Staying Up Much Too Late: Edward Hopper's Nighthawks and the Dark Side of the American Psyche Book

"Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book -and does"
Groucho Marx

Er, except when they don't. Like Edward Hopper. Enter "Staying Up Much To Late: Edward Hopper's Nighthawks and the Dark Side of the American Psyche," by Gordon Theisen.

There's quite a lot about Edward Hopper, and I find it difficult to say much about any of it, in a way that resembles articulate speech. When I try, it usually comes out in something along the lines of, "there's this thing that he does with the light," or, "the people don't really talk to each other. Or look at eachother. Or even appear to be in the same physical space and area of time." But Theisen somehow seems to articulate every sentiment I have ever felt about Hopper, and I suspect most people who read the book will feel the same. There is a particular section where he discusses Nighthawks and the evolution of Jazz in NYC at time during which Hopper worked. He compares the cast in Nighthawks to a quartet. I'd include snippets, but it's just too good.

This book is a perfect complement to Gail Levin's "Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography."

From page 58

"While Parker (Charlie) says thing are all right no matter how bad they seem, Davis (Miles) says, 'Don't get too happy because as far as I am concerned something is most definitely not right, will never be right, and a whisper is as good as a shout because neither will make any difference."

wonderful, wonderful