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Clive Aslet
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An Exuberant Catalogue of Dreams: The Americans Who Revived the Country House in Britain Hardcover – November 1, 2013

by Clive Aslet (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

To a modern visitor nothing will seem more British than a classic country house like Cliveden or Leeds Castle. But the truth is actually very different. That such fabulous places exist in their present form - or in the case of, say, Blenheim, survive in the ownership of the family - is as much as anything down to American money and taste. Now, for the first time, Clive Aslet's magnificent book reveals the extent of this remarkable phenomenon.

Covering eighteen Americans and their houses - from the captivating May Goelet and Floors Castle in Scotland to the big game hunter Willie James and West Dean Park on the south coast - he illustrates the varied destinies by which stupendously wealthy Americans ended up owning great stately piles, and the variety of transformations they wrought upon them.

Some of the marriages between aristocrats and heiresses were happy, others distinctly less so. Dowries went on new roofs to keep the rain out and electric lighting and central heating to modernise dwellings that could be as wintry as the hearts of their ancestral owners. For self-made magnates like William Randolph Hearst or Gordon Selfridge a country house was a rich man's folly - Hearst filled St Donat's castle in Wales with untold fittings and trophies but hardly ever visited it, Selfridge's pharaonic vision for Hengistbury Head never escaped the drawing board. For others, like Andrew Carnegie at Skibo or Sir Paul Getty at Wormsley, it was the chance to out-do the natives by creating idylls of baronial splendour or arcadian cricket fields.

But the American influence, as Clive Aslet shows, was lasting, and profound beyond architecture and design. What became known as the `country house look' was codified by an American - Nancy Lancaster. The greatest of early twentieth-century gardens, Hidcote, was created by an American, Lawrence Johnston. It was an American romance - with Wallis Simpson at Fort Belvedere - that caused Edward VIII to abdicate. Illustrated throughout with magnificent photographs, An Exuberant Catalogue of Dreams is a fascinating chronicle of how it happened that, as Gladstone's Chancellor of the Exchequer remarked in 1898, `We are all Americans now'.

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  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Aurum Press
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    9.25 x 0.88 x 11.63 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1781310947
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1781310946
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Editorial Reviews

Review

‘From cover to cover, we are met with a magnificent array of images, both period and contemporary, that prove just how greatly we, as a nation, are indebted to those men and women who embraced our landscapes and our culture so generously. Combine this with a narrative distinguished as much by its effortless style as by its intelligent insights, and we have a truly exceptional work, every bit as entertaining as it is informative.’



`From cover to cover, we are met with a magnificent array of images, both period and contemporary, that prove just how greatly we, as a nation, are indebted to those men and women who embraced our landscapes and our culture so generously. Combine this with a narrative distinguished as much by its effortless style as by its intelligent insights, and we have a truly exceptional work, every bit as entertaining as it is informative.'

`Magnificent book with stunning photographs and glorious anecdotage.'



‘Magnificent book with stunning photographs and glorious anecdotage.’

About the Author

Clive Aslet is an award-winning writer and journalist, and an acknowledged authority on British architecture. He joined Country Life in 1977, was for thirteen years its Editor, and is now Editor-at-Large. He writes extensively for The Daily Telegraph and other publications. He is the author of many books, including The English House, Landmarks of Britain and Villages of Britain.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aurum Press; First Edition (November 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1781310947
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1781310946
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 0.88 x 11.63 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

About the author

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Clive Aslet

Clive Aslet

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Welcome to my page.

I’ve always been a writer and journalist, and for 13 years I used to edit the British magazine Country Life. My most recent project is Triglyph Books: the photographer Dylan Thomas and I set it up to publish illustrated books to the highest standard, starting with Old Homes, New Lives: the Resurgence of the British Country House. It celebrates 12 fabulous country houses, asking what such places mean in the 21st century and what they’re like to live in. Such fun to do – and amazing to think of us travelling around the country, visiting glorious places in complete freedom, in those pre-Covid days!

Over nearly 40 years I’ve written many books, particularly on architecture, the countryside and British life – you’ll see some of them here, with luck. My first was The Last Country Houses for Yale University Press, reissued a few years ago as The Edwardian Country House (Frances Lincoln).

Yale also published The American Country House. I’m delighted that they have now asked me to write The Story of the Country House which I am just finishing. In September 2020, Little Brown will publish The Real Crown Jewels of England, inspired by the fire at Notre-Dame in Paris – about 100 places that we would really miss if suddenly they weren’t to exist anymore.

My first novel, The Birdcage, was published by Cumulus (hardback, 2014) and Sandstone Press (paperback, 2016). I’m married, we live in London and Ramsgate and we have three children, aged form 19 to 25.

