Inside Havana

Bys: Moore, Andrew and Chronicle Books

An elegant hotel now serving as an elementary school...the parlor of a grand mansion transformed into a barbershop...these are Havana s most intimate spaces. Having enjoyed four years of unprecedented access to the private interiors of Cuba s capital, Andrew Moore has created an unrivaled portrait of both its legendary historic architecture and the city s inner life. These rich and elegiac images capture intimate details and sensuous moods, creating an open-ended drama that unfolds with each viewing. Painterly light lends grandeur to Havana s most unlikely landmarks. Andrew Moore s work is distinguished by its singular perspective, one that combines a documentarian s love of subject and story with an unexpected poetry.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811833437
• ISBN13: 9780811833431
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 2.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 9.3" x 11.7"

Customer Reviews

captured complexity

I have had the opportunity to travel in Cuba on more than one occasion and am profoundly drawn to the people and the environment. Though I often times feel that photographic books do not adequately capture the essence of "real" places, I have found this book to be descriptive beyond words. The photographs tell a story of collapse and revival -- of time lost -- of hope -- of battle -- of corrosion -- of endurance.... Havana is alluring and repulsive in the same glance. Few photographers can capture such complexity in a single image. This book is amazing.

Dynamic stillness in these mesmerizing photos

Although I have never been to Cuba and would never presume to know what it must be like to have lived through the revolution, i wanted to respond to Dr. Andrew's review of this book. It is clear to me that this gentleman has very stong feelings of sorrow and anger about what has become of Havana. As a person who had no agenda when i opened this book, i wanted to say that what strikes me most here is the beauty of this city. Much like the face of an older person who has lived through much joy and much suffering, there is a kind of beauty here which is born of experience and wisdom. Havana is what it is. It is the product of history, of conflict, of a vibrant culture and an indomitable energy. All of this is apparent to me when i look at these photos. In one sense, one could say that these images reveal a Havana "frozen in time," but we all know that in truth, nothing can be frozen in time, as much as we might wish it to be so. For better or for worse, life is change. I find in these photos a mesmerizing stillness. But it's the kind of stillness one sees in a perfectly balanced spinning top, a dynamic stillness. I find no moral or political judgement behind these pictures, but simply an ability to be present to what is here, and to reflect it's inherent beauty.

Capturing the elusive: images of paradox and change

This book captures Havana in all its complexity. Arresting images of beautiful and strange spaces allude to politics, history, idealism, economic hardship, and an uncertain future. In it, the baroque stages of Havana have themselves become actors whom we watch evolve, at one moment decadently obscene, at the next nostalgic, at the next dissolving almost before we turn the page. As a student of photography, I look to this book for inspiration and guidance. As a fan I look at this book for pure pleasure.

Linger over the beautiful details - the perfect table book

The gloriously detailed images in this expertly photographed book will linger on in your mind long after you view them. I find myself returning to most of the images, getting lost in the colors and nostalgic environments, longing to hear stories of days gone past. This book makes it to the very top of the pile of books on my coffee table. Highly recommend.

Beautiful and Honest look at Cuba Today

I moved to this country from Cuba at a very early age (2 years old) and therefore I have an above average fasination for anything Cuban. I purchased this book after seeing it reviewed in my local paper the Atlanta Journal. It is a beautiful, compelling book and I am thrilled that I purchased it. I may very well purchase more as gifts. I highly recommend this book.