Great Americans [Hardcover]

KK Ottesen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003

From an inspired project - to document the lives of ordinary Americans with extraordinary names - emerges a fascinating composite portrait of our country.

Did you know Elvis Presley lives - and works as a data supervisor at a hospital in Texas? That Jackie Kennedy is a sales clerk at an outlet mall in Mississippi? Ever met Marilyn Monroe, a retired politician in Iowa; Al Capone, who works at a food distribution center in South Philly; Bob Dylan, a cashier at a Las Vegas casino; or Muhammad Ali, a University of Minnesota freshman and aspiring neuroscientist? What do they look like? Where have they been? And what does it mean to them to be American?

Great Americans chronicles KK Ottesen's odyssey across America to photograph and interview people who happen to share names with our nation's most famous and infamous icons. From every state and the District of Columbia, each person's portrait is captured in a gorgeous, black-and-white photograph, and in their own words they answer questions about their lives, their adventures under these famous monikers, and how they feel about living in this country today.

Great Americans is a moving, amusing, and beautiful testament to everyday heroes: the people who make America the great mosaic it is.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Al Capone works in a South Philly food distribution center; Emily Dickinson studies chemistry at a Quaker college; Greta Garbo, born in Italy, is a divorced cancer researcher living in Kentucky. From John Adams to John Wayne, Ottesen reveals, through b&w photographs and informal interviews, the people who share their names with giants in American history and culture. It's a cute idea whose end result could have been merely clever, but Ottesen's subjects are fascinating. Paul Revere, founder and pastor of the Embassy of Heaven church, tells of being evicted from his land by the Oregon National Guard; in response to Ottesen's question, "What does it mean to be an American?" (a question she asked all her subjects), Revere says, "Ha ha ha. A bunch of people who have fallen asleep who haven't got a clue what's going on." To Rosa Parks, a mother of three who also holds down two jobs, being an American means "we get our freedom. We have the freedom to go anywhere that we want to go." There are sad parts-Herbert Hoover admitting that his days are "dark. I don't have a very good outlook on the day anymore...haven't been happy since the wife went away"-and humorous bits-Farmer Homer Simpson saying that people "used to call all during the night: 'Is Bart there?' I finally figured out that it was on television... Don't care nothing about television, just the ballgames"-and lots of food for thought. People were surprisingly open with Ottesen, and their stories are compulsively readable. Ottesen's own commentary-brief notes in which she sets the scene and describes how charming she found her subjects-are the only false note in this otherwise engaging volume.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

KK Ottesen received her B.A. in political theory from Wesleyan University and her M.B.A. in finance from Yale. Her photographs have been published in local and national newspapers, magazines, and books. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582342962
• ISBN-13: 978-1582342962
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,914,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant, Funny, Well Written, and Beautifully Photographed, July 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Great Americans (Hardcover)

This book was given to me as a gift, and I thought it was something I'd just keep on my living room table and flip through every so often. But once I started reading it, I was enthralled. The photographs are stunning, and KK Ottesen's descriptions of these fascinating people and her trip across the country to find them is truly captivating. I've since bought several more books for friends, and they've all expressed to me how much they love this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An upscale coffee table book - with depth and character, June 20, 2003

By 

bubbles "bubbles" (SF, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Americans (Hardcover)

*****
Ms. Ottesen has performed a great deed. With minimal distortion, she has painted a picture of America that is both truthful and reflective.

The authenticity of her subjects comes through loud and clear as you hear their words in the first person. I suppose this is the sort of book that lends itself to reading a piece at a time. I wish you luck; I couldn't put it down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating & Stunning Trip of the US, June 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Great Americans (Hardcover)

"Great Americans" is a visual and intellectual hit!

The photographs are beautiful, gracefully capturing the spirit and tone of each "famous" person. The landscapes are equally stunning and help give a setting for the characters.

The real words taken from one-on-one interviews with these 51 individuals are simple, thoughtful, straight forward, provocative, humorous and poignant. Each story is unique and fascinating. There are many memorable moments!

Ms. Ottesen's anecdotes about her visits are equally fascinating, presenting a different perspective into the person's life.

I highly recommend this book -- read a few pages before bedtime; put it on your coffee table and glance at the photos; keep the inspiring stories in your mind.