Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894 1986) was the best-known amateur' inthe history of photography, famously discovered by the art world andgiven an exhibition at MoMA in New York when he was in his late sixties.He began by recording the pastimes and customs of his wealthy Parisianmilieu, indulging his fascination with sports and aviation, and throughouthis long life he was never without his camera. His friendships extendedto the superstars of French culture, but he also made thousands ofphotographs of his family, wives, and lovers. His work was irresistibly warmand engaging.Although known for his black-and-white work, Lartigue loved colourfilm, experimenting with the Autochrome process in the teens and twentiesand embracing Ektachrome in the late 1940s. His colour work, reproducedhere for the first time, is astonishingly fresh: the French countryside, thewomen in his life, famous friends (Picasso, Fellini), and glimpses from histravels all come alive in this delightful book.