Talbot Hamlin (1889–1956)

This won the 1956 Pulitzer prize for biography. Latrobe was born May 1, 1764, at Fulneck, Yorkshire, England, and died at New Orleans on Sept 1, 1820. He received his education in England and Germany, practiced as an architect in England, and after a 15 eweek trip across the Atlantic came to the U.S in 1796.The book details his work as an architect and engineer and shows that Latrobe was a most able person, even though he never made enough money. He worked on the U. S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. both before and after it was burned by the British during the War of 1812. I am not a architect and I confess reading this book was a chore and I was glad when I finished the book. That I rate it as I do does not speak to the merit of the work but to my deficiency in appreciation thereof.… (mere)