Julia Morgan An Intimate Biography o..., Victoria Kastner
Julia Morgan An Intimate Biography o..., Victoria Kastner
List: $29.99 | Sale: $21.00
Club: $14.99

Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect

Author: Victoria Kastner

Narrator: Victoria Kastner, Cindy Kay

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/18/2022

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

This new biography—featuring over 150 archival images and full-color photographs printed throughout—introduces Julia Morgan as both a pioneering architect and a captivating individual.

Julia Morgan was a lifelong trailblazer. She was the first woman admitted to study architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the first licensed to practice architecture in California. Over the first half of the 20th century, she left an indelible mark on the American West. Of her remarkable 700 creations, the most iconic is Hearst Castle. Morgan spent thirty years constructing this opulent estate on the California coast for the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst—forging a lifelong friendship and creative partnership with him. Together, they built a spectacular and unequalled residence that once hosted the biggest stars of Hollywood's golden age, and that now welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

This compelling biography draws on interviews, letters, and Morgan's diaries, including never-before-seen reflections on faith, art, and her life experiences. Morgan's friendship with Hearst, her passion for California's landscape, her struggles with familial dementia, and her devotion to architecture reveal her to have been a singularly brilliant and determined artist.

PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED CONTENT: Victoria Kastner has spent years compiling photographs, interviews, letters, drawings, and diaries—including material never published before—to create the first truly comprehensive portrait of this amazing woman.

OVER 150 PHOTOGRAPHS: This book features over 150 photographs, printed throughout the text. These include both fascinating archival images and beautiful, full-color contemporary shots of Morgan's buildings.

INSPIRING STORY: By exploring both Morgan's work and her life, Kastner weaves a captivating tale about courage, vision, and resilience. Julia Morgan forged a path for herself against the odds, and her story will inspire contemporary women and creatives.

ARCHITECTURAL ICON: Julia Morgan created 700 buildings during her career, from hotels to churches to private homes. Born in San Francisco and trained in Paris, she developed a distinctive aesthetic that now defines certain regions of California. But only in the last twenty years has her contribution to architecture been fully recognized and celebrated. In 2014, the American Institute of Architects' posthumously awarded her its Gold Medal; she was the first female recipient.

Perfect for:

• History buffs
• Students, enthusiasts, and professional architects
• Aspiring creatives in all fields
• Feminists seeking role models
• Visitors to Hearst Castle and Morgan's other buildings
• Californians and visitors to California

Reviews

Goodreads review by Moonkiszt on November 05, 2021

A great read about a great woman! Architect, engineer, ceiling buster and advocate of the arts. She was an innovator and a fierce protector of her beloved California. She ran with a very well-connected crowd, or maybe it is better put - they followed her, and wanted her to do their next project. The......more

Goodreads review by Kasandra on June 11, 2022

A wonderful biography of an eminently accomplished and prolific architect/artist, I enjoyed this but wish it had contained double or triple the number of photos! Morgan was entirely dedicated to her work, such that this is an unusual biography - "intimate" in the title is rather misleading. The book......more

Goodreads review by Glen on January 21, 2022

Julia Morgan is the real deal. That is, she had architecture in her DNA, and she worked her ass off. So much of the appeal of reading about her life is the pleasure in seeing how that effort paid off. As a woman forging a way into a male-dominated field, she had to work doubly, triply, the amount he......more

Goodreads review by Ann on October 07, 2021

Julia Morgan was often dismissed as a one-time wonder for the elaborate castle she built for William Randolph Hearst, but recently critical thinking has shifted. The American Institute of Architects decided to give their highest honor posthumously to Julia celebrating her work in its entirety. It was......more

Goodreads review by Janine on January 14, 2023

I have long been a fan of Julia Morgan’s work, specifically Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA. Once I realized she had created many homes and cultural buildings in the San Francisco area I set about finding out more. This book really scratched that itch and having received it for Christmas I have devo......more