California Modern: The Architecture of Craig Ellwood

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Initial Comments

Upgrade and a bow to superior knowledge!

A very honest look at my father's work and life

No Inspector Morse here....

California Modern: The Architecture of Craig Ellwood
Neil Jackson
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1568983034

Book Description

He had no professional license, but was named one of the "three best architects of 1957" along with Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. He drove a red Ferrari with the license plate VROOM. His succession of wives brought him clients and influenced his designs. He relied on a staff of talented assistants to realize his ideas. If ever there was a product of Hollywood, it was architect Craig Ellwood (1922-1992). A fiction of his own making--even his name was an invention--Ellwood fashioned a career through charm, ambition, and a connoisseur's eye. By the 1950s Ellwood had a thriving practice that infused the Germanic rationalism of Mies van der Rohe with an informal breeziness that was all Southern California. A series of dramatic, open, and elegant houses made him a media star, and interest in him and his work has only increased in recent years. California Modern: The Architecture of Craig Ellwood is the first compre-hensive monograph on this prolific, influential, and complex character. Copiously illustrated with contemporary images--including many striking black and white photographs by Julius Shulman--plans, drawings, and specially commissioned new photography, California Modern traces Ellwood's fascinating personal history, provides a critical evaluation of his work, and establishes his importance as a pivotal shaper of the California style.

Customer Reviews:

Initial Comments .......2007-05-31

Excellent value for money,hard cover,gloss paper,good graphics and photos.
Text covers Caig Ellwoods full career and life.

Upgrade and a bow to superior knowledge!.......2002-04-20

Based on Jeff Ellwood's assessment, I'm upgrading my rating for this book by a full star as blood is likely thicker than admiration.

A very honest look at my father's work and life.......2002-03-19

This is an excellent and comprehensive book about Craig Ellwood's life, both professional and personal. It is thoroughly researched, well laid out and fascinating in its detail.

In sharp contrast to Rob Davis' review of this book, I have to say that from my point of view as Craig Ellwood's eldest son, Neil Jackson's book presents a very accurate and honest depiction of my father's work and life. There is no "prejudicial attitude" on Jackson's part. While it is true that the words of my father's former employees should be taken with a grain of salt (obviously!), I can attest that much of what they have to say is correct. Not all of it, but they are not totally off-base. Jackson leaves it up to reader to arrive at his or her own conclusions.

I also take issue with Davis' assertion that Jackson was "rankled" at Craig Ellwood's lack of a license. To the contrary, Jackson allows the irony of Ellwood's being an "architect" (with quotation marks around the term) to speak for itself: license or no license, his work was significant and important. Jackson's book is far more accurate than Meredith Clausen's "concise" hatchet job. Jackson actually took the time to get his facts straight. Clausen's "exposé" was riddled with gross errors and based on mis- (and dis-)information, with little discernible attempt to do the research to get it right. Her article was self-serving rubbish. It is clearly Clausen who wrote from a prejudiced attitude, not Jackson. Without an axe to grind or some personal agenda, Jackson provides an honest look at Craig Ellwood the person. The book is impressive for its extensive research, for the balanced presentation of Ellwood's life and body of work, for the depth of information provided and for the choice of illustrations included.

My only disappointment was with the cover photograph, which is not the most representative of Ellwood's work. This was the US publisher's choice, however. The UK publication has a much better, more visually pleasing cover.

For anyone who wants the most complete and balanced work on Craig Ellwood, this is the book. It is neither a whitewash nor a hatchet job. Rather, it is the best attempt so far to capture and record the spirit of an imperfect, perfectionist designer whose work influenced his associates and American architecture itself for decades.

No Inspector Morse here...........2002-02-16

This book is reminiscent of the Paramount Pictures executive that wrote of Fred Astaire "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little."

The book is spottily written and makes too much of Ellwood's humble family background, that he changed his name, and is reported not to have been able to draw. It follows University of Washington Professor Meredith Clausen's exposé of a couple years back, which tread on the same subject matter, though more concisely.

Once much published in the architectural press, Ellwood had until recently been fairly well forgotten, which is a shame in that modern design would have been poorer without his undeniable contribution. The central precept of Neil Jackson's book seems to hinge on whether Ellwood was a designer that communicated via graphic means or an exponent and impresario of modernist design. That he wasn't licensed seems to rankle the writer (and the architectural profession) perhaps mostly in that his office continuously produced award-winning work from its inception to Ellwood's retirement.

