A Clearing In The Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the 19th Century

This is a brilliant account of an American legend. His career was a remarkable adventure: surveyor, sailor, farmer, merchant, social commentator, author, abolitionist, planner, construction manager, wartime administrator, mining executive, and (finally) consummate landscape architect. The author skillfully conveys these transitions in an lively narrative that ably portrays 19C America as well.Olmstead's creativity was served by a pragmatic versatility capable of working wonders. Anticipating dense urbanism and frontier encroachment, he pioneered municipal parks and wilderness preserves that today remain invaluable oasis's. Though largely self-taught (like Washington and Lincoln), he collaborated as an equal with the luminous figures of his day (most formally trained: Vaux, Richardson, McKim, Mead, White, Post, Burnham, Root, Hunt, Saint-Gaudens). He was interested in new technology (electric boats and lighting, drainage, transportation) and took a leading edge to incorporate it in his work.Ultimately, his legacy is not only one of exceptional work (enjoyed by many cities, including Hartford -his birthplace), but the invention of a skilled professional discipline that continues to enrich human life today.This work (illustrated and annotated) was a delight. Highly recommended. I wish it was available when I attempted to make my way through Laura Wood Roper's torturous `FLO: A Biography of Frederick Law Olmstead' in 1973 (it sits on my shelf yet half unread).Also recommended: Cynthia Zaitzevsky's `Frederick Law Olmsted and the Boston Park System' (1982) a great record of Olmstead's Boston park development (with plans and photographs).

To me, a biography is successful if the author conveys both the subject's accomplishments and the influences that helped to shape these deeds. Rybczynski easily meets these standards in this entertaining, instructive study.Rybczynski spends a lot of time discussing the significance of Olmsted's major projects, like Prospect Park and Mount Royal. The innovations that Olmsted brought to the field of landscape architecture in these projects are clearly laid out for the reader. However, these discussions were not the main point that I took from the book. Instead, I was enthralled with the discussions of the various jobs and travels that Olmsted undertook throughout his life, particularly in his formative years. Rybczynski does an excellent job of showing that these diverse experiences not only satiated Olmsted's curiosity, but also were essential to the development of Olmsted's views on landscape architecture. It is refreshing to find an example of the belief that a variety of experiences are necessary to bring out new talents, enhance existing skills, and create a well-rounded individual.I highly recommend A Clearing In The Distance for many reasons. These reasons include a concise writing style and a multi-faceted subject. But, above all, the book brings attention to an individual deserving of such study. It is this quality that makes A Clearing In The Distance a "must-read" for not only admirers of Olmsted's works, but for anyone who is interested in the creative development of an innovator in their field.

It takes FOREVVVVVER to get started: introductory material, then more (or some of the same) introductory material, then another unneeded overview of what's to come, on and on. I'm still waiting to get to the life itself, unadorned and straightforward -- we'll see how far I get, or whether I'll just delete the whole thing. The author clearly needed some self-control and, even more so, an editor. Or maybe, despite his enthusiasm, he doesn't trust his material? Put the meat before the appetizers or the desserts! I'd much rather read the biography than be told at some length how great it's going to be when we get there, with lots of a-chronological glimpses and commentary.

A true genius that opened this nations green cathedral, a legacy that is forever American. a man with a restless nature that gave his all to whatever he tackled. An Observant, principled journalist too. Exhausting and inspiring reading.

I used this book to prepare for a garden tour vacation in Asheville and Black Mountain, NC. Saw the monumentTo Olmstead at the NC ArboretumBook is very lengthy in detailed. Had no idea he designed Central Park in NYC. As well as Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY.He also designed a college campus as far west as California. Amazing man!

This is an extraordinary book! I highly recommend it to readers as it tells of the life of a famous landscape architect. I had thought that Olmstead was the gentleman who designed Central Park in New Your City. Yes he did but I never knew of the many other things he did, including the grounds around the U.S. Capitol and many other parks around the country. He never even went to college, but he clearly was an erudite man who was able to both design parks and organize his business structure. I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in U.S. history and also the development of many of our parks.

This book strikes a lovely balance between describing Olmsted's life and personal history and his creations, parks that span the United States.You may be surprised to learn, as I was, the vast number of projects he undertook. How Central Park was really his first significant project. How he had to fight political and economic battles to keep it from being ruined. How he was able to truly "get it right" with Brooklyn's Prospect Park.Through the fascinating descriptions of the landscapes, the author also provides great insight into Olmsted's life. What struck me the most was how Olmsted, as with many of his contemporaries (U.S. Grant, Mark Twain) worried for most of his life about his finances and his career.This is a first rate work, told in a clear and compelling fashion.

No problems, as anticipated.

More biography than a look into Olmsted's design ideas, but enjoyed it just the same. Olmsted was the Whitman of landscape architecture with the same passion toward humanity that he had toward his work. Interesting to read that it took him awhile to find himself, but then landscape architecture was a relatively new thing in the US, and he set many of the standards that we still see today when it comes to civic park design. Rybczynski gives Whitman's story a nice literary quality, but I would have liked more insights into his work.

Great book : great price and great servive

livre en parfait état