The book “He Threw The Last Punch Too Hard” by Los Angeles based photographer Hannah Kozak tells the story of her mother Rachel Zarco, a beautiful, passionate, vivacious, and fiery Guatemalan Sophia Loren- type brunette who left Hannah and the family after she fell in love with another man. The man turned out to be violent. He beat her so badly that she suffered permanent brain damage and had to be moved into an assisted living facility at the age of forty one, where she still lives today. Since 2009, Hannah has followed her difficult journey and this book is their story. A story that could inspire other women to leave an abusive relationship, before it’s too late. 

“He Threw The Last Punch Too Hard” is printed in a limited edition of 700 copies. It measures 21 x 26 cm (8' x 10.5") and contains 51 black and white images and 30 archival photographs drawn from Zarco/Kozak family albums. The text includes a personal essay from Hannah Kozak and Hope Edelman and commentary by Aline Smithson.

He Threw The Last Punch Too Hard was selected as one of the best photo books for 2020 by Women Photograph and one of the Top 20 by Buzzfeed.

Read an interview with Hannah here.

Read review of the book by Photobookjournal here.

The book is available here and at Amazon..