The thesis was a study of the dominant theme of growth and decay in five of Booth Tarkington’s mature novels: The Magnificent Ambersons, The Turmoil, National Avenue, Alice Adams, and The Heritage of Hatcher Ide. It showed that the novels formed a loosely bound pentology which was a sustained study of the effects of growth on both a modern city and its inhabitants. Growth, in the Tarkington view, brought with it decay, but this decay was never permanent. The inherently optimistic point of view found in the novels demanded that decay would always carry with it the seeds for a new growth. Growth, therefore, was not an evil process, but only one which man must learn to control for his own purposes.

Indiana author Booth Tarkington laid the groundwork for understanding issues related to urban design and planning in the Midwest with a tandem of novels: The Magnificent Ambersons (1917), and The Midlander (1923). More importantly, evidence can be found to suggest that it is not only through knowledge and appreciation of tangible urban form, but also an appreciation and awareness of a culture, via its literature, that these issues of design and planning can be more fully understood by design professionals.The purpose of this study, then, is to discover the connections between studies in the field of landscape architecture (with regard to urban form and urban imageability) and the "literary landscapes" of Booth Tarkington. These connections will serve, first, to clarify and prioritize my study; second, to educate design professionals in an alternative way of understanding and tackling the physical issues of imageability in today's world; and third, to suggest to all designers the necessity for knowing, appreciating and utilizing the virtually infinite range of resources available to them. / Department of Landscape Architecture