'The true fascination resides in the less well-known interiors' RA Magazine 'This magnificent book, with illustrations of breathtaking beauty specially taken by Fritz von der Schulenburg, is the fullest account ever written of its absorbing subject. It will come as a revelation, even to those who think they are familiar with London ... The book is ... not only about architecture, but about people, whose social, artistic and political ambitions, and manner of living, are vividly brought to life ... We are familiar with the depressing list of great houses demolished in the 20th century, from Devonshire House to Londonderry House, but this book can surely cheer us up during the recession with its visions of surviving splendour.' -- David Watkin Country Life 'This lavishly illustrated compendium suggest that the age of elegance endures' Mail on Sunday 'This sumptuously illustrated volume...extends its reach both sociologically and chronologically... James Stourton's text is very readable, deftly mingling the architectural history and the social, and on the whole reliable, and it is completemented by Fritz von der Schulenburg's specially taken photographs' Historic House 'Writing in a deceptively simple style, Stourton concentrates on architects and artists, on awners and occupants. Idiosyncratic and amusing, he makes you see everything in a new light' The Tablet 'the deft weaving of architectural, social and contemporary history will reveal unexpected pleasures' Art Quarterly 'A fascinating and witty tour of some of London's most elegant (and most secret) houses and the people who built them' Economist 'Stourton writes elegantly and absorbingly about both architects and owners' -- Marcus Binney The Times 'A treasure ... best of all are the authors personal asides on builders and those who inspired them' Economist

JAMES STOURTON is Chairman of Sotheby's UK. He writes regularly for The Times, the Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Spectator and Apollo. Previous books include Great Smaller Museums of Europe (2003) and Great Collectors of Our Time (2007). During a photographic career that has spanned over 35 years, FRITZ VON DER SCHULENBURG has achieved international acclaim. His photographs have been published in numerous interior design and architectural magazines, including The World of Interiors, House & Garden and Architectural Digest. He has also published several volumes of his own work. These include: Neoclassicism in the North, The English Garden Room, Romantic Scotland, Empire, and Living by Design.

The Houses: Lambeth Palace; Ashburnham House; Marlborough House; 4 Cheyne Walk; 44 Berkeley Square; 1 Greek Street (House of St Barnabas); Wimborne House; 10 Downing Street; 3 Grafton Street; Spencer House; 106 Piccadilly; 20 St James's Square; Home House; Mansion House; Dover House; Apsley House, No. 1 London; Stratford House; Soane Museum; Regent's Park houses; Seaford House; 4 Grosvenor Square (Italian Embassy); Lancaster House; Bridgewater House; Kensington Palace Gardens; Speaker's House; Leighton House; 18 Stafford Terrace; Astor House; Tower House; Debenham House; Emery Walker's House; 46 Grosvenor Street; 54 Mount Street (Brazilian Embassy); 64 Old Church Street (Hamlyns); 2 Willow Road (Erno Goldfinger); St Leonard's Terrace (Richard Rogers); 6-9 Carlton House Terrace (Royal Society); Spitalfields; Malplaquet House; 10 Milner Street