Book Review: The English Country House

The English Country House - James Peill

Published by THE VENDOME PRESS

Who doesn't love a good book? I know I sure do! So, when I got a copy of The English Country House by James Peill, curator of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England - I knew that I needed to share the beauty of those pages with all of you, my friends and readers. 

Compiled of ten houses, Julian Fellowes, writer of the oh so popular TV series Downton Abbey, writes in the Foreword: "The ten houses in this book all have a fascinating story to tell and they are the more remarkable for only ever having passed by inheritance since the day they were built." I mean, imagine, the catalog of gorgeous homes, never infused with a different heritage - it is remarkable. 

Although all of the images in this book, captured by phenomenal photographer, James Fennell, the stories of the houses, and the history of their owners, are breathtaking - I had to share with all of you a couple of my favorites: 

Goodwood House, Sussex

Yellow Drawing Room

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

Long Hall 

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

The Large Library

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

Badminton House, South Gloucestershire

The Library

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

The Great Dining Room

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

Stunning right? And they're not all grandly decorated as these examples - there's something to inspire everyone in this book ... including the many gorgeous exteriors and garden shots: 

Prideaux Place, Cornwall

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

Badminton House 

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

Madresfield Court

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

Badminton

as photographed by J. Fennell, via website

If you've had the opportunity to visit England, or dreamed of visiting England, perhaps you're just an Anglophile like me, this book is a must have in your library and one you'll likely find hard to put down. Inspiration abounds page after page, and the 280, (YES ... 280!!!) beautiful images are like appreciating fine art. 

To buy your copy of the book, check out any of the links at VENDOME PRESS, where they'll take you over to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Abrams, Powell, and Goodreads. For more of my book reviews, click here.