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Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders
The most pivotal and yet least understood event of Frank Lloyd Wright's celebrated life involves the brutal murders in 1914 of seven adults and children dear to the architect and the destruction by fire of Taliesin, his landmark residence, near Spring Green, Wisconsin. Unaccountably, the details of that shocking crime have been largely ignored by Wright's legion of biograp...more
Paperback, 232 pages
Published
August 21st 2008
by University of Wisconsin Press
(first published January 18th 2007)
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A riveting, read in two sittings book, but not a great book. It was a more sympathetic portrait of Wright than I expected and yet there seemed to be a lot of (academic?) agenda simmering just underneath the narrative. There's quite a bit of pursed lip head shaking, tsk tsk-ing and vaguely pejorative characterizations of other accounts of the crime, the murderer and his motives. I kept hoping he'd expand or include some primary sources, like court transcripts or witness statements, but though the...more
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This is the story of how an ACTUAL CRAZY AXE MURDERER killed seven people - Wisconsin's worst act of mass murder until 2005, inspired a Thomas Wolfe story - as well as many an urban legend, and completely changed a style of architecture - yet most of us have probably never even heard of it.
In fact, parts of what happened that day are still clouded with uncertainties. The author does a wonderful job of sifting through the various accounts, coming up with what seems to be the most rea...more
In fact, parts of what happened that day are still clouded with uncertainties. The author does a wonderful job of sifting through the various accounts, coming up with what seems to be the most rea...more
What an intriguing read! I was hesitant about getting this book when I visited Oak Park, Ill. and the Frank Lloyd Wright house there, only because it looked like a low-budget endeavor. However, I was very impressed with Drennan's writing style and depth of research in this book. One thing that bothered me was that Drennan seems quick to dismiss some theories about the Taliesin murders, but it isn't clear if that is due to his own opinions or the fact that the bulk of the research he had done led...more
You can't be married to Marshal without developing a love for the architecture of Frank Loyd Wright, the Arts and Craft movement and the Prairie style of architecture. So I came across this book while visiting Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. I had recently read the book "Loving Frank" which is also about Frank and his love at the time, Mahmah Borthwick.
His home was amazing. He was so ahead of his time and a complete genius in his fi...more
His home was amazing. He was so ahead of his time and a complete genius in his fi...more
This book was interesting to me as a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright. It was fairly dry and not super detailed. For someone who didn't know anything about this chapter in Wright's life, it was a bit lacking and slow to get to the point.
Only recommended for fans of Wright who want to get more info on the events surrounding his personal life that seem to have affected his architectural style.
Only recommended for fans of Wright who want to get more info on the events surrounding his personal life that seem to have affected his architectural style.
This was actually pretty good, in spite of the intellectual writing style, which tends to be a wee bit boring at times, especially when I wanted him to cut to the chase. The author did do an excellant job of researching a part of Wright's life that is pretty much kept under wraps. It was a pretty big scandal at the time, prominent person leaves his wife and six kids for another woman, also married with two kids. He builds her a dream home where they can shack up together in a rural community in ...more
I finally finished this book. Not that it was difficult, it was just that the book wasn't where I was when I felt like reading.
Two things I learned from this book: Wright cannot be trusted to tell the truth, especially about himself. Everything had to been spun to make him shine in a better light. In many cases the spin was unhelpful. For a man who had such bad luck with fire, it was surprising he did not self-immolate when writing about himself.
I am currently readin...more
Two things I learned from this book: Wright cannot be trusted to tell the truth, especially about himself. Everything had to been spun to make him shine in a better light. In many cases the spin was unhelpful. For a man who had such bad luck with fire, it was surprising he did not self-immolate when writing about himself.
I am currently readin...more
When I was recently in Chicago, I stopped by the Chicago Architecture Foundation to look at tours. I started talking with one of the people and asked if he had read Loving Frank. He had not but recommended to me Death in a Prairie House, a non-fiction account of the murders. This was so much better than Loving Frank. Even though it is non fiction, the author captures the drama and mystery much better, in my opinion, than the fictionalized account. He also provides some very interesting backg...more
A story about Frank Lloyd Wright and the horrific murders and fire that occurred at his Taliesin home near Spring Green, Wisconsin, in 1914.
I had heard some of the story in the past but not too many details. This book seemed to be pretty detailed considering the time period in which the murders happened. The author must have done a ton of research.
My only problem with the book, though, is that it seemed to read more like a research paper than a novel. Maybe that was the a...more
I had heard some of the story in the past but not too many details. This book seemed to be pretty detailed considering the time period in which the murders happened. The author must have done a ton of research.
