Customer Reviews

Monument Wars: Washington, D.C., the National Mall, and the Transformation of the Memorial Landscape

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

 

 

Reading "Monument Wars," has completely altered the way I see and think of the Washington Mall (and memorialization in general). Instead of seeing the Mall as a static and inevitable landscape, I now see the layers of the Mall's past, shaped by men and politics, and understand what it has lost and what it has gained as it has changed over time. Savage's prose is lucid and accessible, his arguments are well reasoned and convincing, and his knowledge of Washington impressive. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a better and deeper understanding of the history and landscape of Washington D.C., the National Mall, and also of the changing ways we think about and perceive them both.

A bit dense, but packed with facts about the monuments and the mall. I concur with the above reviewer who said that the book brings the Mall to life by taking the reader on a journey through American history and how events shaped the Mall's progress. A must read if you like Washington DC history.

-Etan Schwartz

The author Kirk Savage has written a detailed historical book that not only describes the planning and construction of Washington D.C. monuments but also discusses the actual original planning of the city. Any potential reader should be aware that this book is presented (whether the author intended to or not) almost exactly like a high school or college text book. If you're looking for a breezy reading experience this is not the book for you. That does not mean that there aren't utterly amazing facts about American monuments that most people wouldn't even think about... facts such as these are abundant throughout the book... but... you really have to "work" to get them. At times the book seems to be (and may very well have been) geared for architects and engineers... because after all... the author is Professor and Chair of the Department of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh. Personally, I didn't know that when I ordered the book. The early going was extremely hard for an average layman reader (non-engineer-non-architect) like me to persevere through the voluminous discussions regarding the Washington Monument. "Spatial terminology"... "visual cues"... "haptic" experience... et al... along with more information regarding obelisk's than an average person would encounter in a lifetime.

If a layman decides to persevere there are many interesting discussions regarding monuments such as Grant's Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial... and as an honorably discharged Vietnam Veteran... the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was of utmost interest to me. What is also thought provoking is the battle in early America against any monuments at all... when the original beliefs were "THAT WORDS ALWAYS OUTLIVED THE GRANDEST HANDIWORKS OF SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE." The author also points out how the creation of monuments such as Lincoln's had to be created with great trepidation so as not to offend the southern confederates... and the monument committees had to tip toe around the fact that Washington and Jefferson were slave owners.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1982 and has "SINCE BECOME THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT, MOST WRITTEN-ABOUT MONUMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY." This Memorial was different in that the purpose was intended to be therapeutic. "THE MONUMENT WAS INTENDED TO RALLY AMERICANS AROUND THE SIMPLE IDEA THAT THE VETERANS OF THE WAR NEEDED RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT." "THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE WAR... SUBJECTED THE VIETNAM SOLDIER TO UNIMAGINABLE PRESSURES... WHILE EXPERIENCES IN COMBAT AREAS WERE BRUTAL ENOUGH IN THEMSELVES, THEIR ADVERSE EFFECTS WERE MULTIPLIED BY THE MALTREATMENT RECEIVED BY VETERANS UPON THEIR RETURN HOME." "NEVER BEFORE HAD STATEMENTS LIKE THIS BEEN USED TO JUSTIFY A WAR MEMORIAL." (*Amen!*)

The second half of this book has a better flow than the first half... but a potential reader needs to decide if they want a book that fits into the usual literary-enjoyable-entertainment-genre... or a text book that is seeded with some tremendous facts.

Well researched, well written, well illustrated _ though only in black and white, this book deals with the history of Washington's Mall and its monuments.

The author convincingly explains that the Mall that exists today is the product of the City Beautiful movement and not, as is often claimed, of Charles L'Enfant's original 18th century plan for the new capital of the United States.

In the first part of the book, the emphasis is placed on urban history. A shift occurs in mid-20th century towards a discussion restricted to monuments, very little reference being made to the various museums and institutional buildings added to the Mall in the past 75 years.

Still, this superb work is highly recommended to all those interested in urban planning and Washington in particular.

"Monument Wars" is on the ROROTOKO list of cutting-edge intellectual nonfiction. Professor Savage's book interview ran here as the cover feature on March 3, 2010.

The book came quickly and is in very good condition. Good seller to work with.