A series of verbatim interviews with several of Ellwood's past associates' paints a generally unflattering picture of both Ellwood and in the process, the interviewees themselves. Much is made of Ellwood's high living style but in the end the reader learns very little of how he lived except for the foibles of his mid-life crisis. While the reader is regaled with carefully researched minutia like Ellwood's business telephone listings in the late 1940's, there are significant gaps in the story.

Missing entirely is any description of Ellwood's sense of humor, his visual sensibility, his methods of communication within his office or personal details like whether or not he lived in a house of his own design.

More than his associates and most of the architectural profession, Craig Ellwood knew how to create opportunities for good design and this is the critical distinction between those that rise to prominence and the 98+ percent of practitioners licensed (or unlicensed) that don't. In his pursuit of demeaning Craig's generally enviable career, the author has even stooped to suggest that publisher John Entenza's homosexuality might have been a factor in the consistent publication of Ellwood's work in Arts & Architecture magazine, as Craig was a strikingly handsome fellow.

A more logical explanation of the Jackson's seemingly prejudicial attitude may come from embarrassment at having devoted the predominately laudatory Chapters 5 & 6 in his previous book (The Modern Steel House. Van Nostrand Reinhold. New York. 1996.) to Ellwood's work as a designer, only to later discover that the technical design of many of the projects could, well after the fact be attributed, in part or whole, to others.

Typographically this book is hard to read having been set in too light and too grey a typeface. It is poorly illustrated, the pictures being generally too small and lacking in descriptive quality.

This book is worth reading but should be taken with a grain of salt as the melancholy accounts of Ellwood's former employees, now claiming full responsibility for his genius, come more than 10 years after Ellwood's death.

Book Description

One of the most sought-after books on California modernist architecture is back in print. This is an exact reprint of the elegant 1968 Italian edition, showing Ellwood's ground-breaking work from the three Case Study Houses through his later commercial and residential projects, including the Daphne house, the Rosen house and the Scientific Data Systems factory.

Customer Reviews:

Cool then, cool now........2002-01-22

As a teenager I was awed when this book about my father was published. I have one of the original copies which I value very much. It is gratifying to know that there is a resurgence of interest in Craig Ellwood's work so many years later. If you are a fan of his work, or if you want to get a good feel for Southern California architecture of the '50s and '60s, you will want this book. (OK, so I am biased! It is still a cool book.)

A statement of simplicity, that form follows function........1999-01-31

I did not realize how influential my father Craig is today, until I searched on his name and it lead me to this site. Here I learned that Ester McCoy's book about my dad has sold over 500,000 copies. That leads me to believe that there is a great interest in his work today, and that he is definitely influencing tomorrow's architecture. His favorite thing to do was to teach architecture, and with reprints of these great books, I believe that he continues to do just that today.

Adam Ellwood

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California Modern: The Architecture of Craig Ellwood
Neil Jackson
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Pres
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IMSY2G

Book Description

A spectacular range of wildlife appears in this fine collection of painstakingly accurate 19th-century drawings. Both artists and animal lovers will treasure these splendid illustrations of mammals, birds, fish, and insects. A priceless archive of royalty-free art. Captions.

Book Description

Famous for his early 1970s leather scenes with an explicitly homosexual symbolism, Robert Mapplethorpe's work became more varied over the years. Along with his heavy pornographic and sadomasochistic images he also devoted himself to classical genres, such as portraits, nudes, flowers, and still lifes. In the 80s, his work stood for the contemporary psycho-erotic life-style. Like a sculptor he modeled with light the bodies, plants, and objects he portrayed and stylized them into classic sculptures of vivid sensuality. A fascinating combination of strength and grace, his work walks a tightrope: it is hard and romantic, calculating and full of abandon, introverted and extroverted, intimate and theatrical.

Customer Reviews:

Very funny collection of cartoons.......2004-01-04

While I do not play golf at all, I can appreciate the humor of golf jokes and when reading this book of golf cartoons, I did a lot of appreciating. It is hilarious in the sick sense, sometimes gross, and other times engaging in sacrilege against the sacred sport of golf. These cartoons are some of the funniest that I have ever seen, independent of subject matter.

