Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West [Hardcover]

Kathryn Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

Taliesin and Taliesin West are world renowned not only as two of the most important landmarks of 20th-century architecture, but also as home to their creator, Frank Lloyd Wright. This lavishly illustrated volume provides an introduction to the architecture, interiors, art collection, gardens, decorative arts, furniture, and graphic design of the two studio-residences. 137 illustrations, 100 in color.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810939916
• ISBN-13: 978-0810939912
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #454,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathryn Smith is an architectural historian, historic preservation consultant, and Frank Lloyd Wright authority. She was one of the first scholars to have complete access to the unpublished drawings and letters of Wright at the Taliesin Archives in Arizona. She used this experience in her first major book, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, HOLLYHOCK HOUSE AND OLIVE HILL: PROJECTS AND BUILDINGS FOR ALINE BARNSDALL (1992), which received a fellowship from the Graham Foundation. Over a ten period, she was a visiting guest of Mrs. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship at Wright's homes in Wisconsin and Arizona, with this knowledge, she wrote FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S TALIESIN AND TALIESIN WEST. She has also published widely with Rizzoli International, Harry N. Abrams Inc, and Abbeville Press. Her book, SCHINDLER HOUSE, has become a classic. She has been accorded several honors including the Wright Spirit Award for Professionals from the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy in 2001. In 2003, she was Scholar-in-Residence at Wright's Robie House in Chicago. She is currently at work on her next book, WRIGHT ON EXHIBIT, ARCHITECTURAL EXHIBITIONS, 1894-1959 under a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visually stunning treatment of FLW's East West homesteads., September 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West (Hardcover)

The endlessly creative mind of FLW took two wildly different locales and managed to create important landmarks of twentieth-century architecture in both -- Spring Green, WI, and Scottsdale, AZ. Following a historical glimpse into Wright's origins, this beautiful volume traces the multiple purposes of Taliesin and Taliesin West. The book closes with a unique look at Wright's collect of Asian art, an important influence on his life and work. A definite treat for Wright fans, the book helps show why these two vastly different architectural gems stand as "his autobiography in wood and stone."

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good complementary book on Frank Lloyd Wright, January 27, 2001

By 

Ping Lim (Christchurch) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West (Hardcover)

This book explored the origin, the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. The author didn't discuss FLW's other works as such but did explain the nature why Taliesin & its other counterpart were built, & unbeknown to the architect would one day become 2 of the most important buildings in the States. The book contained many pictures (good quality) of the communes participating in many subsistence activities, FKW giving guidance to his disciples, lavish parties & performances that were held there, many aspects of those buildings. On the sideline, the book also displayed the graphics that were utilised by the Taliesin Foundation, Asian art works that were collected by FKW during his trip to Japan (in particular). For the benefit of the readers, building plans were enclosed to relate to the pictures provided.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book for an architecture buff, August 2, 2010

By 

Ruthann (Tucson, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West (Hardcover)

Excellent book with lots of photos and detailed history of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin and Taliesin West compounds. I bought this after visiting Taliesin West in Phoenix AZ and saw it in their bookstore for a lot more than what I paid for it on Amazon! Any architecture buff would love this.