Overview

This delightful chronicle of contemporary building and planning in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, makes a compelling case for the importance of architecture on a local scale.

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9780300256963

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It's no surprise that architect and urbanist Witold Rybczynski fell under the spell of Charleston, S.C., one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. Nor is it a shocker that this prolific author was inspired to write a book about Charleston in an attempt to get at the heart of what makes it special. What is surprising, and pleasantly so, is the circuitous route he takes to get us there. --Logan Ward, Wall Street Journal The writer of a new book on architecture in South Carolina's oldest city praises past glories and rues recent developments. --Steven Kurutz, New York Times Rybczynski has a gift for seamlessly integrating history and theory into his books. In Charleston Fancy, we learn how the Holy City's unique urban landscape came to be, and we also learn some of the history of Palladianism in colonial America. . . . The result is an enjoyable series of mini-lessons in history, urbanism, and aesthetics that go down as easily as cool summer cocktails on a Charleston piazza. --James Ewing, New Criterion Awarded The Athenaeum of Philadelphia's 2019 Literary Award for Architecture and Preservation It is in the search for beauty, the careful execution of each detail, that the ensemble of her buildings creates a city that is admired and loved. Charleston Fancy teaches us this is still possible. --Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor of Charleston (1975-2016) Rybczynski brings Charleston alive, architecturally, journalistically, humanly. --Paul Hendrickson, author of Hemingway's Boat In this engaging and fascinating account of development and urban conservation in and around Charleston, Rybczynski masterfully tells a series of interconnected stories that, like a complex Russian novel, involve a variety of characters, bound together by the place itself and its unique history and culture. --Steven W. Semes, author of The Future of the Past

""It's no surprise that architect and urbanist Witold Rybczynski fell under the spell of Charleston, S.C., one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. Nor is it a shocker that this prolific author was inspired to write a book about Charleston in an attempt to get at the heart of what makes it special. What is surprising, and pleasantly so, is the circuitous route he takes to get us there.""--Logan Ward, Wall Street Journal ""The writer of a new book on architecture in South Carolina's oldest city praises past glories and rues recent developments.""--Steven Kurutz, New York Times ""Rybczynski has a gift for seamlessly integrating history and theory into his books. In Charleston Fancy, we learn how the Holy City's unique urban landscape came to be, and we also learn some of the history of Palladianism in colonial America. . . . The result is an enjoyable series of mini-lessons in history, urbanism, and aesthetics that go down as easily as cool summer cocktails on a Charleston piazza.""--James Ewing, New Criterion Awarded The Athenaeum of Philadelphia's 2019 Literary Award for Architecture and Preservation ""It is in the search for beauty, the careful execution of each detail, that the ensemble of her buildings creates a city that is admired and loved. Charleston Fancy teaches us this is still possible.""--Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor of Charleston (1975-2016) ""Rybczynski brings Charleston alive, architecturally, journalistically, humanly.""--Paul Hendrickson, author of Hemingway's Boat ""In this engaging and fascinating account of development and urban conservation in and around Charleston, Rybczynski masterfully tells a series of interconnected stories that, like a complex Russian novel, involve a variety of characters, bound together by the place itself and its unique history and culture.""--Steven W. Semes, author of The Future of the Past

Author Information

Witold Rybczynski is an architect and emeritus professor of urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania.

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