If you are like me (and you probably are if you are reading this blog), country houses are a must-see on trips. While many country houses have been demolished or have long since been a school, there are some still surviving, and you plan trips around visiting. Some have more information available than others, but I’m always left with many questions. Enter: The Story of the Country House by Clive Aslet. If you have ever watched Downton Abbey and wondered about the Abbey, or planned a trip to see a country home, this is the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Story of the Country House: A History of Places and People, Clive Aslet (28 September 2021)
The Story of the Country House is an authoritative and vivid account of the British country house, exploring how they have evolved with the changing political and economic landscape. Clive Aslet reveals the captivating stories behind individual houses, their architects, and occupants, and paints a vivid picture of the wider context in which the country house in Britain flourished and subsequently fell into decline before enjoying a renaissance in the twenty-first century. The genesis, style, and purpose of architectural masterpieces such as Hardwick Hall, Hatfield House, and Chatsworth are explored, alongside the numerous country houses lost to war and economic decline. We also meet a cavalcade of characters, owners with all their dynastic obsessions and diverse sources of wealth, and architects such as Inigo Jones, Sir John Vanbrugh, Robert Adam, Sir John Soane and A.W.N. Pugin, who dazzled or in some cases outraged their contemporaries. The Story of the Country House takes a fresh look at this enduringly popular building type, exploring why it continues to hold such fascination for us today.
Why You Should Read This…
I was quite sceptical going into this book, but I have to say- Clive Aslet has written a fascinating and fun history of the country house that has something for everyone. Without overstating it, I will say that I’m nerdy enough to have done research on countless country houses. Despite that, I still learned a lot from Story.
Aslet is informative and informal, making for a fun reading experience. Architectural history can be dry, but Story never falls into the trap. And impressively in addition to covering 800 years of country homes in England, he also covers Scotland and Ireland. As someone who lived in Ireland and visited several of the (surviving) homes mentioned, I was thrilled to see Ireland discussed. It really is a whirlwind tour across time and across homes, and I will definitely be giving this as a gift for the holidays!
Are you planning on reading The Story of the Country House by Clive Aslet?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
