In season three of The Sopranos, Uncle Junior is diagnosed with cancer and chooses his surgeon based on him having the surname Kennedy, telling Tony: “I loved that guy.” On the face of it, this might count for little in the grand scheme of things, but it is a cute bit of writing that further illustrates the unique standing of the first family of American politics.

If coffee table books are your thing, then The Kennedys, a stonking collection of unseen images by the photographer Mark Shaw is definitely for you. After first photographing them in 1959 for LIFE magazine, he struck a friendship and became the unofficial family photographer. Not a bad gig.

The Kennedys: Photographs by Mark Shaw is published by Reel Art Press. RRP £45. For stockist info or to order online visit www.reelartpress.com

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