Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House
by Victoria Kastner
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Book Summary Information
Author: Victoria KastnerPhotographer: Victoria Garagliano
Foreword: George Plimpton
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-11-01
ISBN: 0810934159
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Book Reviews of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House
Book Review: Should have been better
Summary: 3 Stars
This is one of the most photogenic estates and locations still standing. Therefore nothing less than the best photos will do. In a place like San Simeon one would expect the best artistry from the photographers. But here we get the ordinary. The photos are not near dramatic enough and the printing of the photos gives them a washed out and faded look. In addition the production quality of the book is not that great. I would expect a heavy coffee table style book with heavy paper and thick boards. This book has the appearence of a cost cutting effort. To see how to do this right look at 'Carolands' and 'Waddesdon Manor' and 'Newport Villas' and the recent Acanthus Press series on great estates. These are sumptuous volumes where great care has gone into the production. San Simeon deserves equal.
Summary of Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House
Newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and his legendary California estate occupy a place in the public imagination through Orson Welles's Citizen Kane, but Kane's brooding Xanadu was merely a caricature of Hearst's exuberant castle at San Simeon. This new book sets the record straight and proves that, for once, truth is better than fiction.Here for the first time is the real story of Hearst Castle, and of the productive 28-year relationship between Hearst and his architect, Julia Morgan, who collaborated on the magnificent 165-room estate set on 250,000 breathtaking acres near the remote seaside hamlet of San Simeon, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Drawing on previously unpublished correspondence, and illustrated with never-before-seen historic photographs as well as more than 150 stunning color pictures, Victoria Kastner chronicles the evolution of this extraordinary hilltop, with its two spectacular pools and its astounding collections of fine art and antiques. Sprinkled throughout with stories of the famous parties hosted by Hearst and his companion, movie star Marion Davies, and their celebrated guests, this book brings to life America's most glamorous country house.
259 photographs, 157 in full color, 9 x 113/4"
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