Synopses & Reviews
At the heart of this stirring tale and visual delight is a group of ten extraordinary houses and castles that have survived the vicissitudes of Scotlandandrsquo;s history with almost all of the original families who built them still in residence today. Their histories are peopled with strongwilled men and womenandmdash;from the notorious General Tam Dalyell of the House of the Binns, who served not only the Stuart kings but the czar of Russia, to the first Duke of Queensberry, who built one of the most sensational castles in Britain, to a love match worthy of the andquot;auld allianceandquot; between the Earl of Stair and his French-born countess.
Each house also represents a landmark in Scotlandandrsquo;s architectural history, ranging from the early seventeenth to the early twentieth century. The cutting-edge classicism of William Bruce at Balcaskie, the sensational French chandacirc;teauandndash;inspired Drumlanrig, the splendor of William Adamandrsquo;s baroque at Arniston, and the sublime Palladianism of his sons, the Adam brothers, at Dumfries House, are a roll call of architectural genius. The Victorian passion for all things Scottish is displayed in Lochinch Castle, a bravura example of the Baronial style, bristling with turrets, bartizans, and stepped roofs. And Robert Lorimerandrsquo;s beautifully crafted reconstruction at Monzie at the turn of the twentieth century reveals him as a major talent who synthesized European and purely Scottish styles, expressing, like his fellow architects in this book, a uniquely Scottish sensibility. The architectural revelation is matched by the housesandrsquo; sensational settings, which merge the historically designed gardens and landscape with the unparalleled wildness and vistas of Scotland.
But, as author James Knox writes in his lively, insightful text, andquot;The glory of Scottish country houses is not just their architecture but their contents, which add layers of personality to the interiors.andquot; As Knox guides the reader on an intimate tour of the houses, he recounts their fascinating histories and profi les the colorful, often eccentric, lairds, lady lairds, clan chiefs, and nobles who have called them home. And James Fennellandrsquo;s masterly photographs, which rely solely on natural light for effect, capture the distinctive atmosphere of each residence. The Duchess of Buccleuchandrsquo;s boudoir at Bowhill is a frenzy of chinoiserie, needlepoint, and silk tassels. At Ballindalloch, the Macpherson-Grant tartan carpets the entrance hall and Victorian paintings of the familyandrsquo;s prized Aberdeen Angus herdandmdash;the oldest in Scotlandandmdash;adorn many a room. The motto of the Munro clan, andquot;Dread God,andquot; is emblazoned throughout Foulis Castleandmdash;on china, wall plaques, not to mention the clan chief andrsquo;s bonnet. All of these cherished houses are chockablock with memories of the past, from swagger portraits to sporrans, from vintage photographs to ancient weaponry, from curling stones to fading chintz. Some are also treasure houses, not least Dumfries House, saved from the auction block by a consortium headed by the Prince of Wales, which boasts an unrivaled collection of documented Chippendale and Scottish rococo furniture.
The Scottish Country House will enthrall anyone with an interest in Scotland, history, architecture, or interior decorationandmdash;all wrapped in a compelling narrative of past lives and taste.
