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No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
 
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No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper (Hardcover)

by John Harris (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 242 pages
  • Publisher: John Murray Publishers Ltd (16 April 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0719555671
  • ISBN-13: 978-0719555671
  • Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 14.6 x 2.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 604,131 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Product Description
This volume recounts an odyssey through country houses in the years after World War II. Between 1946 and 1961 the author visited over 200 houses, becoming aware of the riches they contained, which were under threat from demolition men and dealers. He describes Nikolaus Pevsner being mistaken for the gas-meter-reader; reveals a secret hoard of porcelain at Slindon; and the curious discovery of an Alsatian in the bath at Draycot Cerne. In a dining room the family protraits still hang on the walls, and the Meissen stands in a cabinet, yet the centre of the room is piled high with turnips. Using archive photographs, the book describes country houses in their death throes, as mahogany staircases burn in the park and rococo ceilings shatter beneath the hammer.

About the Author
John Harris was joint organizer of the celebrated ‘Destruction of the Country House’ exhibition at the Vistoria and Albert Museum in 1974. He has also published many books on architecture, gardens, the decorative arts and architectural drawings. He is now Curator Emeritus of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Drawings Collection. He lives in London and Badminton.

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No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper
90% buy the item featured on this page:
No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
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Echoing Voices: More Memories of a Country House Snooper 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)

 

Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An enormously evocative summary of a great tradgedy., 27 Jan 1999
By A Customer
John Harris describes his ramblings and illicit entries into a succession of dilapidated yet beautiful old country houses during the late 60's and 70's during what must be the most concentrated period of country house destruction of all time. The atmosphere he manages to generate makes it seem as if one is witnessing the scene at first hand, and leave one with a feeling of great sadness and anger. I challenge any lover of our architecural heritage to be unmoved by this book. The odd swipes at Pevsner are a human, and amusing byline.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous but rather sad personal journey of discovery, 28 Jun 2009
By Chris "Reactiv8" (Horrorfordshire) - See all my reviews
Sadly I've only managed to see a library copy of this lovely book - Now out of print of course, and why? ... However, it is a beautifully written personal 'journey of discovery' of the sad decline and post-WWII destruction of so many historic country houses. Written from the perspective of an earlier time when wandering around the countryside in search of British Heritage was more innocent and less fraught with tedious and paranoid security issues - How refreshing it is to remember with nostalgia that better part of post-WWII decades, but also sad to think that not enough was done to save some of these houses when the country was on the verge of bankruptcy ... Not really so very different from now in that respect, but let's not let it happen again to those houses we do have left, eh? The author did his bit to save our History, and this book is written with an infectious passion. My only criticism would be the printed quality of the images which could be better - In the next, overdue edition perhaps?! Some line drawings and woodcuts too would be even better ...
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