A Picture History of the Brooklyn Bridge

If you're even mildly obsessed by the Brooklyn Bridge than you simply must own this book. You'll also enjoy it immensely if you're interested in books of old photos of NYC or Brooklyn. While enjoyable on its own, it works even better as a companion to David McCullough's definitive book about "The Great Bridge."

Fastidiously assembled, lovingly written, and captivatingly shot, this pictoral work is nothing short of fascinating. I really have enjoyed it, and was pleasantly surprised with the selected photography and art. It all comes together well and gives the reader a formidable sense of early new york city. A wonder. I should also add that this is the sort of work, short on words though not in meaning, that may appeal to documentary video afficianados rather than those looking for a purely textual approach. I consider myself fortunate to have stumbled across this book and hope to find more like it.

Dover publishing has once again put out a quality collection of photographs and prints of New York City. Mary Shapiro's "A Picture History of the Brooklyn Bridge: With 167 Prints and Photographs" is as colossal, magnificent, and substantial as the subject of the book. While it might seem gratuitous to have 167 illustrations of the same structure, the different angles, times of day, events and maintain the audience's fascination. Of course, the older photos and prints that were created during the bridge's construction marvel the reader, and one begins to realize how massive an undertaking the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge really was. This is an excellent visual companion to David McCullough's "The Great Bridge".