Many authors have recounted the extraordinary achievements and the turmoil of Frank Lloyd Wright's life, but this is the first study to provide a comprehensive explanation of his principles and motivations, and to trace them back to their roots in nineteenth-century Wales.

"The father of modern architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright learned his defiant creativity from the radical politics and work ethic of his Welsh family. Throughout his career, Wright strongly resisted the idea that his accomplishments owed anything to earthly influences. As much as he wanted his achievements recognized, he wanted them to be unaccountable, but according to Jonathan Adams, they are not. Drawing on new discoveries about the architect's upbringing, this book reveals how Wright's mother and many aunts and uncles raised him with a reverence for the fierce radicalism of their Welsh ancestors. Presenting a new perspective on a renowned creative, Jonathan Adams reveals how the culture, faith, and philosophy of Wales shaped Wright into the visionary he became."--