About the book
In this abundantly illustrated volume, Bernard Herman provides a history of urban dwellings and the people who built and lived in them in early America. In the eighteenth century, cities were constant objects of idealization, often viewed as the outward manifestations of an organized, civil society. As the physical objects that composed the largest portion of urban settings, town houses contained and signified different aspects of city life, argues Herman.
Taking a material culture approach, Herman examines urban domestic buildings from Charleston, South Carolina, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well as those in English cities and towns, to better understand why people built the houses they did and how their homes informed everyday city life. Working with buildings and documentary sources as diverse as court cases and recipes, Herman interprets town houses as lived experience. Chapters consider an array of domestic spaces, including the merchant family’s house, the servant’s quarter, and the widow’s dower. Herman demonstrates that city houses served as sites of power as well as complex and often conflicted artifacts mapping the everyday negotiations of social identity and the display of sociability.
Editions of Town House
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807829912
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469633527
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890871558
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469601168
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807839164
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890871541
Read an Excerpt
In this abundantly illustrated volume, Bernard Herman provides a history of urban dwellings and the people who built and lived in them in early America. In the eighteenth century, cities were constant objects of idealization, often viewed as the outward manifestations of an organized, civil society. As the physical objects that composed the largest portion of urban settings, town houses contained and signified different aspects of city life, argues Herman.
Taking a material culture approach, Herman examines urban domestic buildings from Charleston, South Carolina, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well as those in English cities and towns, to better understand why people built the houses they did and how their homes informed everyday city life. Working with buildings and documentary sources as diverse as court cases and recipes, Herman interprets town houses as lived experience. Chapters consider an array of domestic spaces, including the merchant family’s house, the servant’s quarter, and the widow’s dower. Herman demonstrates that city houses served as sites of power as well as complex and often conflicted artifacts mapping the everyday negotiations of social identity and the display of sociability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Town House about?
In this abundantly illustrated volume, Bernard Herman provides a history of urban dwellings and the people who built and lived in them in early America. In the eighteenth century, cities were constant objects of idealization, often viewed as the outward manifestations of an organized, civil society. As the physical objects that composed the largest portion of urban settings, town houses contained and signified different aspects of city life, argues Herman.
Taking a material culture approach, Herman examines urban domestic buildings from Charleston, South Carolina, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well as those in English cities and towns, to better understand why people built the houses they did and how their homes informed everyday city life. Working with buildings and documentary sources as diverse as court cases and recipes, Herman interprets town houses as lived experience. Chapters consider an array of domestic spaces, including the merchant family’s house, the servant’s quarter, and the widow’s dower. Herman demonstrates that city houses served as sites of power as well as complex and often conflicted artifacts mapping the everyday negotiations of social identity and the display of sociability.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Town House?
The Arts > Architecture > History of architecture
Where can I read a sample of Town House?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807829912
How long is Town House and how many pages does it have?
Town House has 320 page(s)
Is Town House part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture and the University of North Carolina Press
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Town House?
Bernard L. Herman
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Town House is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807829912) and paperback(ISBN 9781469633527) and ebook(ISBN 9798890871558) and ebook(ISBN 9781469601168) and ebook(ISBN 9780807839164) and pdf(ISBN 9798890871541)
Where can I buy Town House online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Town House from below
Where can I buy Town House?