The Age of Innocence (Hardcover)

~ David Hamilton (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Accompanied by lyrical poetry, this collection showcases the nude portrait photography David Hamilton is known for.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Aurum Press; First British Edition edition (February 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1854103040
• ISBN-13: 978-1854103048
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #240,797 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that should be shared between mothers and daughters, April 11, 1999

By A Customer

I find it interesting and in some ways disturbing how few (openly at least) female viewpoints are expressed among the reviews of this book. Indeed, some of reviews make it appear that there are quite a few males out there who believe females are a sexual "tabula rasa" on which they can write their judgements of what constitutes morally appropriate behavior.

This book must be understood not simply as art, but as a psychological statement, namely that sexuality exists within each of us from infancy on and parents and society deny that at their own risk.

When I was the age of the girls in this book there was no one with the courage to come forward and openly depict the flowering of female sexuality. I lived with confusion and shame about my body and my desires, hurtful feelings that lasted until I was well into my adulthood.

I came across this book in a store one day while looking for something else. I spotted the title and I vaguely remembered a news story about some people wanting to ban it, so I thought I would look at it out of curiosity. The images in it were so beautiful I almost started to cry right there, it was as though I found vindication for the very core of my being.

After taking it home, I decided to share it with my nine-year old daughter with whom I had just recently had "The Talk". It was wonderful being able to show her how her body would change and how she would be beautiful even as she changed from a girl into a woman. It is true there are already books out there that are supposed to address the issue, but so often they take a clinical approach that is scary in its own right. The artistry of this book, combined with the photographer's selection of natural-looking girls (you will not find made-up or coiffed girls in the pages of this book), will, in my opinion, help any girl appreciate her changing body.

Mothers, share this book with your daughters, it will help make so clear the many changes they are going through and how they are positive. No girl should ever have to feel shame of her own body and this book is an important step.

97 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprising, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

I'm a devout Christian, and when I first heard on a Christian talk radio show that I listen to that Amazon.com was peddling child pornography, it raised my ire. I went home, and, as instructed by the radio talk show host, began to write an angry threatening letter to Amazon.com. My teenage daughter who I love and cherish in spite of our admit generational gap issues, asked me why I was writing a critical letter about a title I had never read. Well -- sometimes us older folks need to listen to our children. I put the letter on hold, and agreed to take a look at the book. While I didn't go out of my way to find it, I happened upon it at a bookstore the following day. And I have to admit -- this is NOT pornography at all. The poses of these beautiful young women is not at all provocative or seductive or arousing. This is art that shows the beautiful body that the Lord created. I don't understand the criticism, and am truly sorry that I nearly sent off an ignorant letter. If you're considering criticizing this book, I suggest that you READ it first! Though you may not like it, you may very well decide that this is NOT as bad as some of those organizing letter-writing campaigns are saying.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, August 7, 2003

By A Customer

This book is beautiful. The young ladies in it are beautiful. Some of the pictures appear to be rather erotic. Others appear rather sensual. Most are in good taste. It is the captions that cause some of the pictures to take on a sensual/sexual overtone. This is really a study of the young woman's budding body. I was very impressed with the quality of the photography. Minus a few pictures, it would have been an excellent study of the beginning of a young girl's sensuality. Minus a few of those pictures, it would have been an excellent study of a young girl caught at the tip of adolescence with adulthood just ahead. Some of those girls didn't look so innocent! But overall, it was an excellent book!