If you are fascinated by the goings on in a Country estate house, then you will love this book Highly informative while providing fascinating snippets of life inside 'The big house', I thoroughly enjoyed being led around the various parts of an estate house, the amount of people supported by the estate and the cost of the upkeep of the house alone is amazing. Aslet has a gift for bringing to life its inhabitants and one can easily imagine the symbiotic relationships of the estate and its people. I can easily recommend this book and then Netgalley, the publishers and the Author for an ARC of the Story of the Country House

Dreaming of British life has been one of my preferred pastimes for as long as I can remember, and Clive Aslet did an amazing job of transporting the reader into the world of British country houses. Who knew the history behind country houses was this illustrious? I love that Aslet spent time discussing specific houses, such as Hatfield House, and that he also discussed the individuals behind the development of the country house itself, like Inigo Jones.

I'm fascinated by history and architecture, and I think Aslet did a great job of combining each of these elements in an intriguing way. It's the perfect quaint book to read curled up with a blanket and a hot mug of tea on a Sunday evening.

I loved this book! The history of the English country house from the Middle Ages till nowadays is combined with snippets of general English history, with architecture and design and with social and ecological questions. It doesn´t only show the country house as such, but also it´s rooms, furniture, orangeries, garden and other surroundings, containing several famous houses still in use and telling about its architects and the times and places that had an effect on them. I also liked the beautiful photos and some illustrations. An ideal present, to your family and friends - or to yourself!
Thanks to Yale University Press and Netgalley for an arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A thorough history of the English country house from the medieval era through until today. With stunning photography and whimsical illustrations, this book is sure to woo architecture enthusiasts and novices alike. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation of the historical and architectural information through the stories of the people who lived there, built on the premises and passed the houses down to following generations. This is a great read and a great resource to add to your shelves!

I wanted to read this book as I'm a fan of Golden Age mystery and the country house is often the setting of these mysteries.
I got more than I bargained as it's well researched, informative, and compelling.
It starts in the Middle Age and tells the story of how country houses evolved.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thoroughly Engaging…
Charting the evolution of the country house in Britain in a very readable manner the author has done a wonderful job here. The narrative is entertaining, enjoyable and very informative and doesn’t halt at the houses themselves, incorporating tales of characters and situations making the history of the houses come to life. A thoroughly engaging read.

My thanks to Yale University Press and NetGalley for a review copy of this interesting and informative read.

[Country houses] are a document on which is written their owners’ changing lives, tastes and sources of income.

In The Story of the Country House: A History of Places and People, architectural historian and writer Clive Aslet traces the evolution of the English country house from mediaeval times to the present—the introduction in fact beginning even further back with the villas of Roman Britain—looking into various aspects from the form they took and architectural details to style, features, uses, the architects who designed them and the people that lived in them.

From villas to castles, pleasances to hunting lodges, large sprawling estates to more modest dwellings, country homes have taken various forms over time, and been designed based on changing ‘fashions’ and trends—inspirations for their design and decor coming from various parts of the world—Ancient Greece and Rome to the continent, and even the colonies. As they evolved, features and material used changed—sash windows and bow windows making appearances at different times; the emergence of the library; ha-has, follies and conservatories forming part of the property and waterworks becoming more complicated. At different times too, those that lived in the country home used it for different purposes—from monarchs and nobles of old travelling between their various homes with huge entourages (‘family’ having a wide meaning at this point) and all their furniture and belongings in tow; to castles which had a value for defence; places where owners nearly bankrupted themselves to host the monarch, to spaces where politics was carried out; as hospitals and convalescent homes during the war; places to show off and display one’s wealth to those to which families turned for retirement and privacy. Like their owners, country homes also saw ups and downs, suffering the most during war whether the war of the roses or the civil war or more recently, the first and second world wars; the wars’ aftermath and changing times meant that owners were not always able to keep up these opulent or large homes, with land having to be sold, or at times the homes themselves demolished. Still, the country house has survived and thrived, with people once again turning to them in the current scenario.

This well-researched book, in which Aslet’s knowledge shines through, covers vast ground including, besides architectural aspects and stories of architects and owners, the historical developments that impacted on not only what the houses looked like but also how they were used (the arrival of the motor car, for example, meaning that guests could move on faster and didn’t make long stays; or the need for people to work for a living making country homes spaces for ‘weekends’); and ‘servants’ and their role in keeping up the establishment; the author also brings up the more difficult questions of the sources of many of the owners’ prosperity (slavery; colonialism); besides also going into lighter matters like poetry dedicated to the country home and some literature (Wodehouse, for instance, with his many impoverished peers). The author takes up examples and instances of specific country homes, and the volume has (review copy) nearly fifty photographs and illustrations.

