Roadworks [Hardcover]

Linda McCartney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1996

In this work, Linda McCartney shares the insider's view of life on the move. Twenty years of travel have taken her to many fascinating locations and, with a sharp photographer's eye, she has captured the spirit of the commonplace to the sublime, from all over the world. Many of the images are taken directly from the roads, streets and highways, and reveal an openness to the landscape surrounding her. McCartney's view is also amplified by her unique association with some of the world's most famous musicians and their experience of exotic locations, the crush of the fans, and the many colourful points of their travel to the world's most interesting cities.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Linda McCartney's unassuming eye seems to capture the everyday in a not-so-everyday fashion. Having forged a fine career as a fashion and features photographer before becoming a part of rock 'n' roll history, her sense for stilled urgency comes across in these "personal road movie recording[s]," as she calls the images in this collection. Some photos bring the work of Robert Frank to mind--the quick blurred scene of two girls walking through an urban landscape, for example, and a "hungry" vagabond on a stretch of highway: these come across almost as homages to Frank--and not bad ones, at that. Though this whole book at times seems rather a hodgepodge, the narrative quality of each image holds its own. In both color and black-and-white, McCartney's images, which here span the globe and at least two decades, deserve the attention and study of today's younger generation of photographers. Of course, this book full of them will surely be popular on account of name recognition alone. Raul Nino

Product Details

• Hardcover: 175 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch Press; 1ST edition (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821221728
• ISBN-13: 978-0821221723
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 10.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,219,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, as usual, August 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Roadworks (Hardcover)

Linda McCartney, once again, picks us up and drops us right on the scene of her photographs. She never fails to surprise with her keen eye and amazing talent. A delight!

2.0 out of 5 stars Not thrilled..., September 15, 2011

By 

Warren J. Senchuk (Traverse City, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roadworks (Hardcover)

I got this book for Christmas as a gift from my mother-in-law. I am a professional photographer so typically a photography book would be a great gift. But I have to say... this one time... I would rather sell my Christmas present because this book is never opened and just sits on the shelf collecting dust.

The images in this book are mostly candid shots of the city and people who either did not know they were being photographed or were moderately surprised to see that some strange lady was taking their picture. While I must admit that Linda (perhaps because of her social status) was able to get into some places that most people can't and was able to procure images that most people can't... I have to believe that most of the images in this book were about her playing with the camera and getting snap shots of her stroll through her posh life. Some of the images are absolutely fantastic but for the most part... I would say the value of her images is in their historic representation.

Perhaps I am jaded because of my own photographic abilities and by the works of many other FAR more accomplished and competent photographers. I feel like this book was only published because of Linda's social status due to being married to one of the most famous Beatles band members (Paul McCartney). I'm sure the money helped too... Perhaps Linda will write a cookbook and get it published too... oh wait... she has written 5 of them! Here is amazon link to them:[...]

As I said... I am not thrilled. I wouldn't say that she is a horrible photographer (in fact I would say is is pretty good). I just can't see the value in this book of her work when I compare it to the likes of the top 100 photographer's works.

I would not recommend this book to another professional photographer. It may be a good look book for an aspiring photo journalist who wants to someday marry a rock star.

15 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For Paul McCartney fans only...., September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Roadworks (Hardcover)

The book is full of pictures you and I would throw away...constructions sites,alleys,reflections in windows.If you're looking for Lindas pastoral scenes,this book is not it. It's full of city scenes,showing dirty streets,homeless etc. If you're looking for Paul or family photos,they aren't in here either. Linda has based on photographic career on 2 things:the family and nature and this book has neither.I wouldn't recommend on a photographic level. Only Beatle freaks will enjoy it,just to say they own a copy of it. My copy holds my table straight.