"Sir John Soane (1753-1837) was one of the most influential and original of all English architects. In this illustrated biography, Gillian Darley places Soane's life and buildings side by side, and her insights into this complex man and his turbulent life add a great deal to our understanding of his extraordinary work."--BOOK JACKET.

"Born the son of a bricklayer, Soane was a self-made man, egotistic, irascible, with encyclopaedic interests. He built himself a remarkable town house that he filled with treasures and left in trust to the nation. By 1800 he was rich and successful, designing both private houses for powerful clients and public works, Consummate at securing patronage, he was the personal architect to two prime ministers.

He was architect to the Bank of England, to Chelsea Hospital and to the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons. He designed Dulwich Picture Gallery - the first purpose-built art gallery in Britain."--BOOK JACKET. "Soane made unprecedented use of neoclassical elements to provide theatrical and unexpected conjunctions and remarkable spatial effects. His dramatic and unpredictable buildings have increasingly proved an inspiration to architects of many schools."--BOOK JACKET.