City portraits
It would be inaccurate to say that M. Sasek is in a groove. He has, rather, devised a most satisfactory formula and applies it with great skill, understanding and integrity. Thus, although all his studies of great cities are, at a superficial glance, alike, each is true both to the genius loci and to the artist's personal vision. If this seems too sober an approach to what are admittedly very funny books, it should be noted that M. Sasek's fun always has serious edge to it.
He has found much to love in Auld Reekie, particularly the incongruities, social and architectural. There is some very lovely drawing, particularly of the Edinburgh skyline, a sharply humorous enjoyment of folly, and an occasional neatness of phrase. Yet This is Edinburgh, for all its excellences, does not quite add up to a portrait of a city; rather a number of quick sketches in preparation for a portrait.
Text from City portraits, in The Times Literary Supplement, No. 3090, May 19, 1961, p. xviii.
