The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright: Critical Writings on Architecture

He was the most iconoclastic of architects, and at the height of his career his output of writings about architecture was as prolific and visionary as his architecture itself. Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered a bold new kind of architecture, one in which the spirit of modern man truly "lived in his buildings." The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright is a one-volume compendium of Wright's most critically important--and personally revealing--writings on every conceivable aspect of his craft. Wright was perhaps the most influential and inspired architect of the twentieth century, and this is the only book that gathers all of his most significant essays, lectures, and articles on architecture. Bruce Pfeiffer includes each piece in its entirety to present the architect's writings as he originally intended them. Beginning early in Wright's career with "The Art and Craft of the Machine" in 1901, the book follows major themes through The Disappearing City, The Natural House, and many other writings, and ends with A Testament in 1957, published two years before his death.This volume is beautifully illustrated with original drawings and photographs, and is complemented by Pfeiffer's general introduction, which provides history and context. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright is a must-have resource for architects and scholars and a delight for general readers.

Table of Contents:
Introduction by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer 1 Part I 1901The Art and Craft of the Machine 23 1908I n the Cause of Architecture 34 1910A usgefuhrte Bauten und Entwurfe von Frank Lloyd Wright 52 1912The Japanese Print: An Interpretation 66 1924Louis Henry Sullivan: His Work 75 1925I n the Cause of Architecture: The Third Dimension 80 1927I n the Cause of Architecture I: The Architect and the Machine 92 In the Cause of Architecture II: Standardization, the Soul of the Machine 95 In the Cause of Architecture II: Steel 98 In the Cause of Architecture IV: Fabrication and Imagination 102 In the Cause of Architecture V: The New World 106 1928In the Cause of Architecture I: The Logic of the Plan 109 In the Cause of Architecture II: What "Styles" Mean to the Architect 115 In the Cause of Architecture II: The Meaning of Materials-- Stone 120 n the Cause of Architecture IV: The Meaning of Materials--Wood 126 In the Cause of Architecture V: The Meaning of Materials--The Kiln 131 In the Cause of Architecture VI: The Meaning of Materials--Glass 137 In the Cause of Architecture VI: The Meaning of Materials--Concrete 141 In the Cause of Architecture VI: Sheet Metal and a Modern Instance 145 In the Cause of Architecture IX: The Terms 151 Part II 1931Modern Architecture, Being the Kahn Lectures (Princeton) 159 Two Lectures on Architecture (Art Institute of Chicago) 217 1932The Disappearing City 235 1937A rchitecture and Modern Life: Some Aspects of the Past and Present of Architecture 276 1938"The Architectural Forum" 292 Part III 1954The Natural House 319 1957A Testament 365 Index 441

About the Author :
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. He is the author or editor of many books on Wright, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Lewis Mumford: Thirty Years of Correspondence

Review :
"Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is a living link to Wright himself and has performed an important service by publishing books of letters, photographs, and drawings which bring us closer to the architect's world, creative process, personal life and literary sources. The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright ... is a well-designed anthology."--William J. R. Curtis, Times Literary Supplement "[T]his valuable record of Wright's words forms a welcome addition to the three key accounts of his designs that appeared at the end of the 20th century... Heartily recommended."--Peter Kaufman, Library Journal "[A] reproduction of the original publication of Modem Architecture, handsome to hold and read, and additionally valuable for its enlightening new introduction by Wright scholar Neil Levine of Harvard University... The Essential Wright is essential reading."--Barrymore Laurence Scherer, Antiques "[T]he book is inspiring and presents a very good recompilation of the life work one of the most important architects of the twentieth century that was also very concerned with organic architecture and conservation of the natural environment. In addition, this hardbound book is made of high quality materials, it is well written, and it is a must-have resource for architects and scholars."--Martha Patricia Ni?o, Leonardo Reviews "Perhaps some people think you can have too many books on Frank Lloyd Wright, but I believe there's always room for more. This year, it's a scholarly duo from Princeton University Press: The Essential Frank Lloyd Wright: Critical Writings on Architecture, edited by Wright scholar Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer (453 pages, $49.95) and the essential Modern Architecture: Being the Kahn Lectures for 1930, with a new introduction by Neil Levine (115 pages, $29.95)."--Mary Chandler, Rocky Mountain News