The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture (Oxford Quick Reference) - Tapa dura

Assisted by Wilson, Curl has created a valuable piece of scholarship, and the definitive reference work on architecture and landscape design... The entries are clear and concise, detailed and thoroughly referenced... [It is] an authoritative, reliable, and accurate resource... handsomely produced and well written... It is a delightful read and an indispensable source for students, scholars, practitioners, and the public. (Hannah Malone, Architectural History)

...definitions are not only elegantly concise, they often sparkle with sententious wit. Give me this pleasingly well written dictionary any day. (Christopher Catling, SALON: Society of Antiquaries of London Online Newsletter)

the quintessential reference work for professionals, scholars and interested laymen (Karen Latimer, Perspective: The Journal of The Royal Society of Ulster Architects)

simply the best dictionary of architecture on the market ... a delight. (Gwyn Headley, Follies)

[a] magisterial Dictionary ... although outwardly formidable, is surprisingly accessible and written in an engaging and often highly opinionated style. Curl and Wilson give us much, much more than mere facts ... This is a work of vast scholarship where learning is presented with style and panache; it will remain the definitive dictionary of architecture until Curl produces his fourth edition. For the garden and landscape historian it is a remarkable resource and ... should be the primary volume of reference for amateurs and scholars alike. (Timothy Mowl, Garden History: Journal of the Garden History Society)

Beautifully written in clipped, scholarly prose, assiduously referenced, with a comprehensive bibliography and seasoned with Curl's own dry wit, the dictionary is both informative and readable ... a substantial addition, in every sense, to the library of those with an interest in architecture and landscape design. (Hugh Petter, The Georgian: The Magazine of The Georgian Group)

What gives the references the occasional sting and much in the way of individuality is the marked viewpoint of James Stevens Curl, feisty as ever. Not for him the banal tower block or the lusting after weird and wonderful shapes in the perpetual search for novelty (Matthew Saunders, Newsletter of the Ancient Monuments Society in association with The Friends of Friendless Churches)

The dictionary is a great achievement (Ruairidh Moir, RIAS Quarterly: The Journal of The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland)

Written with considerable wit as well as great scholarship, this is an indispensable book of reference. (Graham Tite, Context: Journal of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation)

The book is essential and it now has no real competitor ... a hugely impressive work of scholarship. (Gavin Stamp, Country Life)

Containing over 6,000 entries from Aalto to Zwinger and written in a clear and concise style, this authoritative dictionary covers architectural history in detail, from ancient times to the present day. It also includes concise biographies of hundreds of architects from history (excluding living persons), from Sir Francis Bacon and Imhotep to Liang Ssu-ch'eng and Francis Inigo Thomas. The text is complemented by over 260 beautiful and meticulous line drawings, labelled cross-sections, and diagrams. These include precise drawings of typical building features, making it easy for readers to identify particular period styles.

This third edition of The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture has been extensively revised and expanded, with over 900 new entries including hundreds of definitions of garden and landscape terms such as Baroque garden, floral clock, hortus conclusus, and Zen garden-design. Each entry is followed by a mini-bibliography, with suggestions for further reading. The full bibliography to the first edition (previously only available online) has also been fully updated and expanded, and incorporated into this new edition.

This is an essential work of reference for anyone with an interest in architectural and garden history. With clear descriptions providing in-depth analysis, it is invaluable for students, professional architects, art historians, and anyone interested in architecture and garden design, and provides a fascinating wealth of information for the general reader.