Karl Terzaghi - The Engineer as Artist

Karl Terzaghi (1883-1963) is one of the leading civil engineers of this century and widely known as the father of soil mechanics. His life-long application of the principles established in his work look him throughout the world to engineering challenges in Russia, Germany, America, and the entire post-war world. Terzaghi's fame as a master engineer is well known but the story of his development, both personal and professional, has remained unexplored by most people. This material emerged from reading his publications, hundreds of unpublished reports, thousands of private letters, and 82 volumes of previously private personal diaries. This narrative shows Terzaghi's struggle to understand the phenomena observed on many major engineering projects. Through his own words we explore friendships, conflicts, jealousies, frustrations, and enormous successes. Terzaghi was an artist with constant focus, commitment, and genius. The exploration of his life, much of it amid the backdrop of turbulent Europe between the Wars, becomes an adventure that unfolds to inform, entertain, and stimulate.