Handsome and collectible, the books are produced to the highest standards. Each volume contains full-page reproductions printed in superb duotone, together with a critical introduction and a full bibliography. Now back in print, the series was awarded the first annual prize for distinguished photographic books by the International Center of Photography. Bill Brandt (1904-1983), one of the most important figures in twentieth century British photography, exerted a crucial influence on subsequent generations of photographers. His work defies categorization. He created odd, surrealist compositions, stemming from his early work in Man Ray's Paris studio; telling images of life in London and the industrial towns of northern England; somber landscapes; perceptive portraits; and abstract studies of the nude.