Customer Reviews

Fountains Splash & Spectacle

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This is an illustrated history book about fountains. The book is divided into chapters, each with a different attitude towards fountains and written in different ways, so the approach to the fountain is studied from several different angles. Many references and details are contained in the text. Illustrations or photographs are numbered and these numbers are used in the text, so finding the picture of what is being discussed is very easy.

The photography is excellent (except for the disappointment below) and many are large or full page size, also the illustrations are very clear and interesting.

I have two disappointments. One is that they made no reference or mention of the Giffian Fountain in Copenhagen Denmark, which is a very impressive Roman chariot, pulled by bulls with sprays out of their nostrils and spray from the wheels, and driven by an impressive Roman woman. I can forgive this, as surely there are many fountains that cannot be included due to limitations of size of the volume.

The other disappointment was the picture of the Centennial Fountain at West Palm Beach. The photograph was taken at dusk and everything is in shadow and it is therefor dull and lifeless and does not show the fountain in the glory that I know it can show in sunshine. Looks like the photographer had to catch a plane and this was the only shot he could take. I have better shots taken personally. I was a consultant to this fountain and wrote the programmed fountain 'dance' into the control computer. My name is also misspelt in the credits. Ah, well.

In total, these objections are minor and unnoticeable to the casual reader, the book is extremely interesting and perceptively written. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in fountains, either designing them, or just appreciating the subject of these beautiful and delightful creations.