The Country Houses of Sir John Vanbrugh: From the Archives of Country Life

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The country houses designed by Sir John Vanbrugh (1664 1726) are some of the most original and memorable works of architecture from the Restoration period. Dubbed The Shakespeare of Architects by Sir John Soane, Vanbrugh designed the Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace two of the great iconic houses of their age as well as a number of astounding country estates such as Seaton Delaval Hall and Grimsthorpe Castle. Vanbrughs life was perhaps even more remarkable than his architectural creations. He began his career as a merchant and traveled to India in the service of the East India Company, served as an army officer, was arrested as a civilian in France and imprisoned on suspicion of being a spy, and worked as both a playwright and theatrical impresario before turning his lively mind to architecture. Collected here are 200 of the finest photographs of Vanbrughs astounding country houses accompanied by well-researched accounts explaining the ideas behind and impact of his great estates and landscapes.