Praise for The Scottish Country House:
andquot;If you like historic homes, this book is for you. It's filled with beautiful photos of historic Scottish castles and grand estates.andquot; -Design*Sponge
andldquo;Who can resist a beautiful chateau set in the lush green countryside of Scotland? I, for one, cannot. In James Knox's new book, he focuses on ten standout examples of Scottish country living. With each house, he details the history of the establishment, and follows through to how it stands today.andrdquo; andmdash;Home Design with Kevin Sharkey
andldquo;This book, filled with lavish photography by James Fennell, profiles ten outstanding Scottish castles and mansions, from sprawling Walter Scott-type baronial spreads to elegant neoclassical, Adam-designed treasure houses. . . . This book makes one want to get on the next plane for Edinburgh.andrdquo; andmdash;Art of the Times
andldquo;I just had the pleasure of reviewing The Scottish Country House which confirmed that this fall is turning out to be an exceptionally good season for design books. The Scottish Country House features ten Scottish houses and castles from the seventeenth to the twentieth century, spanning a range of architectural styles. Almost all of the houses are inhabited by the original families who built them, and each has a fascinating story to tell. As you might expect, the interiors are rich and layered with vintage photographs and portraits, ancient weaponry, taxidermy, and Chippendale and Scottish rococo furniture, all of it beautifully photographed by James Fennell.andrdquo;andmdash;From the Right Bank blog
andldquo;I have recently read a book (and yes, I read it cover to cover!) that now has a prominent place on my library coffee table - The Scottish Country House, by James Knox. . . . The book is a fascinating read. . . . [and] the photography in the book is incredible; James Fennell took the pictures that illustrate the 10 Scottish country houses profiled in the book (I spent hours poring over the picturesandmdash;each picture has dozens of interesting details).andrdquo;andmdash;Things That Inspire blog
andldquo;Vicariously experience Scotland's ruggedly beautiful vistas and striking architecture with James Knox's The Scottish Country House. Knox collaborated with photographer James Fennell (remember his work from The Irish Country House?) who was determined to shoot only in natural light.andrdquo;andmdash;Style Court blog
Synopsis
A land of legend and lore, Ireland is also home to some of the most breathtaking residences in the world, ten of which are explored in this charming book. Take a once-in-a-lifetime tour through these historical homes and castlesand#8212;all still owned and lived in by the original familiesand#8212;furnished with heirlooms and cherished hand-me-downs. From cabinets filled with monogrammed china to cabbage-rose slipcovered sofas nestled beneath tall Gothic windows, the lavish living rooms and bedrooms, print-lined hallways, and well-used mudrooms capture the distinctive personalities of their owners.and#160;
"This is country house porn of the sweetest, most insinuating kind and will probably be a smash." and#8212;World of Interiors
"An intimate glimpse of life inside ten wonderful Irish country houses." and#8212;Min Hogg
Synopsis
"I am sure that this book will give great pleasure to any who open its covers."and#12288;and#8212;Julian Fellowes, from the Forewordand#160;Stately, grand, and a testament to the generations who have cared for them, the 10 English country houses featured in this volume are architecturally distinctive and filled with evocative family memorabilia, from commissioned portraits to monogrammed heirloom dinner services to the bells that once summoned the downstairs staff. Like the fictional Downton Abbey, these real homes are still in the hands of descendants of the original owners.
From Kentchurch Court, which has been the seat of the Scudamore family for nearly 1,000 years, to a delightful Gothic house in rural Cornwall to a charming ducal palace to Goodwood House, Englandand#8217;s greatest sporting estate, this beautifully illustrated book showcases a wealth of gardens, interiors, and fine art collections. James Peill, coauthor of Vendomeand#8217;s The Irish Country House, recounts the ups and downs of the deep-rooted clans who constructed these homes and illuminates the history and legends behind these marvelous estates, many of which have never before been published. Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, contributes a foreword.and#160;Praise for The English Country House:"For hundreds of years generation after generation of the families that built these rarely seen houses, has added to the delights seen within and without." -Min Hogg
"Whatever virtues one assigns to the English country house (. . . .a daunting coffee table book just out from the Vendome Press), coziness is not one of them. . . .And yet the drafty beauty of the estates is such that it would clearly be worth enduring centuries upon centuries of emotional remoteness just to hang on to all that pomp and silver and canopied beds and coffered ceilings and graceful balustrades nestled in the sheepy hills." and#8212; TownandCountryMag.com
"There's something mysterious about a stately home in the English countryside. . . . Peill takes a closer look at 10 such homes. . . . As if the beautiful photographs of the interiors and vistas weren't enough, Peill's text also looks at the histories and legacies of the families who occupied these estates." and#8212; MarthaStewart.com
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About the Author
Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, is president of the Irish Georgian Society and a governor of the National Gallery of Ireland. He has written numerous books on Irish art, furniture, and architecture.
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James Peill is the curator of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. He was formerly a vice president of Christieand#8217;s, where he was a specialist in the European furniture department.
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James Fennelland#8217;s photographs have been published in Condand#233; Nast Traveler, World of Interiors, and Architectural Digest.