Americans

This book brings together paintings and photographs of more than 150 men and women who have helped shape American history. From Washington to Warhol, their portraits trace the development of a nation from colony to superpower, and remind us of the individuals who have contributed to its political, cultural, and social landscape.
In his illuminating foreword, John Updike argues that if there is an American face then it is to be found in these vibrant works, selected from the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. The subjects range from statesman Benjamin Franklin, reformer Harriet Beecher Stowe and President John F. Kennedy, to cultural figures such as Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson who have given the world a dream of celebrity.