Classicism and the Construction of Capital Cities: London, Athens and Rome in the Nineteenth Century

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Richard Alston (Professor of Roman History, Royal Holloway, University of London)

Classicism and the Construction of Capital Cities

London, Athens and Rome in the Nineteenth Century

Richard Alston (Professor of Roman History, Royal Holloway, University of London)

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English

Bloomsbury Academic
12 June 2025

History of art: ancient & classical art; History of architecture; British & Irish history; Ancient history: to c 500 CE; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900

Series: Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception

Exploring the intriguing interplay between tradition and modernity in the 19th-century capitals of London, Athens and Rome, Richard Alston delves into the political and architectural choices that shaped these cities as representations of self-consciously modern nations. Politicians and architects invested in classical styles in their efforts to break with traditions and assert new values. Classical style was employed to address questions of urbanism and nation, citizenship and belonging, and history and civilization. The story of 19th-century architectural Classicism offers a compelling narrative of utopian dreams clashing with authoritarian politics to generate the complexities of modern urban landscapes.

Through these three case studies, this book illuminates how Classicism became a potent tool for expressing elitist nationalism in London, excluding Greeks from their own capital in Athens, and reinforcing aspiration to a technocratic, new Rome. As such grand visions collided with modern urban realities, Alston unravels the mythic allure and ultimate failure of these utopian endeavours. This book presents a riveting exploration of the architectural choices that reflected the aspirations and challenges of a rapidly changing world, leaving a lasting impact on the capitals and their nations.

By: Richard Alston (Professor of Roman History Royal Holloway University of London)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 236mm, Width: 154mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 500g
ISBN: 9781350445314
ISBN 10: 1350445312
Series: Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 12 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of Illustrations Preface 1. An Essay on the Reception of Classical Architecture 2. London: A Civil Society: 1800 - 1820 3. Athens: The Colonisation of Greece: 1830 - 1846 4. Rome: City of Unity: 1870 - 1911 5. Fascist Rome: Scenes of Fantasy: 1922 – 1943 6. Epilogue: Classicism and Authoritarianism Notes Bibliography Index

Richard Alston is Professor of Roman History at Royal Holloway, University of London, UK. He is author and editor of several books including The City in Roman and Byzantine Egypt (2001), and has published articles on the classical influences on modern urbanism, city planning and political theory.

Reviews for Classicism and the Construction of Capital Cities: London, Athens and Rome in the Nineteenth Century

This is the story of how Western architecture grappled with classicism while the promise of the new struggled to gain traction in key European cities—and how the modern movement ultimately triumphed. Exploring London, Athens, and Italy, particularly under fascist rule, Alston persuades us that the old movement had more to offer than it seemed. -- Diane Ghirardo, Professor of the History and Theory of Architecture, University of Southern California, USA