Published on the occasion of the exhibition at Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, 25 July -29 August 1970

This is a fascinating and very readable account in the words of the man himself, and the first thing that strikes one is that Hockney is almost as good with words as his is with paint, although we probably all know that now! Hockney takes us through is career more or chronologically from his early recollections, expressing himself with frankness and great wit, and his narrative is interspersed with anecdotes and his often outspoken views.

The book is well illustrated with 434 pictures, but alas only 60 of them are in colour, they vary in size but many are half or full page, the captions unfortunately do not include the dimensions of the work or the medium. The flyleaf of the dust jacket claims the book serves as an oeuvre catalogue to date (1976). The book includes and index and list of illustrations the latter supplying the information lacking in the captions.

The quality or production is good and it is well designed, although the images lack vibrancy, and it is a great shame that more are not in colour (although it must be said that many of the monochromes are that in the original), but the lack of colour is perhaps a reflection of the date of publication. ( )