Sir Christopher Wren epitomizes the Renaissance man. Adept in languages, adroit in personal relationships, and a brilliant mathematician, he became--with no architectural training--the greatest English architect of his day. The classical sources of his inspiration are clearly illustrated by the titles in his personal library.

Christopher Wren was born on 20 October 1632 in the county of Wiltshire at the rectory of East Knoyle, where his father, also named Christopher, served as rector. His mother, Mary, died when he was still young though records show that she lived for at least the first two years of her son's life. On 4 April 1635 his father was appointed dean of Windsor and registrar of the Order of the Garter by Charles I. The deanery had been vacated by the elder Wren's brother Matthew, who became the bishop of Ely in 1636. The Wrens enjoyed several years of prosperity until the outbreak of the civil...