The Last Resort: 40th Anniversary Edition

When Martin Parr's The Last Resort was first published in 1986 it divided both critics and audiences alike. Now 40 years on there is little doubt that it transformed documentary photography in Britain and established Martin as one of the world's leading photographers. The original 1986 design by Peter Brawne was also remarkable with its playful use of colourful shapes and objects throughout the book. Within no time at all it became recognised as a 'classic' and copies of the first edition are now highly sought by collectors worldwide. Steering a perilous course between objectivity and voyeurism, Parr viewed the decaying holiday resort of New Brighton and its holidaymakers in a way that was new, unique and deeply disturbing. And he did so in colour, something which at the time was seen as revolutionary for documentary work. For some, his camera seemed cold and cruel as it followed the working classes desperately pursuing their holiday dreams surrounded by dereliction and decay and wading through the apparently endless detritus of a pollution-ridden consumer society. Others felt it showed an affectionate, humorous and humanistic response from Parr. However it was viewed, it was undoubtedly a sharp, bitter satire of the Britain of the Thatcher years. For this special 40th anniversary edition we have reconstructed the original artwork as this no longer existed. Through careful time-consuming work we have managed to create as true a facsimile of the original edition as possible. We have also added a special slipcase designed by Peter Brawne, the book's original designer. Martin sadly died in December 2025. A member of the prestigious MAGNUM photo agency, he was internationally recognised as a brilliant satirist of contemporary life and led the development of British documentary photography with wit, style, and intelligence in a career that boasted numerous publications and exhibitions. His work is in innumerable major galleries and museums worldwide.