Gemlike and nearly perfect, the century-old Trinity Church in Boston regularly appears on every list of the greatest buildings in America -- n enduring tribute to the genius of its creator, Henry Hobson Richardson. Richly textured and nobly formed, Richardson's homes, libraries, churches, and public buildings changed the face of American architecture in the last century.This long-overdue volume -- the first biography of Richardson and the first color presentation of his work -- celebrates the legacy of a man who stands alongside Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan as a giant among architects.Few others have exploited color, form, and texture to such dramatic effect, and the stunning photographs of Richardson's buildings -- from Chicago's Glessner House to the Allegheny County Court House in Pittsburgh -- shimmer with the beauty of his work. Close friends with many of the luminaries of the day, this charismatic architect became a central figure in the emergence of America's distinct cultural heritage.