Gianni Berengo Gardin is one of the most prominent Italian photographers of the post-war era. This book is the most complete retrospective of his work to date, with 250 images presented in eleven sections, each of them introduced by brief texts elaborating on his career and celebrating his acutely humane eye. Featuring three interviews with Berengo Gardin himself, conducted specially for this collection, this is a compelling story of a life in photography.

Considered by many to be the most prominent Italian photographer of the post-war era, Gianni Berengo Gardin possesses a passion for and curiosity about his subjects that shines through this luminous collection of his best images from the past half century. His fascination with Italy extends to all corners -- the north and south, rich and poor, young and old, privileged and working class, rural and industrial, cultural and political -- as he attempts to capture for posterity life's fleeting, unforgettable moments. Whether he's recording a somber military display through Rome's streets, the brief nuisance of a passing shower, a schoolboy's penetrating gaze, or a new bride's private joy, Gardin uses his camera to tell a story. Presented chronologically, the more than four hundred black and white images combine to offer a unique record of modern Italian life: its joys and sorrows, its large celebrations and small victories, its extraordinary events and everyday miracles.