wright(1998), and William Allin Storrer's The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion(1996), which records every Wright building that was actually constructed. Heartily recommended.
—Peter Kaufman
Times Literary Supplement
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is a living link to Wright himself and has performed an important service by publishing books of letters, photographs, and drawings which bring us closer to the architect's world, creative process, personal life and literary sources. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright . . . is a well-designed anthology.— William J. R. Curtis
Antiques
[A] reproduction of the original publication of Modem Architecture, handsome to hold and read, and additionally valuable for its enlightening new introduction by Wright scholar Neil Levine of Harvard University. . . . The Essential Wright is essential reading.— Barrymore Laurence Scherer
Leonardo Reviews
[T]he book is inspiring and presents a very good recompilation of the life work one of the most important architects of the twentieth century that was also very concerned with organic architecture and conservation of the natural environment. In addition, this hardbound book is made of high quality materials, it is well written, and it is a must-have resource for architects and scholars.— Martha Patricia Niño
Rocky Mountain News
Perhaps some people think you can have too many books on Frank Lloyd Wright, but I believe there's always room for more. This year, it's a scholarly duo from Princeton University Press: The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright: Critical Writings on Architecture, edited by Wright scholar Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer (453 pages, $49.95) and the essential Modern Architecture: Being the Kahn Lectures for 1930, with a new introduction by Neil Levine (115 pages, $29.95).— Mary Chandler
Times Literary Supplement -
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is a living link to Wright himself and has performed an important service by publishing books of letters, photographs, and drawings which bring us closer to the architect's world, creative process, personal life and literary sources. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright . . . is a well-designed anthology.Antiques -
[A] reproduction of the original publication of Modem Architecture, handsome to hold and read, and additionally valuable for its enlightening new introduction by Wright scholar Neil Levine of Harvard University. . . . The Essential Wright is essential reading.Leonardo Reviews -
[T]he book is inspiring and presents a very good recompilation of the life work one of the most important architects of the twentieth century that was also very concerned with organic architecture and conservation of the natural environment. In addition, this hardbound book is made of high quality materials, it is well written, and it is a must-have resource for architects and scholars.Rocky Mountain News -
Perhaps some people think you can have too many books on Frank Lloyd Wright, but I believe there's always room for more. This year, it's a scholarly duo from Princeton University Press: The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright: Critical Writings on Architecture, edited by Wright scholar Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer (453 pages, $49.95) and the essential Modern Architecture: Being the Kahn Lectures for 1930, with a new introduction by Neil Levine (115 pages, $29.95).Times Literary Supplement -
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is a living link to Wright himself and has performed an important service by publishing books of letters, photographs, and drawings which bring us closer to the architect's world, creative process, personal life and literary sources. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright . . . is a well-designed anthology.
Leonardo Reviews -
[T]he book is inspiring and presents a very good recompilation of the life work one of the most important architects of the twentieth century that was also very concerned with organic architecture and conservation of the natural environment. In addition, this hardbound book is made of high quality materials, it is well written, and it is a must-have resource for architects and scholars.