Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory

by Judith Dupre

From the Alamo and Gettysburg to Mount Rushmore and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Monuments is celebrated architectural historian Judith Dupré’s sweeping tribute to classic American landmarks. But included too are contemporary monuments that are changing the way we think about commemoration–the AIDS Quilt, a traveling memorial made for the people by the people, and even the haunting lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising,” an intangible remembrance of September 11th. Monuments features more than 200 stunning duotone photographs, as well as fascinating stories, rare illustrations, candid interviews with artists and architects, and a unique chronology of milestones in the history of time and memory. Ultimately, Monuments is about life. It tells the stories of real people, the ordinary and the renowned, whose lives, though immortalized, exist most fully in the mind and heart. Monuments is a book that goes beyond historical fact to touch what is eternal and transcendent about humanity.

To view images from Monuments ,


Praise for Judith Dupré:
“Dupré makes the most of a century of neck-craning architecture.”
– The Washington Post , on Skyscrapers

“Judith Dupré captivates the eye, mind and imagination.”
– The New York Times , on Bridges

“Magisterial, meticulously researched, and handsomely illustrated.”
– The Oprah Magazine , on Churches

Genres: History, American History, Architecture, Art History, Art, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2007

About the author

Judith Dupré writes books that bridge the worlds of art, photography, and architecture in ways that delight and educate. She has written several works of illustrated nonfiction that have been translated into ten languages, including Skyscrapers (Black Dog & Leventhal/ Workman, 1996); Bridges (Black Dog & Leventhal/Workman, 1997); Churches (HarperCollins, 2001), a New York Times bestseller; and Monuments (Random House, 2007).

Her newest book, Full of Grace: Encountering Mary in Faith, Art & LIfe, will be published on November 2, 2010. Full of Grace offers a new twist on this popular subject, taking the reader inside the Virgin Mary’s world in ancient Palestine and showing, equally, how thoroughly she inhabits our own, twenty-first century experiences. The book touches on Mary’s Jewish roots, her veneration by Muslims, and Our Lady of Guadalupe’s powerful presence in Hispanic communities. More intimately, it explores the joys of motherhood and friendship, the nature of surrender, and the pain of loss through a Marian lens in 59 essays—one for each bead of the rosary.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Judith received degrees in English and Studio Art from Brown University, and subsequently studied at the Open Atelier of Design and Architecture in Manhattan. Currently, she is at Yale University doing advanced studies on the role of time, memory, and ritual in architecture and community building. She is an Intent Voice on Intent.com, and an Advisory Board member of Faith & Form, the journal of the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture, a professional interest area of the American Institute of Architects. She lives with her family outside of New York City.

Reviews

[Jim Castine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me forever to get through this, but it's interesting and very informative. A good book for art and history lovers alike

[Michelle Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of great information. I went through it quickly since I was more intrested in the pictures and info about the pictures.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and well researched book. The black and white photos I thought might make the book morose and perhaps morbid, when dealing with the thought of memory, loss and commemoration. Instead they put each monument spotlighted on an equal playing field of timelessness. Dupre has taken what I thought might be an impossible task and truly nailed it. Her selection of a diverse grouping of monuments to tell America's tale was important. Her ability to tell the tales of the reasoning and times which these were commissioned and executed was equally important. There is an art to the book- a pace and flow- with quotations, sidebars and interviews giving breathing room. The photographs are from some of the finest available. I believe that this book could be thicker and wider in scope- perhaps more monuments to ordinary Americans (though a few snippets of the introduction and some of the spotlights touch on this) and perhaps more monuments from the West Coast. Monuments to musicians, artists, film icons and the such are equally important as presidential, military and social activists when looking at who, what and how Americans memorialize. Great read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much different than I anticipated! I thought this book would be mostly pictures and colored ones, at that! But, it's not. The text balances the photos, describing different aspects of a memorial while providing a history and meaning behind the artwork.

The photos are all black and white and provide their own significance. B&W photos resonate well in history.

[Eric Eickhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book... it is more coffee table than anything else, but it is a fascinating look at the most important monuments in American life. The photos are wonderful and the stories of how the monuments were conceptualized and executed are fantastic.

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stimulating. Monuments from many angles, with telling details and textures.

[Emily]

stopped at p.36 gettysburg