Customer Reviews

The Library of Congress: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building

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As the illustrator of the Jefferson building's overview for the book (pp.276-277), I had the rare privilege of walking through many of the areas of the Jefferson building not open to the public. Entering the Great Hall for the first time, I was caught off guard by its extraordinary beauty. Being a native Washingtonian, I was surprised that such a lavishly decorated structure existed here in Washington, D.C. The overall impression of the interior is more that of the Paris Opera House, than a government building. This beautiful book, with its many photographic details of the interior, allows the reader to recreate that sense of awe that I experienced walking through the entrance. With Anne Day's vivid photos, and the Libary's wonderful history, this book should be a welcome addition to anyone's personal library. Once you see the book, I suspect you may modify your itinerary for your next trip to Washington. This gem of a building is definitely worth a visit.

-Doug Stern

The book has a LOT of background information about what the various statues/frescoes/paintings were designed to show and shows the pictures too.

It's odd that many friends of mine that visit D.C., dont bother seeing this spectacular building. This book does a fine job, through vivid, crisp images and historical text, to impress upon the reader the importance of this famous structure, as a fine architectural set piece and as the nations library. I always love the story of how Jefferson sold his book collection to the library for a ridiculous sum, to settle his always present debts, it was hardly a philanthropic jesture, but then with Jefferson it was always about him anyway, great man in many ways, but deep down a cold narcassist..anyway, getting back to the building, its essentially a copy of the paris opera of Napoleon III's Second Empire, with some changes, but definitly the opera house was the inspiration for this building, Garnier's estate should have demanded royalties it was so close, at any rate, very good book on a most deserving subject, I really cant imagine anyone being disappointed in this book, if they have any interest at all in this building.

i was eagerly anticipating receiving this book: i had much too great an expectation to not be disappointed; i was disappointed.

the book is very expensive; yet, it is not like the large-format art books it purports to be: it is a tract about the restoration of the jefferson building, not a book ABOUT the jefferson building. much detail, little overall or general inclusions: sections of rooms, murals, carvings, floors, moulding, but not gorgeous pictures of the whole; the whole is definitely NOT greater than the sum of the parts.

ah, well, as my gran used to say, "great expectations lead to great disappointments." she was always right!