Henri Cartier-Bresson’s photography came to define the 20th century.

This book tells his life story through his images: all the major events from his youth to his death in 2004 are described, contextualized, and analysed in the light of his photographic work. From his early encounters with the Surrealists, his film work and his experiences in the Second World War, to the development of his own personal aesthetic, the concept of the ‘decisive moment’, and the foundation of Magnum Photos, his influence on the world has been profound and unforgettable.

Documents in the book include three of his own articles written for magazines; extracts from interviews; a selection of the short handwritten notes he liked to make about his work; and writings by fellow photographers such as Walker Evans and Robert Doisneau.