Weegee (1899–1968)

At turns haunting, and at others humorous or heart-breaking, this collection is more of a time-capsule into New York's past, and perhaps even our country's past, than any other work of writing or media that I can think of. Weegee's work was brilliant, and the translation of its power to contemporary readers isn't at all injured by time. Whether you glance through the photographs half-hazardly or sit down to take your time over his work and words (sparse as they may be), you're sure to find show more something here worth remembering and returning to. show less

Excellent photography, but poorly presented in this DaCapo edition. Cheap paper's not a good medium for photos.

Gotta mention the delightful set of pix of Frankie Sinatra and some girl in the audience, though. Even on cheap paper they were delightful.

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For the record: I've acquired a different edition of the book. It's much better than this one.

Weegee represents both an early version of photographer as celebrity and the classic crude newshound with the Speed Graphic. Not only a visual reporter, Weegee was a biting social critic and one of the few really good photo humorists in the history of the medium.

The superb gravure illustrations in this first edition represent both the typical and the best of daily newspaper illustration in the years' of the Speed Graphic.

Weegee is so matter of fact about his life in this book.