“A Clearing in the Distance” by Witold Rybczynski was published in 1999 but has stood the test of time. The author takes a personal approach, interjecting his opinions on the actions of his subject: “And now, I feel myself becoming impatient with Olmsted. Why can’t he just get on with it?”
Because of this level of engagement, I recommend this book as a good starting point for learning about both Olmsted’s personal and professional life. The integration of contemporary and modern perspectives and vignettes is a very effective approach for describing an era to readers 150 and more years later.
The author is also adept at illustrating the qualities in Olmsted that best define his profession: the ability to form a long range vision, and live with it through the scrutiny and compromise to conclusion, or to know when to cut your losses and move on to the next project.
Rybczynski’s research includes visits to surviving projects, such Brooklyn’s Prospect Park or Montreal’s Mount Royal. He also is familiar with the Olmsted plan for Tacoma, describing the solution of the hilly site as “an elegant solution” and lamenting that “the railroad directors would have none of it.”
Excerpted from the Summer 2022 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin