Julia Morgan: Architect

by Cary James

Traces the life of one of the first American women to become a noted architect, describes the obstacles she faced in her career, and looks at her major designs, including William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon

Genres: Biography

111 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1990

About the author

Cary James was born in Virginia, and received degrees from the College of William and Mary, and the University of California at Berkeley. For two decades he practiced architecture in the San Francisco Bay area, before becoming a professional writer. He has published short stories, poems, and book reviews, and served as chair of the Fiction Award Committee of the Bay Area Book Reviewers Association. He is the author of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel, a photographic essay on that now-demolished building, Julia Morgan, a young person’s biography of the San Francisco architect’ and King & Raven, his first novel. Baranaby Conrad once defined the full life as one in which “you build a house, plant a tree, create a child, and fight a bull.” James regrets that he has not yet met his bull. He lives in Mill Valley California with his wife Elaine.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating figure, but the treatment was superficial. The book was probably targeting junior high school students. I'd still like to find a good biography of her, particularly one with more architectural plans and/or catalog of her buildings.

[Michaelaffl · Rating 5 out of 5]

really interesting and cleared up for me the tie in between JM and Hearst.
this whole series would be a good read for anyone who wanted to show young girls how women back in the day didn't let society limit them.