My only problem with the book, though, is that it seemed to read more like a research paper than a novel. Maybe that was the a...more
I thought I knew about Frank Lloyd Wright, until I read this. Part biography, part true crime novel.
The murders at Taliesin were news to me. Did the author mean to plant the question in the reader's mind that the murders were linked to Frank Lloyd Wright? That thought lingered -- and fizzled.
I took the tour there some years ago and am reminded of how arrogant he appeared in the video clips, and how the local tour guide was both fascinated by his work and annoyed he was with Wright's personal life.
Just as the book points out, his neighbors stood their distance from him.
...more
I took the tour there some years ago and am reminded of how arrogant he appeared in the video clips, and how the local tour guide was both fascinated by his work and annoyed he was with Wright's personal life.
Just as the book points out, his neighbors stood their distance from him.
...more
I wanted to know more about this dreadful crime after reading Loving Frank. Drennan clearly summarizes Wright's life up until 1914 and does a thorough job of examining the events of that terrible day. He concludes by following Wright and the other individuals involved through some events later in their lives. Definitely helpful in understanding this man and his times.
I would have liked photos of the houses mentioned, especially to compare those designed before the murders and those h...more
I would have liked photos of the houses mentioned, especially to compare those designed before the murders and those h...more
I am generally interested in architecture and fascinated by Frank Lloyd Wright, so I was eager to read this book. I have also visited and toured several Wright homes, including Taliesin West outside of Phoenix, and was surprised that I did not remember hearing about the disaster and murders. What a total disappointment. The book is not well written but I might have been able to read it but I listened on audiodisk and the reader was absolutely terrible, constantly sighing and putting his own inte...more
I wish this thing allowed half-stars. (it's a 3 1/2 for me)
I thought I had a 'currently reading' review of it, but it seems to have disappeared. *shrug* meh.
I did like it. I had no idea this had happened, and based on the lack of evidence (and the culprit expiring in jail a few weeks after the crime - crazy man drank acid when he knew he was going to get caught) it's easy to see why this kind of slipped into obscurity.
The author knows his stuff, and considering the pain-i...more
I thought I had a 'currently reading' review of it, but it seems to have disappeared. *shrug* meh.
I did like it. I had no idea this had happened, and based on the lack of evidence (and the culprit expiring in jail a few weeks after the crime - crazy man drank acid when he knew he was going to get caught) it's easy to see why this kind of slipped into obscurity.
The author knows his stuff, and considering the pain-i...more
Short historical account of the Taliesin murders. If you have read Loving Frank A Novel I suggest reading this concurrently. Or perhaps afterwards. Historically-based novels always bring out a thirst in me to find out what really happened. Wright was not a very nice man, but even so, his flight to Europe with the wife of a client remains puzzling and Nancy Horan's novel provides as reasonable an explanation as anything else since we have very little about her. Wright himself barely noted her ...more
Having lived in Chicagoland for nearly 20 years, I had plenty of exposure to Frank Lloyd Wright residential designs. However, I knew little about the man and his career until reading this book.
Drennan starts with a blueprint of Wright’s life, much of it an interesting social and psychological study of Wright, his parents, and his murdered mistress Mamah. Drennan’s research is exhaustive. What I really appreciated about the book was its writing style: not the dry academic voice of mo...more
Drennan starts with a blueprint of Wright’s life, much of it an interesting social and psychological study of Wright, his parents, and his murdered mistress Mamah. Drennan’s research is exhaustive. What I really appreciated about the book was its writing style: not the dry academic voice of mo...more
Natalie Dorset
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in architecture,mysteries,psychology,history
I had just come back from a trip to Chicago where I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. This book gave great insight in to what the social context of his work was.
Also, a great look at why we see the buildings around us today, how architecture was a force for change and an artistic and philosophical expression, but maybe not so much anymore.
It was also surprising to me how scandalous(sp) Frank Lloyd Wright was for his day, how boldly arrogant and unaware of h...more
Also, a great look at why we see the buildings around us today, how architecture was a force for change and an artistic and philosophical expression, but maybe not so much anymore.
It was also surprising to me how scandalous(sp) Frank Lloyd Wright was for his day, how boldly arrogant and unaware of h...more
I listened to the book. It is well-read, but even at only four CDs, it seemed long and under-edited. Like a good number of books of this sort, it reads as an interesting magazine article that has been expanded into a book. THat's not necessarily bad - but expanding has its risks: repetition, digression, and extraneous details.
