"Here, for the first time, readers can enjoy a complete view of Frank Lloyd Wright's amazing early masterwork of 1904, the Larkin Building. It was a major factor in his fame abroad, and later, at home. But in 1950 it was razed. Why? Professor Jack Quinan of the State University of New York at Buffalo, has benefited from a hitherto unknown cache of original documents, including photographs, which enable him to answer the question. The numerous letters exchanged between Frank Lloyd Wright and Darwin D. Martin, a top executive of the Larkin mail-order company, reveal the crucial details of a remarkable architect-client relationship. Bit by bit Guinan brings to life a key achievement of American architecture, from the saga of its creation to the inconsistencies of its reputation. He traces the elements of its exceptional structure, explains the unprecedented coordination of its intricate equipment, the rich meaning of its superb decorations, and the fluctuation of its critical and historic assessments. No one interested in the American way of life should overlook this pathbreaking book." -- from back wrapper. Includes notes and index. Printed in black-and-white.