The Hamptons have long been a haven for the world's elite. Its breathtaking vistas inspired Walt Whitman and Winslow Homer; its social forebears include the likes of Gerald and Sara Murphy entertaining greats such as Leger and Fitzgerald; Kurt Vonnegut, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol all found inspiration on America's Riviera. Spectacular estates from the Gilded Age's business barons, designed by legendary architects such as Stanford White, rival the sprawling mansions of today's hedge fund managers and the myriad boldface names attracted to this beachfront strip on Long Island each summer season. 'The Big Book of the Hamptons' celebrates the mystique and romance of one of the most iconic and extravagant neighbourhoods in the world, exploring the architecture and gardens of these secluded retreats, brought to life with amazing imagery in a deluxe volume. AUTHOR: Michael Shnayerson is a long time contributing editor to Vanity Fair whose features for the magazine encompass politics, the arts, society, the environment, publishing, and Hollywood. He is the author or coauthor of five books, most recently 'Coal River', a work of narrative nonfiction about the tragedy of mountaintop coal removal in Appalachia, published in 2008 by Farrar, Strauss, Giroux; and 'My Song', singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte's memoir, co-written with Mr. Belafonte and published in 2011 by Alfred Knopf. He is currently working on a first biography of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, to be published by Grand Central Press.

Author Biography

Michael Shnayerson is a long time contributing editor to Vanity Fair whose features for the magazineencompass politics, the arts, society, the environment, publishing, and Hollywood. He is the author or coauthor of five books, most recently Coal River, a work of narrative nonfiction about the tragedy of mountaintop coal removal in Appalachia, published in 2008 by Farrar, Strauss, Giroux; and My Song, singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte's memoir, co-written with Mr. Belafonte and published in 2011 by Alfred Knopf. He is currently working on a first biography of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, to be published by Grand Central Press. Shnayerson has lived full-time in Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton for more than twenty years.