THE MAGIC IMAGE: The Genius of Photography from 1839 to the Present Day

A big, sumptuous volume ranging from early daguerreotypes to modern microphotography. Buckland (curator of the Royal Photographic Society collection) contributes capsule biographies of about 200 photographers (represented by mostly black-and-white works); Beaton offers estimates of their achievements. Heavily weighted toward the decorative--Irving Penn and Richard Avedon get high praise, Dorothea Lange is patronized for ignoring the ""limits to what a plain woman should be."" Made to order for the modish coffee table.