I have always liked Annie Leibovitz's work but "Pilgrimage" is one of my favorite books this year. Period. Annie set out with no agenda or assignment. She went from one inspired subject to the next with her camera: Niagra Falls to a Dickinson family home to Virginia Woolf's writing studio to Eleanor Roosevelt, Thoreau, Emerson, Freud, Abraham Lincoln, John Muir & many other fascinating people and places. Annie's photos make you feel like you are there and the accompanying text captures the feeling of her journey. Also, Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote an introduction which includes historical commentary to compliment Annie's experience. I began marking pages and dreaming of a new display in the store.
The beauty of Annie's book led to this display in the fiction room. I copied quotes from the book and placed them around with the original works of individuals in "Pilgrimage." (Unfortunately, my German language brain took over and misspelled LeiboWitz over and over. Sorry Ms. Leibovitz!)
One of many full page spreads to lose yourself in. This is Virginia Woolf's home.
The National Trust caretaker of Virginia's Monks House left Annie to have bread and jam and coffee all alone in Virginia's place. Annie felt nervous and privileged at the same time.
This is Virginia's writing desk. She wrote Jacob's Room, Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando, The Waves, Between the Acts, and hundreds of stories, essays, and reviews at Monks House.
Thoreau, Emerson and the Alcotts all lived in close proximity. One memorable photo is the frame and caning of the bed on which Thoreau passed away. I also remember the photos of Emerson's drawers. He loved to carry children around his home and tell stories about curious objects. Annie writes that all of the Alcott's kept journals. This is a photo of Bronson's journal where he has outlined his and Louisa May's hands. How dear.
A photo to pause and think about: Freud's couch in his London study.
From Georgia O'Keefe to Ansel Adams to Annie Oakley to Old Faithful and Gettysburg, I love every arbitrary place & person on Annie's list.
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