Diary of a Century: 2

by Jacques-Henri Lartigue

""Diary of a Century" is the record of one man who photographed and wrote about life simply for the love of it. "Photography is a magic thing!" wrote seven-year-old Jacques Henri Lartigue in his diary, after his father had given him his first camera in 1901. The camera became his constant companion, and he began illustrating his diary with countless pictures of the people and world around him."

Genres: Photography

Hardcover

First published December 2, 1970

Reviews

[Philippe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first French edition of the book originally published by Viking in 1970 as Diary of a Century. It looks like it hasn't been added to the GR-database yet. The book was famously put together by Richard Avedon, supported by his collaborator Bea Feitler, in a 2-year effort that is captivatingly documented in Avedon's France: Old World, New Look. However, the French version had an important influence on the relationship between Avedon and Lartigue. This is how Marianne Le Galliard describes it in Avedon's France:

"Avedon continued to push for a French edition. By May 1972, there were indeed German and English versions of the book, yet still nothing in France, and many found this lack of recognition irritating. Jean Adhémar, head of the Prints Department at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BoF), had seen Diary and wanted to organize an exhibition of Lartigue's photographs "at any cost" in the library's main exhibition galleries, which had previously hosted a Proust exhibition. In 1973, Jean-Claude Lemagny, BnF's chief curator of prints and photographs, assured Lartigue that efforts to generate this show in France were ongoing. The final publication of the French version of Diary of a Century in 1973, albeit with a new title, Instants de ma vie (Instants of my life), in a different format, and with a new cover, helped the process. But there was another, more troubling difference in the French edition: the complete absence of Avedon's and Feitler's names in the credits. Avedon's name, it seemed, wasn't "good for business" in France. There would of course be an erratum printed. But the omission certainly marred Avedon's friendship with Lartigue, and the damage would ever be repaired. As subsequent editions of the French version contained more alterations and moved further away from the original, Avedon would lose interest in the project. And his relationship with Lartigue was over, with the exception of an odd visit or letter, between 1973 and 1985."

The text of the errata for the French edition of Diary ran as follows:

"Following an unfortunate mistake, the page of the book that follows the title page does not include the following credits: edited by Richard Avedon, designed by Bea Feitler. We are all the more sorry for this omission since the outstanding work of selection and presentation of photographs have earned all the recognition of J.H. Lartigue."

Allegedly, Lartigue comforted Avedon by reminding him that the dedication was fortunately not omitted. Avedon's compact postscript has obviously also been retained.

[DW]

A book that reads like a life. It re-invigorates me about the state of our media saturated world. To us, photos are ubiquitous - all the blogs, images, and tweets are exhausting.

But take them apart, put them back into the context of one person's life. They could easily become a rich personal story that is incredibly candid, full of life and not overburdened. Of course, this book is made of lifted journal entries and personal black and white physical photographs from the early to mid 1900s. Not the same at all. Yet so much so. Each photograph has a life. If only we'd take the time to notice.

I was very much reminded of Maugham's 'Of Human Bondage' and the protagonist's listless and contradictory yearning. Mr. Lartigue is like a real life Philip Carey.

[Lynsey Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read purely due to the fact I’m trying to get through all the “coffee table” books I’ve picked up over the years and never read. And thank god this was the reason as if I had gone out of my way to buy this I would not have been impressed.

There are some rather lovely photos herein of 1920’s fashion. That is the only redeeming feature. The rest of the book is basically a family album narrated by a spoilt little rich kid who spoke nonsense.

As discussed in previous reviews I am not a fan of the human animal or the family unit, so this book was never going to find a place in my heart.

What it is going to find is a place in a charity shop.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! The diary entries were so charming and the pictures all personal to the author somehow. A splendid look at life from 1902-1970 in France from the eyes of a child to a young married man to a grandfather. (Lartigue began taking photos at the age of 7.) Complete with copies from his journal with doodles representing pictures he had taken.)

[Sofia Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a charity shop and feel so lucky to have found it! It is a time capsule in a book , a photographers visual diary that takes you on a journey from 1901 to 1970, and it’s incredible how much changes as you read through it.

I absolutely love old photographs and this book feels like treasure because rarely do you get a glimpse into the lives of the people photographed.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure that this is the same edition that I took out from our library. The one I read lists for about $400 on Amazon. Lartigue, in documenting his daily life (especially his brother Zissou) from 1900-1970 or so, created a deep well for Wes Anderson to mine ideas and images from. Lartigue kept a daily journal that went with his photos, the book includes some excerpts. Really a gem of a book. I'll renew it a few times from the library just to be able to keep going back to it for inspirado.

[Lady R.E. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this is the book I think it is (with the intro by Richard Avedon) then it is the most beautiful photography book I've ever seen. It just fills me with happiness. The photo of Lartigues son holding his newborn baby makes me cry. I have looked for this book on Amazon. It costs $400 or something crazy like that. I managed to check a copy out from the library in Missoula, MT when I lived there. I probably checked it out 8 times or something. One day I may even try and save up to buy this book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book to peruse. As a photographer, I really enjoyed going through it.