About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of Georgia Press

ISBN-100820330205

ISBN-139780820330204

eBay Product ID (ePID)71684865

Product Key Features

Book TitlePillared City : Greek Revival Mobile

Number of Pages184 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2009

TopicArchaeology, Historic Preservation / General, History / Romanticism, Decorative Arts

IllustratorYes

GenreDesign, Architecture, Social Science

AuthorJohn S. Sledge

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.8 in

Item Weight23.5 Oz

Item Length11 in

Item Width8.5 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2008-050098

TitleLeadingThe

Dewey Edition22

Reviews"This much-needed book promises to be an instant classic. Both journalist and historian, Sledge uncovers fascinating new details about Greek Revival, that uniquely beautiful style. He goes far beyond architecture, using his effortless prose to craft a vivid social history of the antebellum city."-W. Barksdale Maynard, School of Architecture, Princeton University, The pages of The Pillared City suggest not only scholarship but also the author's sheer affection for his beloved city. Sledge's literary skill allows him to sustain interest by treating the buildings within the human context that brought them into being-and on occasion brought them down. A hefty slice of Mobile history is served up, with buildings as the primary vehicle through which the story is told., "Sledge's stories uncover the rich history of this part of Alabama and its architecture, set against the striking background of Sheila Hagler's photographs."-- Birmingham Magazine, "It is always a pleasure to read something written by someone who knows what he is talking about, and when it comes to the architecture of Mobile, Sledge knows his stuff."- Journal of Southern History, "Sledge's stories uncover the rich history of this part of Alabama and its architecture, set against the striking background of Sheila Hagler's photographs."- Birmingham Magazine, "John Sledge's writing style is reminiscent of those delicious architectural pieces that Brendan Gill used to do for the New Yorker. He knows his history, tells good stories, and makes the buildings and their builders come alive. This is a very distinguished book."-Winston Groom, "Sledge's stories uncover the rich history of this part of Alabama and its architecture, set against the striking background of Sheila Hagler's photographs."-Birmingham Magazine, "This much-needed book promises to be an instant classic. Both journalist and historian, Sledge uncovers fascinating new details about Greek Revival, that uniquely beautiful style. He goes far beyond architecture, using his effortless prose to craft a vivid social history of the antebellum city."--W. Barksdale Maynard, School of Architecture, Princeton University, Sledge's stories uncover the rich history of this part of Alabama and its architecture, set against the striking background of Sheila Hagler's photographs., "It is always a pleasure to read something written by someone who knows what he is talking about, and when it comes to the architecture of Mobile, Sledge knows his stuff."-- Journal of Southern History, "John Sledge's writing style is reminiscent of those delicious architectural pieces that Brendan Gill used to do for the New Yorker . He knows his history, tells good stories, and makes the buildings and their builders come alive. This is a very distinguished book."-Winston Groom, "The pages of The Pillared City suggest not only scholarship but also the author's sheer affection for his beloved city. Sledge's literary skill allows him to sustain interest by treating the buildings within the human context that brought them into being--and on occasion brought them down. A hefty slice of Mobile history is served up, with buildings as the primary vehicle through which the story is told."--Robert Gamble, Senior Architectural Historian, Alabama Historical Commission, "The pages of The Pillared City suggest not only scholarship but also the author's sheer affection for his beloved city. Sledge's literary skill allows him to sustain interest by treating the buildings within the human context that brought them into being-and on occasion brought them down. A hefty slice of Mobile history is served up, with buildings as the primary vehicle through which the story is told."-Robert Gamble, Senior Architectural Historian, Alabama Historical Commission, "John Sledge's writing style is reminiscent of those delicious architectural pieces that Brendan Gill used to do for the New Yorker . He knows his history, tells good stories, and makes the buildings and their builders come alive. This is a very distinguished book."--Winston Groom

Photographed byHagler, Sheila

Dewey Decimal724/.230976122

SynopsisA richly illustrated overview of the Greek Revival period in Mobile, Alabama (1825-70), when high style and vernacular columned buildings were erected on the city's streets. Featuring more than fifty-five contemporary black-and-white photographs by Sheila Hagler and a rich array of historical images that capture the grace and allure of Mobile., In The Pillared City , John S. Sledge presents a richly illustrated overview of the Greek Revival period in Mobile, Alabama (1825-70), when high style and vernacular columned buildings were erected on the city's streets. Using a wealth of resources such as deeds and diaries, Sledge reveals the architectural accomplishments that helped Mobile emerge from its position as a rustic backwater to become a prominent international seaport. Sledge explains how these buildings reflect coastal and national trends and details the surprisingly advanced construction techniques required of the architects and builders. Sledge offers more than an architectural history, incorporating stories such as how the triple blows of bankruptcy, yellow fever, and fire nearly obliterated Mobile in 1839. The eventful histories behind prominent landmarks such as Barton Academy, Government Street Presbyterian Church, Christ Episcopal Church, Oakleigh, Stewartfield, Georgia Cottage, and the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion are detailed, as are the lives of historical figures like Henry Hitchcock, James and Charles Dakin, James Gallier, Signor Vito Viti, John Trenier Sr., and Augusta Jane Evans. Featuring more than fifty-five contemporary black-and-white photographs by Sheila Hagler and a rich array of historical images, The Pillared City captures the grace and allure of Mobile's antebellum style.

LC Classification NumberNA735.M62S59 2009