I have to admit to a pre-existing fascination with nineteenth century ‘characters’...so this book was perfect for me. The history of photography could have been really dry, but these too writers manage to transform the subject into a fascinating, vivid and readable narrative. Two unlikely rivals, the English gentleman versus the flamboyant Frenchman, who independently of each other created the medium which permeates society today. Hard to believe when you snap an image with your mobile phone, that two dapper but very different 19th century gentlemen started it all. One for lovers of history as well as those interested in photography.