From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Just the cover of this book can break your heart: an aged man in closeup, every wrinkle and blemish visible, holding a U.S. Navy emblem to his forehead, and he appears above the title: The Last Good War. The veterans of that war, WWII, are captured in Sanders's debut--in their 80s and 90s, male and female, black and white. Some wear parts of their original uniforms; others hold artifacts of the time, like battalion photos, newspapers, or canteens. One sailor, dressed in white shirt and tie, still wears his cap at a jaunty angle. Oral historian Kavass has collected brief reminiscences from the veterans that don't underplay the horrors of war, from the Bataan march to the deaths of friends. But most memorable are the faces: solemn, proud, occasionally smiling, some looking directly into the camera, others looking off to the distance as if remembering the events of long ago. Anyone who is close to a member of the "greatest generation" will treasure these wizened faces captured before the entire generation is gone. (Oct.) (c)
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Review
A selection of The History Book Club and The Military Book Club.
Winner, 2010 Foreword Reviews' Book of the Year Award - Editor's Choice Nonfiction
“[A] richly produced book of contemporary portraits of WWII veterans and their stories that range from harrowing to humorous...A first-person narrative of the veterans’ WWII experiences gleaned from interviews and written by Veronica Kavass accompanies the meticulously rendered and brilliantly lit portraits by Thomas Sanders...This is not a sentimental retelling of America’s role in World War II. These are personal, gripping stories, told first hand. There is grit and blood, fear and heroism.”
- Chicago Tribune
"Photographer Thomas Sanders and oral historian Veronica Kavass set out to honor these hardy survivors before their stories pass from memory to history. The wrinkles on their faces testify to their pride and perseverance. Their eyes, dimmed with age but still full of vitality, have seen things that should not be forgotten."
- American History Magazine
“With heartfelt, perceptive variety, the remarkable portraits that distinguish this book reflect the range of their subjects’ experience. The concise text recounting each veteran’s reminiscences amplifies the impact. The combo hits home like a one-two punch.”
- World War II Magazine
"A brilliant collaboration of historic stories told from a variety of American soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who fought long and hard for the safety of their country."
- The Photo Review
"Tom Sanders has...created a book that stands as one of our last great visual links to the storied faces of World War II."
- Rangefinder Magazine
"This book contains a collection of 200 images that highlight the stories from pilots, soldiers, marines, and sailors to provide the reader with a clear understanding of a war that forever changed the world."
- Shutterbug Magazine
"The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War II pairs striking black and white photos by Thomas Sanders with a collection of the untold stories of World War II vets, creating a rich personal chronicle of war experience."
- California Bookwatch
"A fantastic collection of faces and voices from the generation of men and women who served in the United States, Europe and the Pacific during the last global conflagration...Each story deserves exceptional recognition, because each is special, intimate, poignant, captivating - worthy of capture in this volume."
- North County Times
Starred Review. Just the cover of this book can break your heart: an aged man in closeup, every wrinkle and blemish visible, holding a U.S. Navy emblem to his forehead, and he appears above the title: The Last Good War. The veterans of that war, WWII, are captured in Sanders's debut--in their 80s and 90s, male and female, black and white. Some wear parts of their original uniforms; others hold artifacts of the time, like battalion photos, newspapers, or canteens. One sailor, dressed in white shirt and tie, still wears his cap at a jaunty angle. Oral historian Kavass has collected brief reminiscences from the veterans that don't underplay the horrors of war, from the Bataan march to the deaths of friends. But most memorable are the faces: solemn, proud, occasionally smiling, some looking directly into the camera, others looking off to the distance as if remembering the events of long ago. Anyone who is close to a member of the "greatest generation" will treasure these wizened faces captured before the entire generation is gone.
- Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Thomas Sanders began photographing WWII veterans while studying at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After receiving his BFA in photography, he continued his studies in the Los Angeles studios of noted photographers while working on his veterans sereis, which has been featured in the 2007 PDN Photo Annual and wide variety of publications. Sanders has worked with a number of corporate, advertising, and editorial clients, including Saatchi and Saatchi, BBDO, Tide, and numerous others. He resides in Redondo Beach, CA.
Veronica Kavass was raised in Nashville, TN, holds a Masters in Curation and Criticism from Chelsea College of Art in London, and has trained as an oral historian through her wook with StoryCorps.
A native of Memphis, Hampton Sides is editor-at-large for Outside magazine and the author of the international best-seller, Ghost Soldiers (Doubleday), which was the basis for the 2005 Miramax film, The Great Raid. Ghost Soldiers won the 2002 PEN USA award for non-fiction and the 2002 Discover Award from Barnes & Noble. Hampton is also the author of Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West, and Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin (Doubleday). A graduate of Yale with a B.A. in history, he lives in New Mexico with his wife, Anne, and their three sons.
