First published in 1836, Contrasts was the book that rapidly made PuginAes name. It was the first revolutionary architectural manifesto of the nineteenth century and remains the first great canonical work of modern Western architecture. In a devastating text and a series of satirical aebefore and nowAe etchings Pugin contrasted the glories of medieval architecture and its civilised society with the tired classical constructions that were the product of the degraded, modern industrial city. In fiery, uncompromising and often amusing language, the 29-year-old Pugin set out his aegreat rules for designAe to the world at large. This volume presents in facsimile two of the greatest and most important texts ever published on architecture and design. With their wit and passion, sincerity and single-mindedness they had an enormous impact, shaping the way people designed buildings and even how they felt about them.