THE STORY OF THE COUNTRY HOUSE A History of Places and People

Simon Vance's orotund delivery and thoughtful pacing perfectly suit Clive Aslet's noteworthy examination of the phenomenon and history of the English country house. Of interest to anyone who enjoys hearing about history and the oddities of the English upper classes, the audiobook takes listeners through the time from the Roman Britons to the hunting lodges of the Middle Ages to the heyday of the early twentieth century and up to today. The story is full of geniuses and crackpots, astronomical sums of money, clever solutions to intractable problems, over-the-top design, and history that troubles as well as enchants--for many homes were funded by the profits of slavery. Vance keeps the story flowing without rushing and characterizes the protagonists without getting in the way. Altogether a pleasure. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]