Adolphe Appia (1862-1928) is a prominent figure in the history of modern theater best known
for his writings on the mise-en-scène and stage design for the operas of Richard Wagner. Far
less is known about the Swiss scenographer's importance in twentieth-century architecture and
aesthetics. The Appian Way is the definitive account of Appia's significance in this field. It
is centered on his remarkable drawings that are at once austere and atmospheric: framing a
series of scenes capturing stairs landings platforms and terraces all staged before a
distant horizon under a luminous sky the drawings are generally monochrome but the subtle
hues of the paper imbue each with a distinctive ambient undertone. Appia himself might be
thought about in the same way he was distant yet also enigmatically present in the ensuing
drama of modern architecture and stage design. Comprised of four main chapters and a coda
this engaging and accessible book is structured as a dramatic story that traces the contours of
Appia's life-his personal circumstances convictions aesthetic preferences desires and
motivations-all aimed at constructing a comprehensive portrayal of his life and his work
within the horizons of his time. Appia's drawings are reproduced here in full color
accompanied by a vast range of archival material much of which has never been published
before.
