First Edition Pleasure of Ruins (1964) Rose Macaulay Hardcover DJ Acceptable

Thames and Hudson, 1964. First edition large format hardcover with dust jacket of Pleasure of Ruins by Rose Macaulay.

Includes a smaller catalog booklet of other book titles from the same publisher.

This book takes the reader on a massive geographical and historical tour of ruins, from ancient sites like Rome, Egypt, and the Near East to the abbeys of Western Europe, examining the marvelous relics of fallen civilizations. Macaulay explores "ruin lust"—the aesthetic and emotional attraction to these remnants—by detailing their archaeological, architectural, and literary associations, citing observers from Petrarch to Henry James. Ultimately, the work is a philosophical exploration of what ruins represent: the transience of human ambition, the inevitability of time and decay, and the enduring beauty found in imperfection.

Acceptable. Light spotting to the covers, top of the page block, and to the back of the dust jacket. Dust jacket worn. Small isolated wear to the rear end paper where the dust jacket rear flap got stuck on. Interior pages clean and crisp. Solid reading copy.