author
John A. (John Allyne) Gade
1875–1955
A Harvard-trained architect who moved easily between design, diplomacy, finance, and writing, he brought an unusually wide view of public life to his books. His career ranged from church and museum architecture to naval intelligence and diplomatic service in Europe.
1 Audiobook
Cathedrals of Spain
by John A. (John Allyne) Gade
About the author
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1875, he was the son of Norwegian diplomat and physician Gerhard Gade and spent much of his youth connected to both the United States and Norway. He studied architecture at Harvard, then built an early career designing churches, institutional buildings, and other projects before his life took a sharp turn into government and international service.
During and after World War I, he served as a U.S. naval officer and intelligence figure, worked as a naval attaché, and later represented the United States diplomatically in the Baltic region. He was also active in banking, which added yet another layer to an already unusually varied career.
As a writer, he drew on firsthand experience in European affairs, war, and international politics, giving his nonfiction a practical, observant tone. He died in 1955, remembered not only as an author but as a man whose books grew out of a life spent in architecture, diplomacy, military service, and finance.