?By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.? Samuel Johnson Expanding on Assouline's popular series, The Light of Londonshowcases a new collection of evocative black-and-white images by photographer Jean-Michel Berts. In the twilight of dawn, when the stately avenues and gritty side streets are empty and silent, London's smorgasbord of architecture both medieval and modern can be seen with new eyes. London's legendary fogs have long since dissipated, but the city's expansive parks are still shrouded in morning mist, and the historic streets echo with centuries of history, captured and condensed by renowned author John Julius Norwich. Jean-Michel Berts's camera and Lord Norwich's pen expose the unique character of this majestic city when the bustle of the global capital is stilled. PHOTOGRAPHER: Jean-Michel Berts has been a photographer since age sixteen. With his first Rolleiflex camera he became sensitive to the effects of light. Today Berts enjoys an international reputation and exhibits his work at galleries in Berlin, Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo. In addition to The Light of Paris, The Light of New York, The Light of Tokyo, The Light of Istanbul, and The Light of Venice for Assouline, Berts has also worked on advertising campaigns for luxury brands such as Cacharel, Dior, Jaquet Droz, and Lancôme. His photographs can be seen on his Web site: http://web.me.com/jeanmichelberts. AUTHOR: John Julius Norwich is the author of histories on the Republic of Venice, the Byzantine Empire, the Mediterranean Sea, and most recently, the Popes. He has also written on architecture, music, and the history plays of Shakespeare, and has presented some thirty television documentaries on the BBC. Lord Norwich is also a regular lecturer on history, art history, architecture, and music. ILLUSTRATIONS: Over 60