Book Description

On April 10 ^th, 2003, the 1 ^st Battalion, 5 ^th Marine Regiment, faced with the task of seizing the presidential palace in downtown Baghdad, ran headlong into what Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North called, "the worst day of fighting for U.S. Marines." Hiding in buildings and mosques, wearing civilian clothes, and spread out for over a mile, Saddam Hussein's militants rained down bullets and rocket propelled grenades on the 1 ^st Battalion. But when the smoke of the eight-hour battle cleared, only one Marine had lost his life. Some said the 1 ^st Battalion was incredibly lucky. But in the hearts and minds of the Marines who were there, there was no question. God had brought them miraculously through that battle.

As the 1 ^st Battalion's chaplain, Lieutenant Carey Cash had the unique privilege of seeing firsthand, from the beginning of the war to the end, how God miraculously delivered, and even transformed, the lives of the men of the 1 ^st Battalion. Their regiment, the most highly decorated regiment in the history of the Marines, was the first ground force to cross the border into Iraq, the first to see one of their own killed in battle, and they were the unit to fight what most believe to have been the decisive battle of the war-April 10 ^th in downtown Baghdad. Through it all, Carey Cash says, the presence of God was undeniable. Cash even had the privilege of baptizing fifty-seven new Christians-Marines and Sailors-during the war in Iraq.

The men of the 1 ^st Battalion came to discover what King David had discovered long ago--that God's presence could be richly experienced even in the presence of enemies. Here is the amazing story of their experience.

Customer Reviews:

love the book.......2007-05-16

I am reading the book, A Table in the Presence, and just discovered I knew the author's parents in Northern Virginia 30 years ago. The book is wonderfully written and tells a story that needs to be told of God's presence with the troops in Iraq. We need more TRUE accounts such as this one so the citizens of our country are aware of the peace God gives even in the middle of a war. I knew the author's mother as a wonderful Christian woman.
Elaine in South CArolina

Great book.......2007-05-12

This is one of the best books I have read!

Thank God for men like these!

Brilliant and Moving........2007-04-09

I love this book. If you ever want to know what it is like for the guys who are going through the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan this is definitely a book to read. It reveals the sensitivity of the author to the plight of the Marines under his care, the courage and vulnerability of these same Marines and their unyielding faith in the face of danger and the enemy. Very spiritual and emotional read. I dare you to read this and not feel a peculiar wetness in your eyes and a lump in your throat. This is one of those books that tugs at your heart because of the details of the truth. For both the faithful and those who are still searching for a faith.

Makes you proud.......2007-02-08

This was such a refreshing look at the realities of life in the war zone know as Iraq. This is an unadultary look at the life of a Marine Chaplain and the fine men and women he serves in the hell know as Iraq. It was a great book to read as a pastor and even a better book to give to a young husband and father as he shipped out to serve our country in Iraq. Buy it Read it, before you believe the next story from the news media, about why we need to cut and run

A good book from someone who was there........2007-01-04

This is a medium to smallish sized war memoir written by a Navy Chaplain who was attached to a section of Marines at the beginning of Gulf War 2. It is well written and relatively easy to read. The conclusion may leave you wanting to ask, "What happened next?" Of course, the war is still being waged at this time. I met the author and he is what you would expect of an officer, gentleman, and man of God. I enjoyed it and got another copy for my dad. Enjoy!

Book Description

The United States Marine Corps has long enjoyed the reputation of being America's premiere fighting force. Whenever crisis looms one hears the familiar chorus, Send in the Marines. How was this reputation first earned? Many would argue that the Marine Corps stepped up and took its place alongside America's other armed forces in 1918 at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood. So fierce was the 4th Marine Brigade in combat that the overwhelmed German defenders dubbed them Teufulhunden, literally Devil Dogs.

Customer Reviews:

An essential and wonderful book.......2002-11-04

Here is a wonderfully detailed and moving book. It satisfies the serious scholar in its overwhelming details, and yet carries the `human thread' to show the true wonder of what these marines did. My grandfather was with the 6th Marines at Belleau Wood and I guarantee he would have loved and respected this book.

Great Book.......2000-08-31

This book is excellent. All the other reviews are dead on accurate.

Just to add something different to the discussion...

