Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House

We live a couple of hours from Hearst Castle and have made the trek on occasion for ourselves and for visiting friends and family. Everyone we've taken has enjoyed the tours very much. To remind them of our lovely time together I buy them this beautiful coffee table book, along with Hearst San Simeon: The Gardens and the Land by the same author. Both are out of print and copies are getting hard to find. If I could only buy one though, this would be it. The other book is wonderful in it's own right but does have some duplication. Either way, absolutely beautiful books to remember an absolutely beautiful place. I recommend getting a copy for your beautiful people while you still can. Don't forget to get one for yourself too!

This book arrived today, ahead of the original promised time. It is in perfect, like new, condition and to my delight has the author’s signature on the title page. Even the jacket shows no sign of wear. My friends love Hearst Castle and they thoroughly enjoyed viewing my copy. I bought it as a gift for them and took a chance it would be in decent condition. I couldn’t be happier.

This is a beautiful book for anyone who enjoys architecture and interior design and photography.

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I recently toured the Hearst Castle and took as many photographs as I could. However, given the renovations underway, the large number of visitors, the enormity of some of the rooms, the brief time allotted for taking photos, and the need for a wide-angle lens in many situation (I don't have), it was not possible to adequately do so. Another problem - remembering the names and progeny associated with many items, including some of the rooms. Thus, this book helps fill that need.Great detail and background is provided. It is not a book to sit down with a read through - rather one to take a bit at a time.

A thoroughly enjoyable exposition of the Castle's building and decorating project and of W. Hearst's and Julia Morgan's collaboration. Julia was an amazing person, handling enough responsibilities to keep several people busy, not to mention coping with Hearst's endless changes. Hearst himself was also amazing, being involved in the design and construction of two other mansions as well as the "Castle". In addition, he seemed to know every piece in a collection that required six warehouses and three other properties to store! For anyone planning to see the Castle, reading this book first will add greatly to the tours.

Lot of historical photos, some very good contemporary photos.If anything is the matter with this book, it's the content! I've been to Hearst's Castle as a kid and was overwhelmed by it. On paper, it's not nearly as exciting. And now that I'm somewhat more grown-up, it's really rather garish.It's better as a slight history book with pictures of a garish house in progress! Still, I'm glad I purchased this and got it out of my system. The cover is NOT representative of the grace and style of the castle.

Stunning book. It's my second copy and it makes happy just seeing it on my bookshelf. The book arrived in perfect condition still within its protective cellophane envelope.

True to Hearst Castle

Item was perfect, just as described!!!