In his books and in a string of wide-ranging and inventive essays; Luc Sante has shown himself to be not only one of our pre-eminent stylists; but also a critic of uncommon power and range. He is “one of the handful of living masters of the American language; as well as a singular historian and philosopher of American experience;rdquo; says the New Yorkerrsquo;s Peter Schjeldahl. Kill All Your Darlings is the first collection of Santersquo;s articles—many of which first appeared in the New York Review of Books and the Village Voice—and offers ample justification for such high praise. Sante is best known for his groundbreaking work in urban history (Low Life); and for a particularly penetrating form of autobiography (The Factory of Facts). These subjects are also reflected in several essays here; but it is the authorrsquo;s intense and scrupulous writing about music; painting; photography; and poetry that takes center stage. Alongside meditations on cigarettes; factory work; and hipness; and his critical tour de force; “The Invention of the Blues;rdquo; Sante offers his incomparable take on icons from Arthur Rimbaud to Bob Dylan; Reneacute; Magritte to Tintin; Buddy Bolden to Walker Evans; Allen Ginsberg to Robert Mapplethorpe.
#1480957 in eBooks 2011-04-05 2011-04-05File Name: B004IWR37Y
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Really well written historyBy Michael FalkWade Grahams "American Eden" is a terrific read and I highly recommend it. I enjoy books on gardening. architecture and material culture generally. but very often find that such books are either too insubstantial and insufficiently researched or very much too academic. Grahams book is plenty rigorous: if you are someone who has already done some study on the thought and writing of Thomas Jefferson. for example. I think you will find something new and provocative in Grahams writing. By the same token. this is not one of those books that should only be read in a graduate seminar. The writing is really lively and engaging. and presupposes no particular background in the topic. Although the subject is gardening. it is simply a fresh and solid take on American history.This book would make a very fun gift. The focus and length of the writing definitely invites a more casual reader. And the book itself is really good looking. well laid out and in a bit wider format than most. which makes it very attractive.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. History and landscapeBy kdeeHistory and landscape are well entwined in this book. It begins with a very insightful look at Thomas Jeffersons life and influence from a garden perspective. Great reading. One cannot help but be intrigued at the twists and turns of the garden through history. Very good book. May be too much information for the very casual gardener.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Marvelous book.By kateAs an avid gardener I enjoyed every word of this book. So much information you can read it more than once and find new details each time.
