Metrochicago, Volume 2, Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide [Paperback]

Thomas A. Heinz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998 | ISBN-10: 047197692X | ISBN-13: 978-0471976929 | Edition: Printed in England

The Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide series provides the first comprehensive visitors' guide to all of Wright's buildings in the United States. Each guide is written and compiled by an acknowledged expert on Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas A Heinz. With his highly readable and informative style, Heinz presents each building page by page, providing brief histories and background details, information on accessibility and viewing, and directions from Interstate routes. Every entry is accompanied by a photograph and location map produced by the author. There are four books in the Field Guide series: Upper Great Lakes. MetroChicago, West, and East, Each guide is arranged geographically, beginning in the northwest and ending in the southeast of the region covered. Full alphabetical and geographical lists enable buildings to be easily accessed either by location or name.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide series provides the first comprehensive visitors' guide to all of Wright's buildings in the United States. Each guide is written and compiled by an acknowledged expert on Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas A Heinz. With his highly readable and informative style, Heinz presents each building page by page, providing brief histories and background details, information on accessibility and viewing, and directions from Interstate routes. Every entry is accompanied by a photograph and location map produced by the author. There are four books in the Field Guide series: Upper Great Lakes. MetroChicago, West, and East, Each guide is arranged geographically, beginning in the northwest and ending in the southeast of the region covered. Full alphabetical and geographical lists enable buildings to be easily accessed either by location or name.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Academy Press; Printed in England edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047197692X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471976929
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,894,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Guide for the Pilgrims, November 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Metrochicago, Volume 2, Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide (Paperback)

This book presents information not found elsewhere, new and very important information about Wright and his work in Chicago. It explains, for the very first time, the contents of Wright's contract with his employer, Louis Sullivan. It has long been held that this was an empoyment contract when it is no such thing. It is simply a loan agreement, or mortgage.

While space is indeed limited, there is more vital information about the clients and their relationships with Wright and between each other. There are many revealing things here including the true relationship between Charles E. Roberts, the key figure on the Unity Temple building committee who hired Wright for the Landmark design, and Isabel Roberts, an employee of Wright's who worked in his Oak Park Studio. You'll have to read the book to see what that relationship is.

The maps and directions are what this book is real about. They are clear and detailed, giving addional warnings where they are warrented. The GPS notations will prevent all from ever getting lost. This is the purpose of the book. All the rest is gravy and welcomed gravy at that.

Heinz seems to have always much to give. His books are meaty with new information and yet he continues to ask important questions that others cannot. He has always been an advanced thinker and his books popularity always show this. His photography has the insights of an architect, which he is.

Heinz always gives us what we need. This is a great book to use while traveling as well as a place to go for new material on a favorite subjest.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for real or virtual visits to Chicago, February 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Metrochicago, Volume 2, Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide (Paperback)

This slim volume provides color pictures, maps and addresses of more than 100 FLW building in the Chicago area. It's the perfect guide for planning a visit or just enjoying the photos and brief histories of the houses. As a field guide, it's very well done. Hence, my 4 star rating.

The author could have improved the book by providing a cross reference by his "star" ratings. Also, he has a true believers conviction that the current home owners should be grateful to provide the author full access to their family history. I hope that the author will grow more tolerant in his search for every last bit of information and remember that many of these structures were first and are still private family homes.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Chicago Guide-Not so great, March 11, 2000

By 

James Sherbahn (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metrochicago, Volume 2, Frank Lloyd Wright Field Guide (Paperback)

I found the cost to quality/content ratio of this book to be fairly poor. The pictures are pretty good but small and there isn't as much up to date info on the houses as I had hoped for.

Many of the houses listed were classified as private, view from street. I found little value in these listings.

You'll get more off of FLW Websites and it will cost less!