Since its foundation in 1768 the Royal Academy has counted many of Britain s most illustrious architects among its membership. This handsome book, generously funded by the Thaw Charitable Trust, illustrates the architect-Academicians Diploma Works. These works, representative examples of their output, are presented to the institution on their election. They include such varied projects as Sir John Soane s designs for a new House of Lords, Sir Robert Smirke s reconstructive interpretation of the Acropolis at Athens, William Wilkins s designs for the gateway and screen at King s College, Cambridge, Alfred Waterhouse s Manchester Town Hall, Sir Edwin Lutyens s work in New Delhi and Sir Nicholas Grimshaw s Waterloo International Terminal. Neil Bingham s incisive texts explore the background to each work, and his illuminating introduction considers the discipline of architecture within the history of the Royal Academy as a whole.