Book excerpt: First published in 1978. In this title, Alan Thomas examines the invention of photography in the early nineteenth century. How the members of this first "visual" generation used photography and how it changed their perceptions of the world are the subjects of this lavishly illustrated book. As the author convincingly shows, the camera’s presence was felt nearly everywhere during the course of the nineteenth century. Approaching the subject topically, Thomas surveys the work of the early photographers in terms of its motivation, insights, and impact on society. The book is rounded out with sections on other genres of photography – theatrical, landscape, and social realism – that amply document the far-reaching impact of this phenomenon on nineteenth-century sensibilities.