Great Houses of Scotland

"Great Houses of Scotland" presents 26 historic castles and manors in the land of ancient legend that inspired Sir Walter Scott and Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Over 300 rich color photographs take the reader beyond the velvet ropes and through the grand public drawing rooms, private bedrooms, and back stairways of Scotland's famous houses.From formal, gilded halls to rustic trophy rooms, the range of interior styles reflects the personality of Scotland's foremost families. Charming anecdotes and candid character sketches of the famed individuals who built these houses make this a fascinating social history as wella as an architectural tour.The selection of houses reflects the development of architectural style in Scotland, from old tower houses such as Cawdor and Traquair to the spectacular baroque of Drumlanrig and the pioneering Classicism of Kinross by Sir William Bruce. The masterful architecture of William Adam is highlighted here, including his work on Arniston, the House of Dun, and the palatial Duff House. Besides such beloved favorites as Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford, Blair, Hopetoun, and Mellerstain, the book is full of remarkable surprises, including the High Victorian Gothic extravganza of the newly restored Mount Stuart, and the Edwardian opulence of Ardkinglas. The Scottish ability to combine intimacy and grandeur has never been more glorious than in the silver staircase, marble dairy, and teak stable of Manderston; Dunrobin Castle perches on cliff's edge as if in in a fairy tale -- the inimitable character of each historic house shines in the beatiful book.With encouraging plans for restoration and revitalization by the present owners -- the National Galleries ofScotland's initiative to restore Duff House as a satellite gallery, plans for an opera school at Yester, the rejuvenation of a brewerey at Traquair -- this is a timely chronicle of the living history of these great houses.