Customer Reviews

Lost Plantations of the South

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Absolutely Wonderful!!! I just got my copy a few days ago and was completely blown away. I love old houses and especially plantations, and STRONGLY reccomend this book to anyone intereseted in history, architecture, the South, or historic preservation. The book is truly beautiful and filled with crisp photos of dozens of grand old mansions that are no longer standing. The author has obviously spent many years extensively researching the history of these places and the narratives are exteremely interesting and enjoyable to read. The lives of these plantations and those who influenced them just jump right off the pages. Definitely a book I am proud to have in my bookcase, and one all of my friends will be getting as Christmas gifts!

This is an outstanding book. It is both stunningly beautiful and exceptionally well researched and written. The rare photographs are haunting and absolutely breathtaking. But unlike many books in this genre, there is a substantial amount of real history to go behind the beautiful pictures. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the plantation families and the slaves who lived on these estates. I relished the tales of Lucy Holcombe Pickens whose jaunts to Russia brought her much favor with the Czar and Cazrina, and Choctaw Chief Greenwood LeFleur who built a most impressive mansion called Malmaison. The tragic and hilarious history of Goat Castle and its insane inhabitants was wonderful, as were all of the other narratives. Dr. Marc Matrana does a great job of covering the history of lost plantations in every Southern state and provides strong and fresh ideas about preservation that can be utilized today. I hope this author will keep his great books coming!

This book is a wonderful record of the once magnificent edifices that have been lost through the years. It is a great work to preserve at least what is known and remains of these architectural treasures. Clearly it is not definitive, nor was is likely intended to be. As a fellow architectural researcher, I know that it is difficult to obtain materials that are suitable for publication showing every single worthy structure. However, what is included here shows information and illustrations that have not been widely published heretofore. I love this book. It is beautifully designed and is a welcome addition to my library which is already chock a block with volumes on this subject.

Prepare to be shocked. This book and the lost houses it records are hauntingly beautiful. The effect of the presentation is both blissful and profoundly saddening.

I usually avoid books like this because they upset me. I hate being shown what we could have had, with more care, more insight, more money, more intelligence. This book upsets me as well, but that's what it's intended to do.

The quality of the work--the photography, graphics and writing--is top shelf. This is no haphazardly assembled set of archives: It's a beautifully rendered contemplation on the history and fate of stolen art.

The book is intended for any interested reader, but its style is not casual. Neither a photo essay nor a "coffee table" book, the author gives the work intentional academic gravity that could put off a casual reader, but will make architectural historians rejoice.

As a fan of historical architecture I love reading about old houses. This was a very good book, with lots a facts about different plantations. My only complaint would have been a little less facts, and a little more human interest(about the people who lived there) and maybe more pictures of the homes. Every old home has a story, it just has to be told. :)

This is a great book for those who like the history of the Southern plantations.

Some people say its not a coffee table book. No its not. Its not full of pictures for people with no brains to look at. It has pictures but a lot of text. Very good reading. If you like the South, and like to read, and enjoy information, you"ll like this book.

For me, sadly this fell into the 2nd catagory. It is a subject that I am obsessed w/ since purchasing an 1886 farmhouse in the South but it was WAYYYYY too 'textbook' style for me. To each his own, this book got FANTASTIC reviews and "Under Live Oaks" didn't but "Under Live Oaks" was truly one of my ALL time favorites on the subject! You may take into account that I enjoy a good Jackie Collins!!!! LOL...not to be confused w/ a whiskey collins! If you are the serious sort....I HIGHLY recommend this book and if you enjoy alot more fluff I don't recommend it.:)

This book has a lot of good history of the lost plantations of the south. The pictures are nice, but would have liked to see more pictures. But I realize that there might not have been more pictures available. It is a good book to add to your library of the south.

I am more into pictorial histories of the old South's lost estates such as "Vestiges of Grandeur" and "Under Live Oaks" but,if I had the time,I would sit and read this through cover to cover.No color photos,but,very few of those would exist anyway since most of these plantations were lost many many years ago.it is a great book and the pictures are hauntingly sad.Great textbook type for those who want the real story about the places that are no more.Good for my collection.