Artist and designer Yorke makes sure you understand your Edwardian (1900-1914) house from its damp courses to its slates and from its floor plan to its place in the urban and suburban neighborhood. He explains the grand houses, of course, but gives equal time to the interiors and exteriors of the homes of the middle class and workers. Through illustrations he explains such problematic terms as "pelmet," "dado" and "frieze," and thoroughly describes materials and styles from Arts and Crafts to Art Nouveau. Along with functional explanations of rooms and gardens Yorke provides a very nice list of museums and houses to visit in England to get the full effect. His choice of photographs is excellent. Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)