Karsh, Yousuf. This Is Rome: A Pilgrimage in Words and Pictures. Photographs by Yousuf Karsh.

Hawthorn Books, 1960. Conducted by Fulton J. Sheen. Photographed by Yousuf Karsh. Described by H.V. Morton. With an introduction by Bishop Sheen.  Stated 1st edition March 1960. Profusely illustrated with both black-and-white and color photos. Binding is red cloth over boards; this is the less common binding than the blue cloth and paper version, also found in a stated first edition. Acetate protected dust jacket with wear to extremities. Book itself is near fine. Summary:

This Is Rome: A Pilgrimage in Words and Pictures (published in 1960 by Hawthorn Books) is a beautifully produced 142-page travel and devotional monograph born from a collaborative journey. The volume combines the narrative voice of prominent British travel writer H.V. Morton, the spiritual guidance of American Catholic Bishop (later Archbishop) Fulton J. Sheen, and the photographic vision of master portraitist Yousuf Karsh, creating a deeply reverent visual and textual journey through the spiritual, historical, and cultural heart of the Eternal City.

Core Themes and Content

• The Educational and Spiritual Pilgrimage: The book is framed around a physical and spiritual itinerary. Bishop Sheen acts as the seasoned guide, leading his young great-nephew (and by extension, the reader) through Rome to teach him about early Christian heritage, Church traditions, and classical architecture. This narrative framing shifts the text from a standard secular guidebook into a tool for intergenerational spiritual education.

• Humanizing the Monolithic City: Visually, Karsh steps away from the rigid, highly formal studio portraiture that defined his career to embrace a warmer, more spontaneous approach. His black-and-white and select color plates capture intimate, candid moments—such as Bishop Sheen kneeling in prayer, interacting with locals, or explaining artifacts to his nephew—juxtaposing the towering, historic scale of Rome's monuments against simple human curiosity and faith.

• The Layered History of Rome: Morton's prose and Karsh’s lens examine Rome as a living historical convergence of three distinct eras: Ancient (Pagan) Rome, Christian (Papal) Rome, and Modern Rome. The book guides readers from the ruins of the Colosseum and Forum to the grand architecture of St. Peter's Basilica, exploring how the city repurposed its imperial, pagan roots to build the spiritual center of Western Catholicism.

• Behind-the-Scenes at the Vatican: The book provides readers with rare, intimate views of Vatican life and ritual. Karsh captures everything from the sweeping scale of St. Peter's Square to quiet, cloistered corners, private chapels, and the Swiss Guard, demystifying the daily rhythms of the Holy See while preserving its sense of ancient majesty.

By weaving together historical travel writing, Catholic theology, and warm, humanistic photography, This Is Rome stands as a compelling mid-century cultural artifact that honors the enduring allure of Rome as both a living museum and a beacon of global faith.