Jonathan Meades
Author of Museum Without Walls
About the Author
Works by Jonathan Meades
Associated Works
Architectural Expressions: A Photographic Reassessment of Fun in Architecture (2001) — Introduction — 6 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1947-01-21
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Borough, London, England, UK
- Education
- King's College, Taunton
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - Occupations
- restaurant critic
journalist
essayist
filmmaker - Organizations
- The Times
Members
Reviews
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 30
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 467
- Popularity
- #52,672
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 7
- ISBNs
- 39
- Favorited
- 1
Meades is a brilliant writer, skewering his targets with deadpan, razor wit. His special ire is reserved for Architects and the insipid buildings they inflict upon us. A great architect can inspire and transform the people who live in their buildings. A poor one can inflict bland mediocrity upon us.
The writing here ranges from examinations of the buildings of Hitler and Stalin to the strange charm of shacks in the Severn Valley; from suburban Britain to our fascination with all things Victorian.
Meades is opinionated to be sure, but its hard to disagree with him when he makes his arguments with such persuasive prose. And it is always backed up by the wealth of knowledge he has gathered over the years.
The only part of the book that didn't work for me is the inclusion of some of his TV scripts. Meades is brilliant in front of the camera, subverting the conventions of the usual TV talking heads with his deadpan delivery. You really need to see the TV programmes to see these scripts come to life. A judicious search on YouTube show you what I mean. All his TV programmes are there.
Otherwise, a brilliant, informative, funny, opinionated (in the best sense) book. Go read.… (more)