Book excerpt: Robert and James Adam dominated British architecture for the second half of the 18th century. The key period in the development of the Adam style was their time as Grand Tourists in Italy - three years for Robert, four for James. As architects they studied and drew after the Antique, as Grand Tourists they formed a vast collection of paintings and drawings. It was this collection that was sold during the years 1765-1821. The drawings themselves were acquired by Sir John Soane in 1833 for his new Museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. These drawings, together with the brothers' fascinating letters and James's journal, form a unique picture. This book gives an account of the brothers' aspirations and achievements in making their Grand Tours, tracing James's role as well as Robert's. The way in which they composed their architecture and even the manner in which they drew in watercolour and wash was the achievement of these years as Grand Tourists. AUTHOR: Professor Tait is an art historian with a particular interest in 18th-century architecture and landscape. He published a survey of the Soane Adam collection in 1996, Robert Adam, the Creative Mind. He is also the author of Robert Adam: drawings and imagination (1993). SELLING POINTS: *First of a planned series of five illustrated books on the works of the Adam brothers held at Sir John Soane's Museum (25 September 2008 to 14 February 2009), described by Robert Adam as 'the whole Soul, Body and Guts' of their architecture *The text by world-renowned art historian Professor Alan Tait accompanies the stunning reproduction of 1,000 or so drawings, including many that have never been published before *These drawings, together with the brothers' personal letters and James's journal make up a remarkable document for all those interested in 18th-century architecture and Italy 115 colour & 11 b/w illustrations