An overview of the development of house and home, from its beginnings in the caves of early man through the variety of structures that have evolved, influenced by climate and materials but also by culture, custom, and religious beliefs. Mr. Gardiner succeeds in explaining why, from being merely a shelter, the house has come to express ideas about space, aesthetics, customs, and culture. Gardiner is most readable, unpretentiously scholarly, and he moves through time with confidence and sound architectural judgement.-Eric Lyons, Spectator.