The City in History
Also known as The City in History: Its Origins, Its Transformations, and Its Prospects
Lewis Mumford's 1961 history of the city, which won the National Book Award.
At a glance
Key ideas
The organic city, Not an attack on the city, Personal observation …
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- Mumford traces how cities grew, what they became and where they were heading.
- He argues for an "organic city" in which culture thrives alongside technology instead of being ruled by it.
- He contrasts such cities with those built around war, tyranny and poverty.
- He limited himself as far as possible to cities he knew at first hand.
Why it matters
- It is a classic of urban history and planning, and a sustained case that cities should serve human and natural needs.
Key facts
- Author
- Lewis Mumford1
- Published
- 1961, Harcourt, Brace & World, New York1
- Award
- National Book Award1
- Last chapter
- "Retrospect and Prospect"1
Key ideas
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The organic city1
Technology balanced with nature and culture.
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Not an attack on the city1
An evaluation of its growth and future.
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Personal observation1
His method "demands personal experience and observation".
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Literary style1
Metaphor and quotations from Dickens and others make the city the book's protagonist.
Connections
Written by
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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