St. Petersburg: Architecture of the Tsars Hardcover – October 30, 1996

I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone interested in this subject. Extremely comprehensive in scope, this book will probably feature all the structures you are looking for - but some understandably get less attention than others. The photography is extremely well balanced between interiors and exteriors, general views and details - many architecture focused picture books get this wrong!

While I'm still making my way through the in-depth text of the book (a pleasant surprise, for a "pretty coffee table book"!) it is a beautiful book to leaf through, photographically. I've just completed Arthur L. George's terrific history St. Petersburg: Russia's Window to the Future, The First Three Centuries, and this has been a wonderful visual to accompany that, and prepare / excite me for my first visit to the city. (As a long-time architecture buff, I really appreciate the narratives that accompany the often-dazzling creations from 3 centuries of construction, as captured and beautifully presented in this book; although I do think a tiny number of the many images have not enlarged as successfully or cleanly as they should.) Beyond the marvel of the Hermitage/Winter Palace, the book is shaping my tourist agenda for what I need to see in person, once I get there.

This is an amazing book about a beautiful city.St. Petersburg is known for its wonderful architectural heritage and this over-sized stylish book captures the essence and beauty of this city in the best possible manner.The book is thick and very well bound and loaded with gorgeous color photography revealing the beautiful architectural details.The photos are also accompanied with a highly informative text which puts the buildings illustrated into their respective social and historical context.This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in history and fine architecture, worth every penny.

This book is not only full of absolute breathtaking photographs; the history of the city and of Russia is a perfect blend. I hardly ever pay full price for a 'Coffee Table Book' but I would highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in the city and/or history.

Excellent information and pictures!

This book is full of gorgeous pictures as well as an in depth description of the palaces. It will make an awesome Christmas gift!

Imagine, in a museum and reading a well written paragraph on the Madonna and Child. You look up and you see something by Picasso during his Blue period. The total lack of text to photo is mindboggling. Time after time. A huge description on the Currency Bank and how it was the "best" of Quarenghi's designs, but not one blasted photoThe writer and photographer did not collaborate. What a shame, there was a great deal of research in the book but the problem was repeated throughout. Forget the Marble Palace, great photos but where in the heck was the research on it . . . just flip to the back and hope you find it. Use lots of 'stick-ems'. For this reason, I pitched it.The writer and photographer/publisher was not fair to the author and certainly not to the reader. What a shame. Abysmal .

Wonderful book with tons of marvelous images of buildings both familiar and new. If I can ever tear my eyes away from the great photos I'll let you know how the text is ;) This is one of my favorite books on Russia.