Gottfried Semper: Architect of the Nineteenth Century

Rating:
Summary: A spectacular biography of a true creative giant
Review: It must seem pretty odd to have such a high opinion of apretty remote subject: the biography of a peripatetic,19th century German architect. But the author, Harry Mallgrave, is uniquely qualified to explore the vexatious artistic and architectural disputes of the 1830s to the 1870s in such a way that the major themes of the century run through the career - indeed, through the blood - of Gottfried Semper. And this is no accident for Semper, a fiery personality, was a central participant in the intellectual crusade that gave us "modern" culture. In this way, not only do we come to understand the roots of the contemporary professional dilemmas in architecture, but we are encouraged to see the larger, synthetic patterns of German intellectual life that are so important to the formation of our modern (and post-modern) approach to "the good life." I highly recommend the book, notwithstanding the rather daunting price tage, and believe that this long-awaited study marks an important contribution not only to the overall intellectual history of the nineteenth century, but it similarly marks a new standard in the writing of architectural biography. Mallgrave's mastery of fact and interpretation is exemplary; his style, perfectly suited to his task.