Phantoms Of The Hudson Valley: The Glorious Estates Of A Lost Era, By Monica Randall, Hardcover

Phantoms Of The Hudson Valley: The Glorious Estates Of A Lost Era by Monica Randall. This is a beautiful hardcover copy of a beautiful book that is especially fascinating to those of us who live in The Hudson Valley and may drive past some of these estates. This is a first edition, published in 1995 by Overlook.

Filled with breathtaking black and white photos that emphasize the grandeur of the mansions and their dramatic interiors, intact or not, as well as the haunting sadness of those gone to ruin.

Each essay includes a short history of a 19th or early 20th century estate, some drool-worthy architectural details, the author's personal and very hands-on experience with researching the property, and an update on its current (as of 1995) status, which in my opinion only adds to the fun, because then you get to get your Google on and go on an internet scavenger hunt to see what happened next (or, if you prefer, believe it stayed just that way forever).

A lot of her research took place in the 80s, and sometimes included personal house tours and/or interviews with heirs of the original families that built them. She also makes sure to dutifully report any ghost stories about the estates, and embellishes them by wearing antique dresses and modeling in some of the photos. 

Condition: excellent overall condition. Dust cover has a few tiny tears, book itself is in perfect shape.