Thom Penney used to know a bookstore in Charleston, South Carolina, where he lives, that would keep an eye out for novels featuring architects, and let him know whenever a new one came in. That store, like so many other independents, is out of business now, but Penney, who is the First Vice President of the AIA, and its President-Elect, continues to indulge his passion for collecting, stopping into bookstores whenever he's in a new town, and asking his wife to look for him whenever she's in a bookstore. In the short essay that follows, Penney tells of how his hobby began and touches on a few of his favorites. In the Cause of Architecture asks readers to review Penney's list and to send in any additions, accompanied by a few notes. Submissions can be sent to kevin_lerner@mcgraw-hill.com. View reader's comments here.

Kevin Lerner

The Architect in Fiction

As a wide-eyed freshman in college, I was introduced to the wonderful world of Architecture. I soon discovered a parallel world that began a lifelong passion—the Architect in Fiction. In my studies, I grew to love and understand the power of Architecture. Through my reading, I became fascinated with the persona of Architects that novels portray.

The Fountainhead, my first venture into the fictional world of Architects, unveiled to me the strength of conviction of Architects and the impact that fiction can have on the public's perception of Architects. I began to re-read it periodically, unaware that many other examples existed.
After graduation, I read an article in AIA Journal announcing the publication of Monticello Fault (1979), a novel about an Architect written by former AIA President, Archibald Rogers. As I awaited its publication, I began a search for more works of fiction that featured Architects. This search developed into a hobby.

One of my favorites is A Laodicean by Thomas Hardy. This 1881 story includes a design competition, plagiarism, and inadequate fees. Sound familiar? Another favorite is one of the newest in my collection—The Cloud Sketcher by Richard Rayner (2000). This is an epic story of love and war about an architect from Finland who discovers the possibilities unleashed by the invention of the elevator.

My collection includes over 40 books discovered over a period of thirty years. Adding to the collection takes patience, but the occasional "find" is worth the wait.

Thompson E. Penney, FAIA

The List

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