November 21, 2005 Architectural Historian and Photographer William Brumfield to Discuss his Book on Russian Architecture on Dec. 1

Press Contact: Donna Urschel (202) 707-1639
Public Contact: Robert Saladini (202) 707-2692

Architectural historian and photographer William Craft Brumfield will discuss his book, “A History of Russian Architecture,” at the Library of Congress at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Room 119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.

The event, sponsored by the Library’s John W. Kluge Center, is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

“A History of Russian Architecture,” first published in 1993, has been revised and expanded with 80 color photographs and an additional new photographic essay drawn from Brumfield’s research and fieldwork over the past decade in remote areas of the Russian north and Siberia. The book is the most comprehensive study of Russian architecture in English, of interest to both scholars and general audiences.

Illustrated with photographs taken by Brumfield, “The History of Russian Architecture” is divided into four parts: the early medieval period up to the Mongol invasion; the revival of architecture in Novgorod and Muscovy from the 14th to 17th centuries; Peter the Great’s cultural revolution; and the advent of modern, avant-garde and monumental Soviet architecture.

In 1993, when the book was first released, the New York Times Book Review included it in “Notable Books of the Year” and described it as “a rich trove that will provide opportunities for exciting voyages of discovery and will serve as an invaluable English-language reference.”

Brumfield, professor of Russian studies at Tulane University, New Orleans, is in residence at the Kluge Center while Tulane is closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. He earned a Ph.D. in Slavic languages at the University of California, Berkeley, and is the author and photographer of a number of works, including: “Vologda Album” (2005); “Landmarks of Russian Architecture: A Photographic Survey” (1997); “Lost Russia: Photographing the Ruins of Russian Architecture” (1995); “The Origins of Modernism in Russian Architecture” (1991); and “Gold in Azure: One Thousand Years of Russian Architecture” (1983).

Through a generous endowment from John W. Kluge, the Library of Congress established the Kluge Center in 2000. The center brings leading scholars together with key Washington policymakers to discuss important world issues, drawing on the Library’s incomparable national and international collections. For information about the fellowships, grants and programs offered by the Kluge Center, visit www.loc.gov/kluge.

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PR 05-247
2005-11-21
ISSN 0731-3527