Edwin Lutyens

His Life, His Wife, His Work

Jane Ridley

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Paperback

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English

Pimlico
15 March 2003

Art & Architecture; Individual architects & architectural firms; Biography: general

'The stature of Edwin Lutyens as an artist is beyond dispute; what remains tantalising is the psychology of that extraordinary man.

Jane Ridley analyses his character and investigates his misdemeanours and the tragedy of his marriage with unsentimental acuity to create a compelling new biography of Britain's greatest architect.' Gavin Stamp

The work of Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) includes the Cenotaph in Whitehall, much of Imperial New Delhi and especially his masterpiece, Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan), Queen Mary's dolls' house and Hampstead Garden Suburb.

But his greatest heritage is the traditional Edwardian country house, an architectural style he made his own, using local materials and often working with Gertrude Jekyll who planted the gardens for his family homes. This is a full biography of a witty, complex personality, a man who had little formal education, who loved jokes and hated growing up.

It is also a portrait of an extraordinary marriage.

His wife, Emily, fell in love with Krishnamurti, 21 years her junior and believed to be the reincarnation of a god, and she thereafter spent her time and her husband's money promoting Theosophy, a Hindu-inspired cult.

Lutyens's failure to find a common language with Emily possibly drove him to achieve the remarkable communication through the language of architecture which characterises his best work.

By: Jane Ridley
Imprint: Pimlico
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 36mm
Weight: 690g
ISBN: 9780712668224
ISBN 10: 0712668225
Pages: 496
Publication Date: 15 March 2003
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Jane Ridley is Lutyens's great-granddaughter, and this biography was authorised by his last surviving daughter, Mary, who died in 1999. Jane Ridley has read over 5,000 letters between Ned Lutyens and his wife Emily, and she travelled to New Delhi and Washington to research her book, which paints a devastating yet entertaining picture of Edwardian society. Jane Ridley is an historian at Buckingham University where she teaches a course on biography. Her previous books include The Letters of Edwin Lutyens (co-edited with Clayre Percy), The Letters of Arthur Balfour and Lady Elcho (co-edited with Clayre Percy) and The Young Disraeli described by Andrew Marr in the Independent as 'a rich, dense and thoughtful biography which may-become the definitive one', and by John Grigg in the Sunday Telegraph as 'a major new biography-it is difficult to see her work being superseded'.

Reviews for Edwin Lutyens: His Life, His Wife, His Work

Jane Ridely makes us admire his passion, his education, his dedication, his integrity. This is a truly excellent biography, sympathetic but not uncritical, always interesting and at times absolutely gripping -- Lynn Barber * New Statesman * This is an outstandingly good book, the best biography of an architect that I, at least, have ever read and as sad a story as Ford's The Good Soldier -- Christopher Woodward * Spectator * Her remorselessly intelligent take on Lutyens is strangely uplifting...a beguilingly obdurate love story...What a complex man, what an architect - and what a good book -- Jay Merrick * Independent * Jane Ridley's picture of the times is engrossingly full. Her story moves fast, the detail is well chosen, the architectural writing vigorous...a rich and enjoyable book -- Jan Dalley * Financial Times * The stature of Edwin Lutyens as an artist is beyond dispute; what remains tantalising is the psychology of that extraordinary man. Jane Ridley analyses his character and investigates his misdemeanours and the tragedy of his marriage with unsentimental acuity to create a compelling new biography of Britain's greatest architect -- Gavin Stamp