No Smoking

by Lucy Sante

Can you imagine Groucho Marx without a cigar? Do you remember that a few years ago smoking was allowed in airplanes? Can you tell when New York stopped smoking?

In the not so distant past, posing seductively with a cigarette was de rigueur for Hollywood types. How many celebrities today dare to even hold one? No Smoking is a tribute to the 20th century, a century that created, promoted and glorified the cigarette and then suddenly declared war on it.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Art

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2004

About the author

Lucy Sante was born in Verviers Belgium and emigrated to the United States in the early 1960s. Since 1984, she has been a teacher and writer, and frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books. Her publications include Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York, and The Factory of Facts and Folk Photography. She currently teaches creative writing and the history of photography at Bard College in New York State.

Reviews

[Laurent De Maertelaer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een boeiende mentaliteitsgeschiedenis in beelden over roken en tabak, afgewisseld met citaten van bekende en minder bekende rokers. Erg knap inleidend essay van Sante. Aardigheid: het boek is verpakt in een groot sigarettenpakje.
Groucho Marx was once asked what he would do if he had to choose between his wife and giving up smoking, he replied, "We'll stay good friends."

[Daniel Genis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this before; it is a beautiful book.

[Kristen Northrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant slipcover design. Nice selection of photographs and advertising. The extensive, eloquent essay in the front was a bonus.

[James Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely lovely coverage of the beautiful and seductive art that tobacco has inspired.

[katherine drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love smoking...
this book is Gorgeous.
Old movie star glamour with halos of smoke twirling wistfully across the page.