cover image Natchez Houses: The Houses and History of the Jewel of the Mississippi

Natchez Houses: The Houses and History of the Jewel of the Mississippi

Hugh Howard, Roger Straus, III. Rizzoli International Publications, $39.95 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-8478-2572-1

With over 200 color photographs by Straus, this beautiful book provides a tantalizing glimpse into a bygone era. Howard and Straus (Thomas Jefferson, Architect; Wright for Wright) combine forces yet again to deliver a rich perspective on a pocket of Mississippi where politics and posh society were equally important, and which stands today as""a unique example of living history."" By profiling specific houses within specific categories (planters' houses, Grecian-style estates, homes built after the Civil War), Hughes and Straus paint a portrait of Natchez that feels intimate but also gives context to the sweeping changes that occurred in America's South in the 19th century. Appealing to both history lovers and home design buffs, it's also a voyeur's delight, as it goes deep inside grand private homes and includes photographs and portraits of families who lived in them many years ago.