At only 224 pages of text, this is a relatively short volume; yet it is one which is chock full of facts and information—in fact, each page is brimming with it; it is certainly not a quick or easy read, but a book one can spend some time with (and certainly return to as well). What I liked about it was that the facts and information combined with their historical context are put forth in a very readable manner weaving in with them anecdotes and stories of the people associated with these homes. This makes it an enjoyable rather than a dry read despite it being a ‘heavy’ one. I did feel though that as far as the architectural nuances and details were concerned, perhaps one with more of an interest in the subject than a lay reader like myself would be able to both grasp and appreciate them better. But I certainly enjoyed reading it, finding myself thinking of different country homes from books (Austen’s Pemberley or Christie’s Styles Court; Wodehouse’s Blandings, and even Toad Hall—Aslet does mention Mr Toad’s driving escapades; also Downton of course, for some of the aspects of post-war country house history are reflected in that series)—as I did.

3.75 rounded off to 4 stars

This was an interesting nonfiction read.

This book provides detailed information about the evolution of the country houses in Britain, including both human stories and historical facts; it explores popular topics of fascination.

Aslet weaves together history, ownership, and architecture into an alluring picture of various country houses situated in the British Isles.

The text is filled with illustrations that make the houses easier to visualize.

Aslet also uses wit and humor to elevate the overall topic from becoming too dry.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in architecture and history.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in return for an honest review.

I am fond of reading books set in England, so I was interested in reading this book. I was hoping for more photos to get a better visualization of the places described. However, I would say that the author has done thorough research with this book. I would recommend this to anyone interested in looking for a 'British Country House' reference.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to give an honest review of this arc. :)

This book was perhaps not entirely what I was expecting it to be. It was not an account of the running and daily life of a country house but a history from an architectural perspective. This is an area I'm totally ignorant of so some of the esoteric terms were meaningless to me - perhaps a glossary would be useful. It is obviously impeccably researched and presents its information in such a manner that it avoids becoming impenetrably academic. It did at times seem to get itself in a tangle with the large number of names and chronology. I loved the photos but felt it needed maybe twice as many - I wanted to see the places the book described and found it frustrating at times not to have a visual reference. The text itself is engaging, perhaps a little dry in places, but the author's knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject are more than evident. As an overview of the development of the country house through the ages, I thought this book was interesting and entertaining but not what I'd call fascinating or enthralling.

I found this book fascinating. Looking into British history trough masterpieces of the architecture was very captivating. The pictures posted in the book added extra value to it.
Highly recommended position for history worms.

Fascinating history of not only houses but of the people who called them home…

Divided by time periods from Medieval to Post War (World War II) each category saw a number of houses featured, showcasing the rich, the titled and the famous of their ages. There were some photos included which gave tantalizing glimpses and I would have loved a lot more of them - both exteriors and interiors.

The details provided, factual and some well-imagined conclusions, built well-balanced and rich descriptions of the various houses and their inhabitants. The descriptions of those who lived there, owned and toiled over the houses and the properties, provided snippets of their real lives. People born to privilege, plus the servants that served them, offered a fascinating eye into the past…

Architecture, innovations, so many people and places included in this book made for dense, though entertaining, reading. I look forward to re-reading it as the writing style and the content will keep me going back to see what I missed.

This book was more academic than I anticipated, so please be aware of this if you’re looking for a lighter read, which might be what you’d expect given the whimsical cover illustration. Aslet gets deep into detail about all of the included country houses, which the book helpfully has organized by chronological era. Recommended for architecture and history buffs.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Admittedly I was originally drawn to the book because of its colorful cover. It is definitely a fun read for historical architecture lovers. This chronicles the country house from medieval times through the wars to the present.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating book. I enjoyed it a lot.