What I did like was learning more about Wright - both as an architect and as a human being. The description of the murders was too graphic for my delicate sensi...more
What I did like was learning more about Wright - both as an architect and as a human being. The description of the murders was too graphic for my delicate sensi...more
A lot of the book seemed to be taken up with the background of Wright himself, we are told about his childhood and marriage for the first 4 chapters. The murders themselves, seven in all and quite horrific are covered in one chapter, the culprit in another and then back to Wright.
Prefer books on true crime to be about the crime, the victims and the killers. This just seemed to be a book about Wright, and what I can gather a not very likeable character at that.
Prefer books on true crime to be about the crime, the victims and the killers. This just seemed to be a book about Wright, and what I can gather a not very likeable character at that.
It received three stars as opposed to two only because of the story that seems to be so hidden yet is a crucial part of Wisconsin history.
The author (a University professor) wrote this like a paper waiting to be graded.
Full of pompous words that added nothing.
If you can get past that, the story will shock you and give you quite an insight into the character of famous Frank Lloyd Wright.
The author (a University professor) wrote this like a paper waiting to be graded.
Full of pompous words that added nothing.
If you can get past that, the story will shock you and give you quite an insight into the character of famous Frank Lloyd Wright.
This is a factual account of the murder of the mistress of Frank Lloyd Wright, her children and several workmen. The murders took place in Wright's house, named Taliesin, in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The house was set on fire and destroyed by the murderer. the book also gives an accounting of Wright's life during this time. I didn't know much about Wright and was surprised by what I read.
This book built up to the murders at Taliesin, but it started well before Frank and Mamah went off to Europe together, so there was sufficient background to understand the circumstances. I thought it was an especially good follow up to "Loving Frank."
As a non-fiction book, what I appreciated the most was that the author clearly pointed out the "facts" that no one could 100% verify, and noted what was purely speculation.
As a non-fiction book, what I appreciated the most was that the author clearly pointed out the "facts" that no one could 100% verify, and noted what was purely speculation.
I read it after reading "Loving Frank", which I think was a good order to read them both. I liked it. It's clearly a very gruesome topic, but you get into the WHY? Obviously no one will ever know for certain, but it's interesting to dissect it, the statements and the rumors etc. etc. and try and sort out the parts of the puzzle that become less muddled at a closer examination.
Right now I am about 80 pages into this informative and in-depth look at Frank Lloyd Wright and the murders at Taliesin East. William Drennan reveals much about Franks childhood and what forces formed his attitudes.
He was a genius but,I must say, not a very nice man,husband and business partner. He marched to his own drummer and stepped on all that came in his path. But there is no denying his mark on architecture.
Fascinating read.
He was a genius but,I must say, not a very nice man,husband and business partner. He marched to his own drummer and stepped on all that came in his path. But there is no denying his mark on architecture.
Fascinating read.
Kelly
rated it
I read this book because after I read the book Loving Frank because I enjoyed Loving Frank so much. This was short and interesting. It's not just about the deaths at FLW's Taliesen home; it's also about him, his family, his mother, and Mamah's life as well. The author cites many previous biographies and sources which add to the flavor of the story. The book is quite erudite but not written in a stilted or pompous manner.
After reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan I wanted to learn more about the fire in 1914 at Taliesen, their home in Spring Green, WI (not far from where I grew up.) This book presents a detailed factual account of what happened that day, when Frank Lloyd Wright’s mistress, Mamah, and her two children, along with 4 others, were brutally murdered.
It provides a wealth of details about Wright’s complicated personal life and his architectural career (which continued an amazing 45 years ...more
It provides a wealth of details about Wright’s complicated personal life and his architectural career (which continued an amazing 45 years ...more
This was interesting, and I appreciated all the background information as well as the "what happened then" epilogue, but very little of the book actually focused on the murders and what was there was incredibly graphic. (And, I think, sensationalized, especially in terms of the poor little girl, omg.) I think this needed a lot less background and more analysis.
Just finished reading this book and I really enjoyed it! It reads like a published dissortation (maybe it is) and is pretty dry at parts but I was A-OK with that because it was just so chock full of information. If you're intrigued with the murders that occured at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin in 1914 and want to learn more, definitely check this book out.
This is an interesting book for people interested in Frank Lloyd Wright and American architecture. An English professor wrote it, so it also has a wonderful literary thread, which always gets me going. I read it along with The Jungle and Devil in the White City, which are both based in Chicago, and mention Wright to some degree.
Somewhat interesting though I have to admit that I preferred the fictionalized version Loving Frank. Here the author uses a structure better saved for a newspaper or an academic paper though this is not particularly academic: ask questions, attempt to answer them, explain why other's interpretations are incorrect etc. Loving Frank makes no pretense -- it IS fiction but tries to flesh together what might (or might not) have happened.
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