The Omnipotent Magician: Lancelot 'Capability' Brown: 1716-1783

LancelotBrownchangedthefaceofeighteenth-centuryEngland,designingcountryestatesandmansions,movinghillsandmakingflowinglakesandserpentinerivers,amagicalworldofgreen.ThisEnglishlandscapestylespreadacrossEuropeandtheworld.Athome,itprovedsopleasingthatBrown'sinfluencespreadintothelowlandlandscapeatlarge,andintolandscapepainting.Hestandsbehindourvision,andfantasy,ofruralEngland.Inthisvivid,livelybiography,basedondetailedresearch,JaneBrownpaintsanunforgettablepictureoftheman,hiswork,hishappydomesticlife,andhiscrowdedworld.ShefollowsthelifeofthejovialyetelusiveMrBrown,fromhischildhoodandapprenticeshipinruralNorthumberland,throughhisformativeyearsatStowe,themostfamousgardenoftheday.Hisinnovativeideas,andhisaffableandgenerousnature,ledtoameteoricrisetoaRoyalAppointmentin1764andhisclientsandfriendsrangedfromstatesmenliketheelderPitttoartistsandactorslikeDavidGarrick.RidingconstantlyacrossEngland,BrownneverceasedworkinguntilhecollapsedanddiedinFebruary1783aftervisitingoneofhisoldestclients.Hewasapracticalmanbutalsoavisionary,alwayswillingtotrysomethingnew.Asthisdelightful,andbeautifullyillustratedbiographyshows,BrownfilledEnglandwithenchantment-follies,cascades,lakes,bridges,ornaments,monuments,meadowsandwoods-creatingviewsthatstilldelightustoday.