There are two issues with this book. First, there are so many errors and missing letters that it is difficult to read. I'm sure this issue will be resolved before the book is fully published. Second, while the book is organized chronologically overall, at times the author meanders into a different subject. The writing veers so far off course I forget what the overall subject of the chapter is.

Apart from these problems, this book promises to be an enjoyable and informative read. I am looking forward to the final version!

This review is not published outside of netgalley.

A very thorough, detailed guide of the architecture and historical context surrounding country houses of the British Isles from medieval times to the current day. The book is organized by era and includes pictures of remaining examples of buildings from each time period. The author obviously has a great love and passion for the phenomenon of the country house and provides much fascinating information about the people who enabled, created, and lived in these massive complexes.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Unfortunately unable to download this book to my kindle which was a shame as it looked interesting read

Clive Aslet, The Story of the Country House, Yale University Press, 2021

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected proof for review.

This is a fascinating amalgam of history, architecture, biography, and description of the way in which the British country house developed. My reading was seriously impeded by the nature of the uncorrected copy, where on each page I was confronted by words missing letters. However, I wanted to persevere, as the list of contents was so enticing. The periods covered by this densely written book are: Medieval; Tudor and Elizabethan; Early Stuart; Commonwealth to Queen Anne; Early Georgian; Mid-Georgian; Regency to William 1V; Early and High Victorian; Turn of the Century; Between the Wars; Post -War and Recovery country houses.
There is an index and further reading.

Beginning with Aslet’s story about Stansted, we are told that a country house might have many uses, such as in this case, as a hunting lodge; become the home of many different families because of the lack of an heir; change over time through fire or other major damage; decay; rebuilding with entirely different architecture; or a lesser change, through remodeling. Each iteration can tell a story, and where he finds a story associated with changes, Aslet tells it. Such stories introduce historical events, capricious owners, and changes in fashion. Aslet weaves these into the overall historical period in which the country house so described was first erected.
I was particularly interested in Chatsworth, it being one of the houses I visited when living in the UK. Turning to this section I was rewarded with the observation that ‘country house’ is a ‘catch all’, covering homes such as Chatswood, as well as the ‘hand crafted Munstead Wood’. Surprisingly, Alnwick Castle is also a country house, and another familiar to me, so to is Kenwood House at Hampstead. Aslet’s further observations provide an historical context for the changes in the way the country house developed, was used, and has remained an understood description of a way of living.

This book, while full of information, is deftly threaded with some lively anecdotes and speculations about houses, owners, and events. It is not necessarily an easy read, but one in which it would be worth becoming immersed, thereby making the most of the variety of architectural, historical and biographical knowledge it has to offer.

The Story of the Country House by Clive Aslet is an excellent nonfiction account of the foundations of the concept of the English country home and estate and its progression through time. I loved this!

This is the first book that I have read by this talented author and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed.

Through the thoroughly researched book the reader is taken through the history of the quintessential English Country Home, its origins, its adaptations, progression through the centuries, and its current status. We get examples, homes that are no longer with us, and homes that are still living examples. We also are introduced to a bast array of fascinating individuals that helped create and mold this architectural concept.

Yes, this is about a certain concept, the country home, but looking at this subject the reader sees so much more. We see English history itself. We see a glimpse of the people, heritage, societal shifts, and the wonderfully rich English culture that is steadfast, reinventing itself while at the same time persevering and enduring all the surrounding changes of the world as we know it.

A true treasure of a book and I highly recommend it.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Yale University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 7/15/21 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

I have all of Clive’s books. He has about three on country homes and I’m absolutely obsessed with. This book is a good compilation of all of the information based on time period. Great book!