Discover the stories of some of London's most impressive and historically significant great houses, along with their secrets, in this richly illustrated volume. London has a rich heritage of truly stunning great houses, many of which are considered magnificent masterpieces of English architecture, yet their history, interiors, and residents remain unknown to most. This book, filled with wonderful photographs of these apartments, unveils this secret world of wealth and grandeur. From the baroque and imposing grandeur of 10 Downing Street, perhaps London's most famous address, to the extraordinary Pre-Raphaelite mosaics at Debenham House and the self-assured, futuristic steel and glass of the Richard Rogers House in Chelsea, this book showcases these properties and recounts their origins, as well as the many transformations they have undergone from their construction to the present day. There are many architectural marvels, such as Robert Adam's 20 St James's Square and William Burges's Tower House. Some of these - like Bridgewater House with its Raphaels and Titians - have hosted great art collections. These houses hide remarkable stories: did half the government committee resign after breakfast at Stratford House? and on 4 August 1914, at 9 Carlton House Terrace - then the German Embassy - young officer Harold Nicolson deftly swapped one declaration of war for another. With photographs by the world-renowned and award-winning Fritz von der Schulenburg, this title brings these houses to life in all their splendor, and the text by historian and author James Stourton explores the many interesting stories behind the walls of these houses. Great Houses of London opens the door to some of the world's largest and most imposing houses to tell the stories of their owners and residents, artists and architects, their restoration, adaptation, and change. Now available in a more compact format.