Publisher's Synopsis
First published in 1836, Contrasts was the book that rapidly made Pugin's name. It was the first revolutionary architectural manifesto of the nineteenth century and remains the first great canonical work of modern Western architecture. In a devastating text and a series of satirical 'before and now' etchings Pugin contrasted the glories of medieval architecture and its civilised society with the tired classical constructions that were the product of the degraded, modern industrial city. An enlarged, edition of Contrasts appeared in 1841 and included some of the most enduring architectural images ever published. This is the edition presented here. In fiery, uncompromising and often amusing language, the 29-year-old Pugin set out his 'great rules for design' to the world at large. True Principles struck deeply sympathetic chords among his readers and persuaded them of the need for honest, natural design, the revival of forgotten crafts and the symbolic meaning of every detail of construction. Through its original and provocative pages, Pugin demonstrated that he was not only a designer of genius and a tireless propagandist, but also a great creative thinker, persuasive teacher and discerning critic. Spire Books and the Pugin Society have worked closely together to ensure this superb gold-embossed hard cover, 256-page facsimile edition, closely replicates Pugin's original work. 2012 Edition: Contrasts and The True Principles of Pointed or Christian Architecture are the two key texts of the Gothic Revival. The young architect and designer A.W.N. Pugin completed his original edition of Contrasts in 1836 shortly after hearing that the scheme he had drawn up for Charles Barry had won the competition for the design of the new Houses of Parliament. At the time he was known mainly as a prodigy, a brilliant designer and draughtsman of Gothic architecture and ornament, but the publication of his book quickly transformed him into the figurehead of the Revival. Five years later he published his True Principles, which converted the dry humour and polemics of his earlier book into a series of accessible and persuasive instructions for architects who wanted to work in the revived style. This facsimile edition of the familiar 1841 versions of both books is presented in association with The Pugin Society.
