American Magus Harry Smith: A Modern Alchemist [Paperback]

Harry Smith (Author), Paola Igliori (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The films, paintings, and recordings of Harry Smith (1923-91) pay tribute to his genius. Filmmaking, painting, anthropology, musicology, and the occult?his knowledge of each was encyclopedic and firsthand. As might befit a man of such varied interests, his circles of friends were large and, for the most part, wholly independent. This work demonstrates how differently Smith appeared to friends from each circle, offering personal recollections that present a multidimensional, largely contradictory picture of the man. Together with artwork and various writings by Smith, the interviews editor Igliori conducted with such friends as William Breeze, Robert Frank, John Cohen, Jonas Mekas, and Allen Ginsberg make up a sizable portion of the book. Also included is an inventory of the material left by Smith upon his death, grouped into "collections" by Smith's archivist, Bill Morgan. Recommended for large film history, occult, or art collections.?David Moran, Carrollton Libs., Tex.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Inanout Press (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962511994
• ISBN-13: 978-0962511998
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,063,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Harry Smith from those who knew and didn't know him, August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: American Magus Harry Smith: A Modern Alchemist (Paperback)

This book is great for those interested in hearing all the rumors about this great American eccentric, but it fails as a comprehensive book for those who want to read more about his life and studies. Despite the repitition over interviewees covering the same material over and over, the visual element in the book is reproduced quite well. I think a better editing job on the book would have held me better. But for those interested in Harry Smith, this book is a must, as well as the book of interviews released earlier this year, "Think of the Self Speaking: Harry Smith Selected Interviews"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great introduction to this amazing artist., October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: American Magus Harry Smith: A Modern Alchemist (Paperback)

Harry Smith was an amazing artist and it is about time there is a book about him. I first met him in 1966, and there has been almost nothing written about his amazing accomplishments until now. If you want to understand the one of the most important influences on Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Allan Ginsberg (pardon my spelling), this is a must. He is one of the most important figures in the evolution of American art.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing portrait of a very complex man, July 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: American Magus Harry Smith: A Modern Alchemist (Paperback)

I read this book because I was interested in the man who compiled "The Anthology of American Folk Music." By reading these interviews, I have a feeling that what I learned is much more authentic than a straight biography could ever provide. The multiple perspectives are sometimes puzzling and dizzying, but through it all you come to see someone who sought to "unite the opposites", perceive patterns, make connections in what was most of the time highly enjoyable and insightful combinations.