At the end of the eighteenth century; the authors of Poland’s 3 May 1791 Constitution became the heirs to a defunct state whose territory had been partitioned by Russia; Prussia; and Austria. At this moment of intensive national postmortem; Ignacy Potocki; an eminent statesman and co-author of the Constitution; wrote the treatise Remarks on Architecture.One of the best-preserved examples of early modern Polish architectural thought; Potocki’s work announces itself as a project of national introspection; with architecture playing a direct role in the betterment of the nation. Addressed to the contemporary Polish nobility; the book argues that architecture is a vessel for cultural values and that it plays an important part in the formation and critique of broader national traditions. Throughout; Potocki conveys the lessons of a Vitruvian canon that shaped Continental classical architectural theory and practice throughout the early modern period. Expertly translated by Carolyn Guile and featuring an introduction that explores Polish Enlightenment architectural writing as an example of cultural exchange; inheritance; and transformation; this edition of Potocki’s treatise broadens our understanding of European architectural history during the early modern period.
#1139662 in eBooks 2015-07-14 2015-07-14File Name: B011MPC9V4
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not incidentally in the 150-book Western Canon of best books!By cerebralauthorGulliver is far from being only a childrens book. as it is commonly misperceived by those who have not read the unabridged version - but a complex and subtle tale that can bring immense enjoyment to adults. Swift was a genius the rank of Shakespeare.*NOTE: IF YOU ARE A CHILD. OR A READER WITH LIMITED VOCABULARY OR PATIENCE. I RECOMMEND GETTING THE AUDIO BOOK FOR ONLY $1.99 FROM AUDIBLE DOT COM. AND DOING "IMMERSIVE READING" - READ AND LISTEN AT THE SAME TIME. IT GOES MUCH FASTER THIS WAY. WITH NO LOSS OF THE FUN.*I havent enjoyed a book like this one for a long time. and i doubt there is another one quite like it.Very rarely one finds a book that:1 - deals with themes that are important. universal and relevant even today - science. government. corruption. greed. integrity. upbringing. the role of feelings vs intellect.2 - embeds these themes in a highly entertaining plot that fleshes out fantasies common to all of us (e.g.. What if I discovered a different civilization and. as the first representative of mankind. needed to describe my own to them?; What would it be if I suddenly became much smaller (or much larger) than others?; What if I were immortal?). Everything the reader has ever dreamt to read about will be found in this book!3 - presents this plot with a narrative mastery of such caliber that the reader enjoys every second to the brim. and is brought extreme reading satisfaction at every juncture.4 - combines great imagination with great rationality - for even the most fantastical suppositions an explanation and context have been designed. the "juiciest" bits and most interesting and impossible questions are not omitted as in other authors. but have been well thought out and articulated to the full satisfaction of the reader.This is a MUST READ!I am becoming a big Swift fan and cant wait to read his other works!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Three adventure tales and biting satire on human nature.By Joseph DonigianJoeDanDonigiEach adventure he encounters radically different problems. The Voyages of Lemuel Gulliver include first. people six inches tall. second a land of giants seventy or so feet tall. and people living in an island-cloud. The fourth voyage. were his men mutiny. foreshadowing the darker side of human nature that follows. They desert on an island where the Houyhnhnms rule. A land of noble talking horses. who cant believe Gulliver has intelligence. ala Planet of the Apes. because the humans/Yahoos on their island seem but. This causes a series of discussions with Gulliver and his "master" a horse who cant grasp lying. greediness and all the various other human frailties. A in his discussions with his master causes Gulliver to be more and more disgusted with the Yahoos on their island and even the humans back home. If knew more about 1850s English history I might of understood the societal. political times of England and Europe in general at that time. There is also an annotated volume which includes more detail. But I didnt read it so dont feel qualified to make an opinion on it. just letting people who are interested informing them its out there.Photoman35mm1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Introspective look at humanity; bit long-windedBy gianoutsThis is a classic I was well aware of but had not read. It is an introspective look at humanity that looks at it from a variety of angles. We usually adopt a narrow perspective of looking at the world and society and this book encourages the reader to step back and look from a different perspective. The book is written in a satirical first person point of view. is a bit long-winded in places. but a good read nonetheless.
