Details
Synopsis
Examines the building of the Great Wall of China and the thousands of years of conflict that preceded it.
| Size | | Height: | 10.5 in | | Width: | 10.5 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 20.0 oz |
Industry Reviews
In this Wonders of the World title, Mann (The Brooklyn Bridge) sets the story of the Great Wall into a thorough yet concisely wrought framework of Chinese history and culture. Noting that the differences between the traditions of the Chinese and those of the nomadic Mongols led to centuries of conflict, Mann describes how rulers from various dynasties beginning with China's very first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, who died in 210 B.C. attempted to build walls to protect their people from the bellicose nomads. When the Mongols became even more powerful and feared in the mid-15th century, the Ming court began the colossal task of building the Great Wall, a laborious process that Witschonke illustrates in two full-page, informatively captioned pictures. The artist also offers some enticing panoramas of Chinese landscapes and several dynamic action scenarios: on horseback, Genghis Khan and his warriors charge at the reader; and a four-page foldout shows the Mongols attacking one of the Great Wall's forts. Reproductions of Chinese art cap this accessible view of a momentous era. Ages 8-up. (Dec.)
Lopate
Gr 4 Up A look at the story behind the building of the famous wall. Told in story format, the readable text is presented in a concise, straightforward manner. Beginning with the kidnapping of the Ming dynasty's sixth emperor in 1449, Mann traces the roots of the historical battles for land and power between the Chinese and the nomadic Mongols. As a result of the constant fighting, the first attempts at building a wall date back to the first emperor of China, around 200 B.C. However, the majority of the text focuses on the period after Khubilai Khan's rule through the year 1644. The text is surrounded by ample margins and accompanied by a full-color, captioned illustration on each spread. The vivid paintings, done in earthy tones, blend in with the photographs and museum reproductions that also appear throughout. A time line highlighting the various Chinese dynasties, a chart of the Mongol invasion, and a map showing the approximate location of the Wall round out the presentation. This title includes more detail than Leonard Fisher's The Great Wall of China (Macmillan, 1986); fans of Mann's The Great Pyramid and The Brooklyn Bridge (both Mikaya, 1996) will not be disappointed with it. Shirley N. Quan, Orange County Public Library, Stanton, CA
Divakaruni
Although they are more dramatic than informative, Alan Witschonke's pictures are what will probably attract readers to this entry in the Wonders of the World series. A little information about the Great Wall and its construction is given, but it's clearly not the architecture or the awesome magnificence of the structure that is the book's real concern. In fact, more information about the structure and its building would have been welcome. Instead, Mann focuses on the convoluted history behind the structure's building, which she makes surprisingly accessible. . . . A good adjunct to other resources.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Zvirin
Told in story format, the readable text is presented in a concise, straightforward manner. . . . The majority of the text focuses on the period after Khubilai Khan's rule through the year 1644. The text is surrounded by ample margins and accompanied by a full-color, captioned illustration on each spread. The vivid paintings, done in earthy tones, blend in with the photographs and museum reproductions that also appear throughout. . . . This title includes more detail than Leonard Fisher's The Great Wall of China (1986); fans of Mann's The Great Pyramid and The Brooklyn Bridge (1996) will not be disappointed with it.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Zvirin
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