Plantation Houses and Mansions of the Old South (Dover Architecture) [Paperback]

J. Frazer Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 13, 1993 | Series: Dover Architecture

Profusely illustrated survey ranges from pioneer cabins to French Provincial and Neoclassic revivals. Detailed drawings, including 36 floor plans, depict such venerable residences as The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's homestead, the Gothic chapel of Old Jefferson College, many more. Rich commentary, with additional material on carpentry, other topics. 109 line illustrations, 7 halftones. Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One of the old South's crowning glories was its architecture. What would Gone with the Wind be without Tara? Originally published in 1941 under the title White Pillars: Early Life and Architecture of the Lower Mississippi Valley Country , this volume offers a bit of history along with illustrations and floor plans of many of the South's greatest construction.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover ed edition (December 13, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486278484
• ISBN-13: 978-0486278483
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #804,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A treasury of classic Southern architecture, May 14, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Plantation Houses and Mansions of the Old South (Dover Architecture) (Paperback)

"Plantation Houses and Mansions of the Old South," by J. Frazer Smith, is an informative celebration of the home architecture of the southern United States. This volume is actually an unabridged reprint; the book was originally published in 1941 with the title "White Pillars: Early Life and Architecture of the Lower Mississippi Valley Country." The book includes a foreword by Leicester B. Holland.

The book contains drawings and floor plans of many historic homes. These visual elements are accompanied by a generous text. Smith not only profiles important homes, but also illustrates the evolution of the southern home from a single one-room cabin into "dogtrot" homes, and eventually into larger structures.

Some of the homes presented in the book are Cragfont (1820) of Tennessee, with its impressive second-floor ballroom; Andrew Jackson's "the Hermitage" (1831); the Forks of Cypress (1820), an Alabama house with a 2-story wrap-around portico; and the Walter place (1855), a Mississippi home with twin octagonal towers.

Unfortunately, a perspective drawing and floor plans are not included for every house presented in the book. Also, an unpleasant racist subtext shows up at points in the book. Holland's foreword notes that the book "is a survey of the habitations of man of the Caucasian race [...] of the south." Elsewhere in the book are offhand or patronizing references to "niggers," "darkies," and an "old Mammy."

Since this book is an historic reprint, I believe that these racist remarks should be placed in proper context (but not ignored or excused). But if you want to see the majestic Greek-inspired pillars, covered porches, imposing staircases, and other elements that characterize classic southern architecture, check out this book.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Needs better pictures, August 6, 2005

By 

B. L PIZZI (St. Louis MO USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Plantation Houses and Mansions of the Old South (Dover Architecture) (Paperback)

The author speaks of the pleasing cream color used on the stucco walls of a particular home, but we are looking at an ink drawing. There are no actual photograhs in the book. I didn't enjoy trying to "imagine the color" at all.

I found it hard to recognize homes such as "Oak Alley" which I have actually visited. The line drawing did nothing to impress me at all. The artist line drawings do not do any home in the book any justice. It's unfortunate that after reading a small part of the book, I put it aside because I don't have a photo reference of the house I'm reading about.

This book would be better left on the shelf. Don't waste your money.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Plantation architecture, November 10, 2010

By 

L. Anderson (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Plantation Houses and Mansions of the Old South (Dover Architecture) (Paperback)

I bought this book hoping to see beautiful photos, but found black and white sketches which are very tastefully done and serve the purpose of the book, which is a textbook in architecture. The author travelled the South visiting these old mansions, some of which are now gone. So his sketches have preserved valuable information. I enjoyed the knowledge about the types of architecture and how it evolved from region to region and period to period. The basic thing I took away from this book is that architects were not professionals in the United States when these homes were being built. Many owners hired architects from France and Italy and you can easily see that in their forms. Also, some of the homes, though huge and beautiful, were not well-designed. I learned about types of staircases and which types were prominent in which regions, the types of brick used and how the skilled builders were hired from New York and Pennsylvania and lived on the plantation until the home was done. The slaves were used only to do the rough work such as molding bricks, digging basements etc. The sketches of the grounds and the garden layouts were most intriguing. This is a good book for those who want to know how a beautiful white-pillared mansion was built. For those who want glossy photos, there are better products out there.