And here on the printed page we find what has been whispered about for decades: Ansel wasn't exactly a nice guy. Poor Virginia (his wife who tolerated his infidelity); poor Michael and Anne (his kids who rarely saw him).

Adams joins the ranks of Weston and Stieglitz, who we've also learned were not saints at all. Not even very nice people. But exceptionally gifted artists nonetheless.


Comprehensive biography, describing the real Ansel Adams   April 10, 1998
With the many monographs, existing biographies and the letters already published Mary Street Alinder provides an insight into the "real" Ansel Adams. Without destroying the legend, his life is shown as imperfect, human. This is the complete Adams, the great image-maker, the technical genius, environmentalist, pianist, social figure, but also alluding to a less than perfect personal life. Alinders' position as assistant has allowed her a unique perspective of the world's best-known photographer, the result is a book that is well-structured and entertaining to read. It shows where Adams fits into the greater picture, his associations with other photographers, figures in the art world and his political as well as social connections. The only weakness is the fully justified attack on the trustees of the Ansel Adams legacy; this may not be the place for such personal comments. Ansel Adams: A Biography is an excellent book, whether you think you know about Adams or have never heard of the great man.


A wonderfully comprehensive and revealing biography.   July 29, 1997
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Mary Street Alinder has outdone her earlier work writing Adam's autobiography under his direction with this marvelously comprehensive and revealing look at Adams' life. There are other well-written texts about Adams' life. Nancy Newhall's biography of Adams and Adam's own autobiography describe Ansel Adam's life interestingly, but they leave the reader feeling that there's something not quite complete about the tale each tells. Adam's book Letters and Images helps with a couple puzzle pieces by inferring Adams' personal side through letters he'd written to and received from his peers, friends, associates, and various political figures. Mary Street Alinder's biography of Adams gives us direct insights to Adams that combine what other books already have told us about his generally fun social nature, his brilliant photographic technique, his place in photography's history, his having been a student of music and his stand on the environment with a much closer look at his personal life than what we've seen before. She provides the missing puzzle pieces. Alinder has accomplished much with her biography of Adams, and in the same book she's offered even more. Her accounts of many of Adams' friends and associates could stand as competent biographies of their own. Any reader interested in Adams' life should read this book. Those who've already read extensively about Adams will learn much more. Those new to Adams will get a wonderfully complete picture of his life.