I would have given it five stars but for one thing. Occasionally the detail overwhelmed the writing and story telling aspect lagged. Just every so often it started to read like an after-action report. Don't let this put you off, just don't plan on being able to read parts of it right before bed time.

Top Notch Reading.......2000-03-09

With so few great titles on the American experience in the Great War this book is a must read. It reads very well and spares no small detail. It gives you a "leather-necks" view of the the war in France.

Excellant.......1999-07-01

I support the Leatherneck review and am tempted to rate it 5 stars. It is refreshing to read not only the USMC WW1 history but the authors considered opinions on the battles and personalities involved.

Outstanding - a landmark work.......1999-06-24

From Leatherneck Magazine - March, 1999

The rich thread of tradition has woven itself throughout the tapestry of Marine Corps history. From these threads, Marines of today uphold the standards of service and sacrifice of the past as the proud inheritors of this heritage. Of all the eras of Marine Corps history, arguably the most romantic and colorful would be the involvement of the Marines in the First World War. The Marine Corps of today is still flavored by the traditions and experiences of those years. Words such as Devil Dog and Foxhole still permeate the language of our Marines and students from The Basic School have adopted Belleau Wood and travel over regularly to assist in the maintenance of this hallowed ground, the only wholly-owned American battlefield on foreign soil. By the same token, this has remained one of the least explored eras throughout the history of the Marines.

Certainly, the classics of Asprey's "At Belleau Wood" and Stallings' "Doughboys" stand forth as valuable contributions to the understanding of that history. However, no one has published a comprehensive examination of the actions and service of the 4th "Marine" Brigade until now.

It is with a clear love and empathy for this subject that former Marine, George Clark undertook the monumentous task of shifting through and composing the far-flung resources of documentation into a concise and readable history of the Fourth "Marine" Brigade and it's service from formation until disbandment.

Clark's work, drawn from 25 years of research into the subject, captures the color and character, as well as the facts and figures, of the Marine Brigade as no previous work. Based on contemporaneous unit histories, Marine diaries, personal letters, as well as official documents and correspondence, this book blows open the door and illuminates the incredible story of ordinary men, who, under extraordinary circumstances, left a legacy of valor courage and sacrifice unsurpassed to this day.

Highly detailed and filled with fascinating insights, "Devil Dogs" takes no prisoners. It tells the unvarnished tale of the largely volunteer force, leavened by a strong cadre of seasoned Officers and NCOs, who formed the nucleus of the 2nd Division (Regulars) of the infant American Expeditionary Force. The author offers interesting and thought-provoking opinions of the success and failure of the various Officers who led the Marines in combat in France and makes no apology for ruffling a few feathers along the way.

A rollicking, fun book to read, Clark takes the reader along from the stateside clashes with Pershing and the Army bureaucracy to training in France and through the battles of Belleau Wood, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont and Meuse-Argonne. Chapters also cover the history of Marines in the Occupation of Germany and explore the little known history of the Marines in the Composite Regiment of the AEF - Pershing's Showpiece.

Though not for those wishing a "quick" synopsis of Marine involvement in the Great War, "Devil Dogs" is a must for any student of Marine History or for those wishing to get the full picture of this most colorful era. Clark's work justifiably joins Asprey and Stallings as a modern classic of the American experience in the Great War. With valuable lessons for today's military, it stands as a true picture of the success by leadership, unmatched valor and pure guts, against a seasoned and battle-tested foe.

Patrick Mooney

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Devil Dogs : Fighting Marines of World War I
George B. Clark
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PS20N2

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The Archaeology of Contact in Settler Societies (New Directions in Archaeology)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0521796822

Book Description

An international team of experts examines the historical archaeology of contact and its aftermath by considering the consequences of colonialism in settler societies from the sixteenth century to the present. This work's unique global vision constitutes an innovative exploration of issues which are assuming major social and political importance in the postcolonial world.

The Archaeology of Contact in Settler Societies.(Book Review): An article from: Pacific Affairs

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The Archaeology of Contact in Settler Societies.(Book Review): An article from: Pacific Affairs
James Flexner
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000EQ49Q6
Release Date: 2006-02-24

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2005. The length of the article is 625 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Archaeology of Contact in Settler Societies.(Book Review)
Author: James Flexner
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 78 Issue: 3 Page: 523(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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