The Americans

[Roger Hicks]

All of those are before WWll Roger. The political climate of the 50's was completely different. We had just been through a world war, Korea, the Red Scare, etc., was still very much going on. Frank was Jewish, living in neutral Switzerland, though the Swiss were not very neutral, especially with their banking practices.

I look at the book and question, "What really is America?" at that time.

Dear Keith,

Entirely fair point, but you need first, to like Frank's style (I don't care for it); second, to accept his political take (which to me seems diffuse); and third, to have a consuming interest in one country at one moment in time. Most non-Americans probably just aren't that interested in pictures of the US when there were better or more interesting photographers working elsewhere.

How were the Swiss not neutral in their banking practices? To whom did they deny accounts? I ask out of genuine ignorance: I have to admit that my knowledge of Swiss banks could be more comprehensive.

Cheers,

R.

 

[gns]

Has anyone ever said anything truer about The Americans than Kerouac did in his introduction? This is not only my favourite photography book of all time but possibly my favourite book of all time. How sad does that make me?

You poor *******.