Divided into two volumes, this anthology is organized to follow a loose chronological reading of twentieth-century photography. The first vol- ume focuses on photography before World War II, the second on more current developments. Each selection is introduced with a brief explana- tion of its significance and identification of its author. Both volumes con- tain photographs that highlight the author's viewpoint. Criteria for selection of essays and photographs are admittedly arbitrary. Foremost in consideration were quality of thought and expression, historical significance, and value as representative of different attitudes toward and developments of twentieth-century photography. Also favored were the interpretative and theoretical rather than technical, biographical, and appreciative commentaries. The writing on twentieth-century photography is as diverse as the medium itself. Photographers as well as writers known for their ideas on painting, sculpture, film, aesthetics, and culture at large contribute to that diversity. And in writing about photography, they pursue different, often conflicting, themes and approaches. The range covers specific and comparative studies on photographers and types of photography, essays on theory and technique, and personal statements.