I'll admit that I was first drawn to The Story of the Country House: A History of Places and People by it's gorgeous naïf-style cover (although I haven't as yet been able to discern the identity of the designer). I'm pleased to report that the contents live up to the promise of the packaging!
Clive Aslet explores the the concept of the"country house" as it has evolved over the past millennium (the prologue looks further back to Roman times), in the context of prevailing social, political and economic conditions in Britain and in the wider world. Not only does he detail the architectural history of various well-known example properties, but the extraordinarily fascinating interplay between the actual or intended use of the structure and its, often fluid, physical form over time. He also delves into the influence of international architectural fashions and historical architectural theory. He relates entertaining anecdotes concerning owners, residents and events that took place at particular country estates and the reader will discover many fascinating details. Ever wonder why some country seats use the descriptor Abbey (as I have since watching a certain popular television series)? The answer is contained within.
Properties Aslet describes include: Standsted Park, West Sussex; Penshurst Place, Kent; East Barsham Manor, Norfolk; Knole Park, Kent; Burghey House, Lincolnshire; Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire; Chatsworth House, Derbyshire; Kinross House, Kinross-shire, Scotland; Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire; Chiswick House, London; Hopetoun House, South Queensferry, Scotland; Strawberry Hill, Twickenham; Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire; Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; Kelmscott Manor, Gloucestershire; Fort Belvedere in Windsor Great Park; and a modernist example in The New House, Wadhurst, Sussex. Aslet also describes several important gardens associated with country properties, such as that designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.
While not a photography-dominated "coffee table" volume, The Story of the Country House is liberally illustrated with photographs and other illustrations throughout. Nevertheless, so intrigued was I with Aslet's text that I frequently found myself using Google Earth and Wikipedia to find pictures and aerial images of the numerous featured properties.
In this time of lockdown, The Story of the Country House provided tantalising fodder for planning future overseas jaunts, as I've seen only a few of these buildings "in the flesh" and would love the opportunity to visit more in the future. I'd highly recommend the book to any reader interested in social and domestic history, British architecture generally, or the fascinating stories and personalities behind many of Britain's well-known landmarks.
My thanks to the author, Clive Aslet, publisher Yale University Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this fascinating and entertaining title.

The history of the British country house, its style, architects and occupants is what this book is about. For my personal taste the author provides the reader with far too much gossip and unnecessary information about said occupants and their extended families etc. At times I found it difficult to extract the parts that were actually about the houses themselves. I did not need to learn so much about habits, mistresses etc, and would have preferred maps, construction overviews and more detailed pictures. The last 3rd of the book is better structured but overall this was a bit of a disappointment.

As an unapologetic Anglophile, I was interested in the premise of this book. I am a fan of manor houses, castles and stately homes. If I lived in England I would definitely have a National Trust pass. This book was right up my alley,

The book covers country houses from medieval times to just after the world wars. The book has the usual suspects, Hardwicke Hall, Chatsworth, Blenheim, but other houses that I have not heard of such as Lytes Cary and Hopetoun House. The beautiful architecture of the Adams’ in Georgian times, the Regency, Victorian and Edwardian eras where more modern amenities were incorporated into the houses. The book was broken up into eras which made it easy to see the changes that happened over the centuries within the British Isles, There were some very interesting tidbits about individual houses with accompanying pictures.

I would defiitely recommend this book to anyone interested in architecture or British history.

Thanks to Netgalley, Yale University Press and the author Clive Aslet for the chance to read and review this book.

I was given this eARC by NetGalley for an honest review.

Overall, this is a beautiful history of the country house. It starts from the beginnings (Medieval) and ends in the now. Using drawings and photographs, we are able to see some of the houses from the certain period they were built. This book will have a very niche audience, mainly those interested in architecture and history.

What an interesting, entertaining, didactic book this is. I enjoyed it thoroughly and will be buying a paper copy for this Christmas. Definitely, a book which has many uses, and it is not just to be read once and forgotten, but I feel that I will come back to it again and again.
On the one hand this is exactly what the title says: a story of the English country house, ie a narrative that traces the birth and evolution of the typology from the Middle Ages to our days (one of the buildings considered was finished in 2019) and does so from an architectural, historical and personal point of view. Not only do we learn about the changing spacial arrangements of the house and the reasons behind them (political, social, aesthetic, economic), but we also get an intelligent, never patronising, introduction to architectural terms (be them enfilades or different approaches to dealing with columns), and the all important human element of the story (owners, builders, architects, monarchs...) is dealt with great anecdotes (eg poor Pugin collapsing at 15 in Notre Dame of drawing exhaustion or the vagaries of ), and succinct but revealing portraits (eg the 1st Duke of Devonshire "a fiery and dissolute man who fought several duels and gambled heavily non the races and cockfights at Newmarket").
The illustrations which accompany the text are relatively sparse but always making a point, and they do whet the appetite to either visit the place if at all possible, or to read further on the topic - and there is a well-thought-out bibliography/further-reading section, and a full index.
I would have loved to have the names of the houses in bold throughout the text, and/or an appendix arranged by the capitular historic headings with the names of those houses. Equally, a county section with the houses described... because I feel that in its masterful succinctness this is a proper companion guide (to keep and refer to) to many hours of enjoyment actually visiting many of the places mentioned or looking and reading at home.
The great beauty of this book, a tour-de-force of compression yet detailed knowledge, is to remind us, to make us see the houses considered in a proper continuum, not in isolation, as we often see them, but as a network to be thought about in relation to each other, to their past and present times. Scholarly yet very accessible, this story actually democratises this most class-ridden of buildings, and somehow shows them for what they are: artefacts of projection and not only private but also communal endeavour.
Many thanks to Yale University Press via NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this great book.