Majestic Middle Tennessee

Although this almost borders on being a vanity publication for homeowners, it does provide a valuable handbook for the truly wonderful architecture of Middle Tennessee which was rich in all senses of the word before the Civil War. Here the houses, mostly resulting from the agricultural successes at the time, are presented in a somewhat guidebook fashion, convenient as there are sometimes pilgrimadges when these homes are open to the public. All the photos are new, taken for the book, and give at least a reference photo of the exterior. Most of the interiors show a confusion of out-of-sync "Williamsburg" decoration that is not particularly appropriate to the house, however. The cover photo shows the remarkable "Rattle & Snap" in rural Maury County, one of a group of Polk family plantation homes, that stands among the greatest of any built of that era. As a handbook of great vernacular architecture, it is a valuable guide and recommended for all those interested in the region.