Hofer, Evelyn. The Stones of Florence by Mary McCarthy, with photographs by Evelyn Hofer.

Harcourt, Brace, 1959.  First edition, in hardcover, ochre cloth, near fine with near very good protected dust jacket with a spot of wear at bottom left of front panel, a bit of wear at spine tips, and tanning at edges of inside panels.  Undated with HB logo on copyright page. Printed In Zurich, Switzerland. 130 pages. Most photographs by Evelyn Hofer, with some by Alinari and others. Hofer (1922-2009) spent four months in Florence working with a large format camera to make the black and white photographs for this book, which was published simultaneously by William Heinemann in London and reprinted several times in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.  First in a series of Hofer’s collaborations with distinguished writers about cities around the world, including Washington, DC, Dublin, New York, and London. A movie about Hofer is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOJy4E5mH9E Summary:

The Stones of Florence is a richly descriptive and personal portrait of Florence, Italy — its history, art, architecture, culture, and people — first published in 1959. Through a blend of travel narrative, historical insight, cultural critique, and literary observation, McCarthy explores what makes Florence unique: the city’s origins as a medieval republic, its transformation into the cradle of the Renaissance, and the enduring impact of its artists, architects, writers, and political figures on European civilization.

McCarthy writes with both affection and critical wit, weaving historical context with vivid descriptions of landmarks such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi, and sculptural masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, and others. Rather than merely cataloguing sights, she delves into the stories behind them — the turbulent politics of the Medici era, the innovations of Florentine thinkers like Dante and Machiavelli, and the city’s enduring tensions between artistic glory and everyday life.

Evelyn Hofer (1922–2009) was a German-born American portrait, architecture, and fine art photographer revered for her deliberate, timeless compositions and pioneering early use of dye-transfer color printing. Fleeing Nazi persecution in 1933, she lived in Switzerland and Madrid—where she apprenticed under local studio photographers—and Mexico City before settling permanently in New York City in 1946. Operating primarily with a heavy 4x5 view camera on a tripod, Hofer rejected the era’s popular "snapshot" documentary trend in favor of meticulous arrangement, luminous light, and quiet stillness, earning her a reputation as "the most famous unknown photographer in America." She collaborated with noted authors like V.S. Pritchett and Mary McCarthy on a acclaimed series of photobooks mapping the spirit of major cities—including The Stones of Florence (1959), London Perceived (1962), and Dublin: A Portrait (1967)—while also creating powerful color portraits and still lifes that deeply influenced subsequent generations of photographers, most notably William Eggleston and Joel Meyerowitz.

Photographs by Evelyn Hofer complement McCarthy’s text by visually capturing the character of Florence — its stones, streets, buildings, and atmosphere — providing a visual counterpart to the book’s literary exploration. Hofer’s carefully composed images help bring the city’s textures, proportions, and details to life for readers, reinforcing the book’s sense of place.

Overall, The Stones of Florence functions as both a travel classic and a cultural history: part guidebook, part essay, and part personal reflection, offering insights into why Florence’s artistic legacy remains so compelling.