Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture. ( Twentieth Edition ) (Hardcover)

~ Dan Cruickshank (Editor) "The twentieth edition of Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture marks the one hundredth year of publication..." (more)
Key Phrases: alpa vimana, kibla wall, pilaster articulation, New York, New Zealand, Asia Minor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'..the whole point of Banister Fletcher is that it does cram everything into
a single volume. It will remain one of the most thumbed tomes in Building
Design's office library..above all, gloriously and frustratingly, invaluable.'
Building Design, October 1996

'..clearly a bargain.'
The Architect's Journal, October 1996

'...a revolution has taken place in Banister Fletcher. The timid
modernizing, the anxious realignments of the past fifty years are over;
under Dan Cruickshank's editorship, it has achieved a thoroughness and
flexibility one would never have thought possible within the grandiose
shell of this late Victorian institution. Half the pleasure, as half the volume, of Banister Fletcher is its pictures. The thousands of photographs are, as always in Banister Fletcher, unimprovably fine.'
The Times Educational Supplement, November 1996

is 'a monument in itself'
Book Reviews on the Internet 1996

"A thundering classic appears again with useful additions. As Sir Banister Fletcher said, 'The study of architecture opens up the enjoyment of buildings with an appreciation of their purpose, meaning, and charm.' These words aptly summarise what this book has become for generations of students and architects. No serious fan of architecture should be without it."
American Institute of Architects.

'It is such a remarkable book, containing so much detail and so skilfully illustrated, that it is a must for all architectural and surveying offices at such a reasonable price.'
ASI Journal, Jan 1997

'An easy-to-use reference book with all the world's major architecture
described, explained and, in many cases, fully illustrated.'
B & M Architecture & Design

'Students would be well advised not to waste money on a pile of discounted colourful coffee-table books, but rather to concentrate resources on this single volume... It will continue its usefulness beyond the years of study and become an additional aid to everyday practice.'
Times Higher Educations Supplement

'...the bible of architectural history... Banister Fletcher remains a potted history with remarkably pithy writing.'
Building

'...succinct characterization of individual architects and a liveliness of both criticism and description'
The Times Educational Supplement -- Review

Review

'..the whole point of Banister Fletcher is that it does cram everything into
a single volume. It will remain one of the most thumbed tomes in Building
Design's office library..above all, gloriously and frustratingly, invaluable.'
Building Design, October 1996

'..clearly a bargain.'
The Architect's Journal, October 1996

'...a revolution has taken place in Banister Fletcher. The timid
modernizing, the anxious realignments of the past fifty years are over;
under Dan Cruickshank's editorship, it has achieved a thoroughness and
flexibility one would never have thought possible within the grandiose
shell of this late Victorian institution. Half the pleasure, as half the volume, of Banister Fletcher is its pictures. The thousands of photographs are, as always in Banister Fletcher, unimprovably fine.'
The Times Educational Supplement, November 1996

is 'a monument in itself'
Book Reviews on the Internet 1996

"A thundering classic appears again with useful additions. As Sir Banister Fletcher said, 'The study of architecture opens up the enjoyment of buildings with an appreciation of their purpose, meaning, and charm.' These words aptly summarise what this book has become for generations of students and architects. No serious fan of architecture should be without it."
American Institute of Architects.

'It is such a remarkable book, containing so much detail and so skilfully illustrated, that it is a must for all architectural and surveying offices at such a reasonable price.'
ASI Journal, Jan 1997

'An easy-to-use reference book with all the world's major architecture
described, explained and, in many cases, fully illustrated.'
B & M Architecture & Design

'Students would be well advised not to waste money on a pile of discounted colourful coffee-table books, but rather to concentrate resources on this single volume... It will continue its usefulness beyond the years of study and become an additional aid to everyday practice.'
Times Higher Educations Supplement

'...the bible of architectural history... Banister Fletcher remains a potted history with remarkably pithy writing.'
Building

'...succinct characterization of individual architects and a liveliness of both criticism and description'
The Times Educational Supplement

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1696 pages
• Publisher: Architectural Press; 20 edition (September 25, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750622679
• ISBN-13: 978-0750622677
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.8 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #446,113 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of historical detail, October 17, 2003

By	misterbeets "misterbeets" (Safe Harbor, MD USA) - See all my reviews

Mine is a new 1975 edition (which was a small fraction of the new price). It is as much a history of the world--and an incredibly detailed one--as a history of architecture. It opens each of its 40 chapters with a discussion of a civilization or era, then describes the buildings very matter-of-factly. Sometimes opinions emerge: Louis Kahn is cited as an example of a flash-in-the-pan; FLLW's Guggenheim is criticized as impractical.

The photos are top quality B/W, often very old. Its real strength is early architecture; by chapter 35, it is only finishing up the Renaissance. The authors are so knowledgeable, the writing so polished after 18 editions, all others pale by comparison.

I don't think there's much of a market for these books outside of libraries, but those who read it will marvel at its erudition.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Complete Book on Western Architecture, April 25, 2004

By	Directed Energy (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Without a doubt, this text is the Quintessential Gold Standard for introductory Western Architecture. A must have for anybody who is serious about learning about how Western Architecture has evolved over time, and with little if any bias. Its only weak area is with architectural development in Asia and South/Central Meso America. Other than that, this is my third copy of the text and it just keeps getting better. Believe me when I say, this is one book you may never want to loan out, for it may not get returned. I know, it's happened to me once already.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Architectural Bible, October 8, 1998

By A Customer

The comparitive method used in this book is probably the best way of understanding architecture, and putting it into a modern perspective. The diagrams, tables, and charts allow the reader to analize, compare, and then take their own conclusions from the material. It is the quitessential architectural reference book.