On Charles II's restoration to the throne in 1660, four of his supporters were provided with plots of land in a leafy suburb of London, on which to build their extravagant town palaces. The only one to survive - built for the poet and courtier Sir John Denham (1615-1669) and now situated in the heart of Piccadilly - became the home of the Royal Academy of Arts, its exhibitions and its Schools. This important study charts the history of the estate through its many owners, including the 3rd Earl of Burlington (1694-1753), who gave the house not only its name but also its distinctive and influential architecture. In his day, the house was host to leading scholars and celebrities, who met within Burlington's cutting-edge creation, which remains an unparalleled example of the Palladian style in England. Nicholas Savage's meticulous research examines 350 years of social and architectural history, as well as revealing the next phase in the life of the estate, as the Royal Academy opens up Burlington House as never before in an exciting redevelopment led by Sir David Chipperfield CBE RA to celebrate the institution's 250th anniversary.

Originally published in 1990, this account of architectural books printed in Britain surveys a body of complex literature largely uncharted in bibliographical terms. It is however, more than a work of reference, and will fascinate anyone interested in British cultural and social history, the relationship between Britain and continental Europe, and the history of the book trade. For each of the 220 authors covered there is an essay discussing his interests, the purpose and the genesis of his publications. A detailed bibliographical description of the author's architectural publications follows each essay and gives details of the first and subsequent editions of some four hundred titles. The main body of the text is preceded by general essays on books on the Orders, bridges, archaeology, engraving, publishing and bookselling; manuals of carpentry and design; and pattern-books. There are detailed indexes.