Main entry:

Berg, Scott W., author.

Title & Author:

Grand avenues : the story of the French visionary who designed Washington, D.C. / Scott W. Berg.

Edition:

First edition.

Publication:

New York : Pantheon Books, [2007]

Description:

xii, 336 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-311) and index.
A note on L'Enfant's English -- A pedestal waiting for a superstructure -- An infinity of small moments -- A powerful friend among the princes of the earth -- The remembrance of my former services -- In every respect advantageously situated -- A plan wholly new -- The wheel to give motion to the machine -- The whole leveled and thrown to the ground -- Measures of the most immediate moment -- An implicit conformity to his will -- The disappointment of absolute dues -- Getting the go by -- A share in the undertaking -- The assurance of things hoped for.
Also issued online.

Summary:

The story of Pierre Charles L'Enfant and the creation of Washington D.C.--from the seeds of his inspiration to the fulfillment of his extraordinary vision. L'Enfant's story is one of consuming passion, high emotion, artistic genius, and human frailty. As a young man he left his home in Paris to volunteer in the army of the American colonies, where he served under George Washington. It was Washington himself who, in 1791, entrusted L'Enfant with the planning of the nation's capital--and reluctantly allowed him to be dismissed from the project eleven months later. The plan was published under another name, and for the remainder of his life L'Enfant fought for recognition. But he would not live to see that day, and a century would pass before L'Enfant would be given credit for his brilliant design. Berg recounts his evocative tale with the narrative verve of a novel.--From publisher description.

Resources:
Sample text
Table of contents
Contributor biographical information
Publisher description
Table of contents only
Publisher description
Sample text
Contributor biographical information

ISBN:

0375422803
9780375422805

Subject:

L'Enfant, Pierre Charles, 1754-1825.
L'Enfant, Pierre Charles Biographie.
L'Enfant, Pierre C.
L'Enfant, Pierre Charles.
City planners France Biography.
City planning Washington (D.C.) History 18th century.
Urbanistes France Biographies.
Urbanisme Washington (D.C.) Histoire 18e siècle.
Design urbain Washington (D.C.) Histoire 18e siècle.
City planners.
City planning.
Stadtplanung
Städtebau USA Washington Geschichte 1791.
City planners United States Biography.
Stadsarkitekter Frankrike biografi.
Stadsplanering historia Washington (stad) 1700-talet.
Washington (D.C.) History 18th century.
France.
Washington (D.C.)
Washington, DC
Washington Stadtplanung Geschichte 18. Jh.
Washington Städtebau Geschichte 1791.

Form/genre:

collective biographies.
Biographies.
History.

Holdings:

Location: Library main 252550
Call No.: BIB 182249
Status: Available