In Last Harvest; the award-winning author of Home and A Clearing in the Distance tells the compelling story of New Daleville; a brand-new residential subdivision in rural Pennsylvania. When Witold Rybczynski first heard about New Daleville; it was only a developers idea; attached to ninety acres of cornfield an hour and a half west of Philadelphia. Over the course of five years; Rybczynski met everyone involved in the transformation of this land -- from the developers; to the community leaders whose approvals they needed; to the home builders and sewage experts and; ultimately; the first families who moved in. Always eloquent and illuminating; Rybczynski looks at this "neotraditional" project; with its houses built close together to encourage a sense of intimacy and community; and explains the trends in American domestic architecture -- from where we place our kitchens and fences to why our bathrooms get larger every year. As Publishers Weekly said; "Rybczynski provides historical and cultural perspective in a style reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell; debunking the myth of urban sprawl and explaining American homeowners preference for single-family dwellings. But Rybczynski also excels at the close-up; John McPhees method of reporting; where every interview reads like an intimate conversation; and a simple walk down neighborhood sidewalks can reveal a wealth of history." Last Harvest is a charming must-read for anyone interested in where we live today -- and why -- by one of our most acclaimed and original cultural writers.
#608082 in eBooks 2007-04-17 2007-04-17File Name: B000Q3627Q
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! Read the other one star reviewsBy thom PhillipsHUGE DISAPPOINTMENT! Read the other one star reviews. This book isall black and white; poorly illustrated; almost as if this fine artist had his name stolen and put on a high school students work pad. The bright side: I learned that you can return a Kindle book within seven days! A friend watched it disappear in front of our eyes! Nice.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Its Printed in BLACK and WHITE !?By JeanThe information is useful but who prints a landscape and tree book in black and white?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Poor Kindle version of bookBy CustomerBought a Kindle version. The book is about water colors; but is in black and white....duh. The examples are postage stamp size; even on my large computer screen I couldnt enlarge enough to complete the recommended projects. Grateful for the suggestion that you can return a Kindle book in 7 days. I did.