Anti-Ugly: Excursions in English Architecture and Design

‘I very much recommend the book to anyone interested in architectural ideas.’

‘The endearing introspection contained within Stamp’s personal reflections only reinforces the belief that there are few morew honest, incorruptible architectural writers at work today.’

An engaging account of hte changing trends in the aesthetics of Britain’s buildings

`Acute, erudite, elegant and amusing essays.’

`Constellated with deft aper?us.’

`Informative and engaging about all kinds of English things, from royal tombs to London buses. Essays aren’t a popular form – the word suggests dull and dutiful study – but Stamp’s always tell you something new, which is a wonderful thing in any piece of writing. And unlike books, they never go on too long.’

‘A wonderful celebration of the best in English design, and a stylish invective against the worst. A great Christmas gift.’

‘It is a puzzle to me that Stamp is not better known. He is eloquent, funny andÿeccentric. He is as familiar with the streets of our cities as a taxi driverÿwith The Knowledge, and brilliant at connecting sublime ideas with the ordinary aspects of our daily lives.’

‘A reminder, if one were needed, of Stamp’s fine and eclectic critical wit.’

‘I very much recommend the book to anyone interested in architectural ideas.’

An engaging account of hte changing trends in the aesthetics of Britain’s buildings

‘The endearing introspection contained within Stamp’s personal reflections only reinforces the belief that there are few morew honest, incorruptible architectural writers at work today.’

Gavin Stamp is an architectural historian and writer, who for many years was chairman of the Twentieth Century Society. His other books include Lost Victorian Britain, Britain’s Lost Cities and Edwin Lutyens Country Houses (all published by Aurum), as well as The Memorial to the Missing of the Somme and The Changing Metropolis: Earliest Photographs of London 1839 – 1879.