Customer Reviews

Edward Weston: His Life

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are two principal irritations here--first is the extensive quoting from letters and journals. Easily half the book. They interrupt any flow the book manages. Second is the tone, with the gratuitous generalizations and judgments sprinkled on almost every page, about psychology or about how great an artist Weston was. I have no argument with that, but why the repetition? The tone of the book is odd.

Not a bad read. But like any biography must be taken in context. Weston was definitely and interesting man. He was a great contributor to his craft. Without a doubt this is a good read, but like anything it is only part of the story.

I've read a lot of biographies in my life but nothing holds a candle to Maddow's "Edward Weston: His Life". The way Maddow weaves his words encourages the reader to exalt in the fine art of biography. In other words, Maddow's biography not only becomes a celebration of Weston's tormented life and work but a celebration of the oeuvre itself. A suburb read!

A delicious read, passionate, imaginative and not very accurate. Maddow was obsessed with Weston's sex life but that may have helped Weston's fame and Maddow's sales.