Hamptons : Life Behind the Hedges

The Hamptons-that glorious stretch of beaches and farmlands along the South Fork of Long Island, New York, from Southampton to Montauk and the many villages in between-is one of the most talked-about and popular resort areas in the country. There, the celebrated, the artistic, the literary, and everyday people commingle all year long. This stunning photo essay offers an insider's view, in text and 200 color pictures, of the private homes, spectacular gardens, and other scenic wonders of the area.

An arresting mix of architectural and interior decorating styles, magnificent plantings and sculpture gardens, and great private art collections-not to mention the incredible sky and ocean-contribute to the enchantment of this popular resort area, drawing Donna Karan, Martha Stewart, Steven Spielberg, and Chuck Close, to name but a few. This book will be irresistible for the thousands who flock to the Hamptons each summer, and for all who like to peek at life behind the hedges in the real Hamptons.

SUSAN MEISEL is a well-known painter and, with her husband, art dealer (and Abrams author) Louis Meisel, a collector of Americana. The Meisels own a home in the Hamptons, in Sagaponack, noted for its extraordinary garden and collectibles.

ELLEN HARRIS and her husband are collectors of Americana, quilts, and tramp art. They also own a home in Sagaponack.

200 photographs in full color, 10 x 91/2"

Forget what you may read about the glittering social scene of the Hamptons; in The Hamptons, photographed and described by Susan Meisel and Ellen Harris, we're shown a lush, summery world meant for utter peace and relaxation. From the manicured lawns enclosed by privet hedges to the wide, sandy beaches and gentle surf, the Long Island landscapes shown here are both elegant and wild, extremely modern and utterly traditional.

Focusing on three towns (Sagaponack, Bridgehampton, and Easthampton), the photographs have been divided into chapters based on their content, rather than the area in which they were taken. The variety of architecture is showcased in the "There's No Place Like Home" chapter--it's not every town that encompasses the early Federal and saltbox styles of this country right along with sleek modern styles that have open decks and windows as their focus. A surprisingly practical side of the Hamptons is disclosed in "Field of Dreams," where photos of corn, potatoes, and wheat threshing reveal the down-home roots of this farming community. "For the Love of Blue" provides the perfect pictures to help beachcombers survive gray winter days; the close-up shots of crashing waves and the panoramic views of rocky beaches may well transport you via memory to your own favorite beach.

Each chapter has a page of written introduction, but throughout the book the text is minimal, serving only to provide brief descriptions of the glorious photos. This is exactly as it should be; the photos provide such a feast for the eyes, any additional information would merely detract from their loveliness. --Jill Lightner