About The Book
The definitive history of the most famous estates in Beverly Hills – the architecturally spectacular residences and lavish grounds that have been home to countless celebrities and the world’s richest families for almost a century.
Jeffrey Hyland is one of the foremost authorities on real estate, architecture, and history in Southern California. In this deluxe 16-by-12 inch, 428-page volume, Hyland offers a meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated history of 50 magnificent estates in three of America’s most prized residential districts: Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and Holmby Hills.
Lush new color photographs as well as a treasure trove of historical images take readers beyond the front gates – often for the first time – for an exceptional, never-before-seen tour of the mansions, interiors, and gardens of sumptuous estates constructed from the 1920s to today.
In The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills, Hyland explains the history and architectural importance of each estate, and tells the fascinating stories of the many famed owners, from their passionate involvement in the design of these costly properties, to their intrigues, triumphs, calamities, and romances.
- What is the greatest estate ever constructed in Beverly Hills?
- What estate – which cost $4 million in the 1920s – was a crime scene in one of Los Angeles’ most talked about and misunderstood murders?
- Which lavish Bel-Air estate was home to the “notorious player known as the Love Captive”?
- Which “Merry Widow” built one of the grandest Bel-Air estates, only to lose everything because of her non-stop partying and gambling?
The famed architects and landscape artists who created these estates are featured in The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills, from their design inspirations to their relationships with their clients; sometimes tumultuous, but always prolific. Hyland tells the history of Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, and Bel-Air, including the growth of these prized communities, and why they remain highly desirable today. In the last chapter, “Gone but Not Forgotten,” he pays homage to the great estates that have been destroyed or lost to history.
From sprawling 1920s Mediterranean-style mansions to today’s celebrity architect-designed masterpieces, from famous movie stars to today’s billionaires, The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills is the ultimate resource for anyone who loves architecture and design, social history, and who wants to know the truth about Beverly Hills’ greatest – and most private – estates.
About the author: Jeffrey Hyland is president of Hilton & Hyland, the pre-eminent real estate brokerage firm in Beverly Hills. He is frequently quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times as an authority on Southern California real estate, architecture, and history.
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