The Virginia House: A Home for Three Hundred Years

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Summary: IF YOU LOVE VIRGINIA HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE, GET THIS BOOK
Review: SINCE THIS INCREDIBLY WORTHY AND LOVELY BOOK WAS FIRST PUBLISHED CIRCA 1984, I HAVE BOUGHT AND GIVEN AWAY MANY COPIES.
I CAN ONLY COMPARE IT TO THE FINE SERIES ON VIRGINIA HOMES THAT WAS WRITTEN BY EMMIE FERGUSON FARRAR BACK IN THE 1950'S.
ANNE MANNINGTON FAULCONER POSSESSES THE GOOD COMBINATION OF A FINE HISTORIAN AND THE GIFT OF AN AESTHETIC'S EYE.
EVERY HOUSE REPRESENTED IN THIS BOOK IS A JEWEL, CHOSEN NOT BECAUSE IT IS FAMOUS OR FANCY, BUT BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS CERTAIN, UNIQUE TRAITS THAT ARE PECULIAR TO A CERTAIN HOUSE THAT
IS KNOWN AS "THE VIRGINIA HOUSE".
THOSE TRAITS ARE NOT SPECIFIC IN STYLE OR DESIGN;
INDEED, THESE HOUSES
ARE QUITE VARIED AND RANGE FROM THE VERY GRAND TO THE VERY SIMPLE.
WHAT ANNE MANNINGTON FAULCONER DOES BEST WITH HER BOOK IS TO LET THE HOUSES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
SHE PRESENTS THE FLOORPLANS AND THE ELEVATIONS AND THE SIMPLEST DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH HOUSE AND ITS HISTORY. THE READER IS COMPELLED TO ADMIRE THE 'OLD WAY OF SEEING' AND WONDER HOW WE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DEGENERATED TO THE MCMANSION MENTALITY OF TODAY.