Ornament and Crime: Selected Essays. (Studies in Austrian Literature, Culture, and Thought. Translation Series) [Paperback]

Adolf Loos (Author), Michael Mitchell (Translator) (Author), Adolf Opel (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Studies in Austrian Literature, Culture, and Thought Translation Series | Publication Date: November 15, 1997

Ornament and Crime contains thirty-six original essays by the celebrated Viennese architect, Adolf Loos (1870-1933). Most deal with questions of design in a wide range of areas, from architecture and furniture, to clothes and jewelery, pottery, plumbing, and printing; others are polemics on craft education and training, and on design in general. Loos, the great cultural reformer and moralist in the history of European architecture and design was always a 'revolutionary against the revolutionaries'. With his assault on Viennese arts and crafts and his conflict with bourgeois morality, he managed to offend the whole country. His 1908 essay 'Ornament and Crime', mocked by an age in love with its accessories, has come to be recognized as a seminal work in combating the aesthetic imperialism of the turn of the century. Today Loos is recognized as one of the great masters of modern architecture.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

About the Author

Michael Mitchell (Translator), was the winner of the 1998 Schlegel-Tieck Prize, is a distinguished literary translator, with a special interest in Austrian culture. Other translations include: Meyrink, The Golem; Kubin, The Other Side; Grimmelshausen, The Adventures of Simplicissimus.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Ariadne Pr (November 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572410469
• ISBN-13: 978-1572410466
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great essays, but one less than what I hoped for, March 25, 2006

By 

Nicholas Rawlings "architecture student" (Charlotte NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ornament and Crime: Selected Essays. (Studies in Austrian Literature, Culture, and Thought. Translation Series) (Paperback)

I was a bit disappointed that this volume did not include "The Poor Little Rich Man" in its selection, but it is otherwise a nice collection of Loos' delightful and insightful essays. In addition to "Ornament and Crime", this book gives you:

Our School of Applied Art
The Christmas Exposition in the Austrian Museum
The Jubilee Exhibition: The Exhibition Buildings
The Silver Court and the Neighboring Pavilion
Men's Fashion
The New Style and the Bronze Industry
Interior Design: Prelude
The Interiors of the Rotunda
Chairs
Glass and China
Luxury Carriages
Plumbers: Baths and Kitchen Ranges
Gentlemen's Hats
Footwear
Shoemakers
Ladies' Fashion
Underwear
Furniture
The Furniture of 1898
Printers
A Review of the Applied Arts I
A Review of the Applied Arts II
The English Schools in the Austria Museum
Pottery
Surplus to Requirements
In Praise of the Present
Culture
Cultural Degeneration
Brief Intermezzo
Beethoven's Ears
Hands Off!
Ornament and Education
Short Hair
Oscar Kokoschka
On Josef Hoffman