Susan Lawrence

Book excerpt: In 1902 Susan Lawrence commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to "remodel" her deceased father's home in Springfield, Illinois. The project grew and became a blonde Roman brick mansion with 35 rooms on 16 different levels. An anomaly in Springfield, the house is a masterpiece that still stands today as one of Wright's finest Prairie designs. Now called the Dana-Thomas House, it is an Illinois State Historic Site that has been visited by thousands. The woman behind the project, Susan Lawrence, lived during a period in history when women were finding their voices and carving out new places in society. As the world changed around her, she assumed several names and played many roles. She entertained lavishly, traveled the world, championed the rights of women and African-Americans, shared her time and money, and led seekers of spiritual truths. With over 50 images, this book captures Susan Lawrence's complex and independent lifestyle that matched the home Frank Lloyd Wright designed for her -- unconventional and dramatic.