Thank you to veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby for describing my writing as ‘charming, erudite, amusing...His energy, enthusiasm and learning, always lightly worn, are prodigious.’

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
34 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and entertaining about English great houses. They appreciate the well-illustrated essays and stunning color images of mansions and castles. The book provides a better appreciation for residential architecture and the people who influenced it.

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Information valueArchitectureVisual quality
9 customers mention "Information value"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and engaging. They describe it as a fun read about Edwardian England and British-American relations. The narrative is perfect for anyone interested in American history, British history, and residential architecture.

"...The text is an interesting narrative of british-american relationshiips. The real Downton Abbey!" Read more

"...It's a good book, good weekend afternoon reading with interesting photographs." Read more

"I really loved the history of the people that influenced these great houses. It gives one a better appreciation of the architecture...." Read more

"Very interesting book on how Americans saved and renovated English great houses since the 1890s." Read more

3 customers mention "Architecture"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's architecture. They mention it gives them a better appreciation of British history and residential architecture. The book also covers how Americans saved and renovated English great houses since the 1890s.

"I really loved the history of the people that influenced these great houses. It gives one a better appreciation of the architecture...." Read more

"Very interesting book on how Americans saved and renovated English great houses since the 1890s." Read more

"...interested in American history, British history, and/or residential architecture." Read more

3 customers mention "Visual quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual quality. They find the essays well-illustrated with great images of stately homes, interiors, and gardens. The black-and-white and color photos are intermixed with stunning color spreads of mansions and castles.

"...rescued some of Britain's iconic stately homes, intermixed with stunning color spreads of the mansions and castles which have still survived...." Read more

"I was pleasantly surprised when I received this book, as it has very readable essays that are wonderfully illustrated...." Read more

"Great black and white and color images of some important interiors and gardens. Sadly, the text feels quickly assembled and poorly researched...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • William Suddaby
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Downton Abby
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A very fun read for anyone fascinated by Edwardian England. Many glamorous archival photos of the Americans who, sometimes unwittingly, rescued some of Britain's iconic stately homes, intermixed with stunning color spreads of the mansions and castles which have still survived. The text is an interesting narrative of british-american relationshiips. The real Downton Abbey!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • observer of the truth
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully illustrated book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I was pleasantly surprised when I received this book, as it has very readable essays that are wonderfully illustrated. It seemed that some of the Americans featured in the book were the same ones that are written about in other books, but there were a few that I was unaware of, and enjyed learning more about them. It's a good book, good weekend afternoon reading with interesting photographs.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Lynn M. Irvine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really loved the history of the people that influenced these great houses. It gives one a better appreciation of the architecture. I enjoy English architectural history, and this book gives a new "spin" on the history of these homes.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... interesting book on how Americans saved and renovated English great houses since the 1890s
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting book on how Americans saved and renovated English great houses since the 1890s.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Callas
    3.0 out of 5 stars Great images, mediocre text
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Great black and white and color images of some important interiors and gardens. Sadly, the text feels quickly assembled and poorly researched. This book could have been so much stronger with a more exacting attention to the text.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Michael Kerley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Facinating account of events!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I've read (and own) many books on historic English country houses. This one fills in a lot of the missing history and how the "yanks" helped save many of these British treasures...
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Quentin Ryan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A great book about a memorable period in English-American history.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Perfect for someone interested in American history, British history, and/or residential architecture.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • H.A.B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING BOOK ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    WOW..... What an unusual and thrilling book ...
    you simply cannot put it down .... unless you finished it... and you will always pick it up again ..

    the stories of the various houses and how they were saved , or taken over by people who had the means to bring the houses Back to their former glory and better!!!

    a great buy ... and a great present to give...
    Report
  • Kyle M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Experience
    Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Item was as expected and arrived quickly and in good condition. Thanks!
    Report
  • J B.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    as expected
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  • phyllis mac namara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Visual splendour literary disappointment
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderfully illustrated, so poorly written. Some of the English is so poor that I found myself checking again and again to see if these were essays compiled by Clive Aslet, were some of them by a different hand? Perhaps we are not expected to read the text, what a pity as the stories are so interesting. Many of the people portrayed changed the social structures , the interior decorating styles and even the landscape saving some of Britains' heritage for future generations. The use of their extraordinary financial resources makes for fascinating reading.
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  • Lindsey Clare Gee-Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A beautiful book with an especially beautiful front cover! Bought for my mother's birthday. Didn't realise that Lord Hesketh formerly of Easton Neston is really Fermor-Hesketh.
    Report