When traveling about the country in the car, have you ever seen an odd-looking house in the shape of a castle, or one all decorated with fancy cutout wood?  Perhaps you have wondered, "Why did they build that?" "Who would want to live there?" "When was it built?" In almost every part of our country there can be found such old houses which, by roof line, pointed windows or odd towers, reveal secrets of the dreams and ambitions of the times in which they were built.

Harry Devlin now invites you to take a trip with him to visit some of these houses.  You will find out what a Greek Revival house looks like, and why it came into being; you will see a house with eight sides and learn some interesting things about the man who designed it...houses inspired by the bell towers of Italy and houses that satisfied the personal whims of the owners.  These houses are not necessarily famous, but each has a story to tell, a story that is part of the history of our country.

The homes of our grandfathers had a flair and individuality that is too often lacking in this day of mass production, so take a minute and come with Mr. Devlin while he opens your eyes to an architecture that, sadly, is fast disappearing.

From the dust jacket