Hugh Casson's Oxford

by Hugh Casson

An illustrated guide to the historic city of Oxford, by Sir Hugh Casson, well-known architect and watercolourist, who records in words and pictures his personal impressions of Oxford. Watercolour drawings of many of the finest colleges are accompanied by notes on their history and their particular attractions. Pen and ink sketches of details of architecture reveal some of the hidden beauties of the ancient buildings, while the soft pastel washes capture the unique qualities of the stone in the changing light. Sir Hugh Casson is the author of "Hugh Casson's Diary" and "Hugh Casson's London".

96 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1988

About the author

Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson, KCVO, RA, RDI, was a British architect, interior designer, artist, and influential writer and broadcaster on 20th century design. He is particularly noted for his role as director of architecture at the 1951 Festival of Britain on London's South Bank.

Casson's family originated from Wales. He was the nephew of actor, Sir Lewis Casson. Hugh Casson studied at Eastbourne College in East Sussex, then St John's College, Cambridge (1929-1931), after which he spent time at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Up to the start of the Second World War in 1939, he divided his time between teaching at the Cambridge School of Architecture and working in the London office of his Cambridge tutor, architect Christopher (Kit) Nicholson. During the war, he worked in the Camouflage Service of the Air Ministry.