The Library of Alexandria [Hardcover]

Kelly Trumble (Author), Robina MacIntyre Marshall (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The Library of Alexandria was the largest library of its time and a major center for learning and scholarly research, particularly in the fields of astronomy, geography, mathematics, and medicine. Caesar and Cleopatra, Erastosthenes and Euclid, Archimedes and Alexander the Great are just a few of the famous people connected to its story. Today, historians still argue about how the library was destroyed, and no one knows exactly what it looked like, yet there is no question that the library continues to fascinate and intrigue us. This extensively researched look at what we do know about the Library of Alexandria features Kelly Trumble’s short, accessible chapters, and richly detailed full-color paintings by Robina MacIntyre Marshall. Together, they tell the story of one of the wonders of the ancient world, and show how its influence as continued long after its destruction. Glossary, suggested reading, selected bibliography, index.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-In this well-organized and thorough resource, Trumble delves into the people, legends, and politics surrounding the creation and ruin of the largest library in the ancient world. The chapter on collecting books details its methods of acquisition, which ranged from payment to thievery. A section on Alexandria's competitor, Pergamum, located in Asia Minor, provides an opportunity to describe and contrast the use of parchment and papyrus. Much attention is paid to the scholars who utilized the library and their achievements. For example, Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth. Herophilus practiced dissection and probably vivisection, adding much to contemporary understanding of the function of human organs and systems. Back matter includes maps, the Ptolemy family tree, and a description of sites in ancient Alexandria. The full-color, single-page illustrations, rendered in watercolor and gouache, are uneven. Marshall is more successful at depicting the flow of fabric, architectural ornamentation, and inanimate objects than in capturing the proportions and physicality of the human body. The modern-day Bibliotheca Alexandrina, an institution inspired by its ancient predecessor, is given only a brief mention. These flaws notwithstanding, this book is a unique and timely celebration of the age-old passion for and preservation of ideas.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-7. It's hard to find an untouched topic in children's nonfiction, but this comes close. The library at Alexandria was the most famous in the ancient world, a center of learning, a place where much original research in astronomy, anatomy, mathematics, and science was done. Trumble begins with Alexander, who wanted to build a great city in Egypt, but died before it was finished. It was one of his successors who built the library and stocked it with a vast collection of books, some obtained through nefarious means. Succeeding chapters describe the research done at the site, the most interesting, perhaps, being the work of Herophilus, who became an expert in human anatomy by practicing vivisection in order to learn more. Some of the attractively illustrated, full-page color paintings are full of activity; others are more stilted, simply showing people in discussion. In either case, however, the art has a younger feel than the strong, interesting text. A useful support for curriculum. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; 1St Edition edition (November 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395758327
• ISBN-13: 978-0395758328
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,126,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptionally vivid presentation, May 18, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Library of Alexandria (Hardcover)

Robina MacIntyre Marshall's fine drawings lend to this outstanding survey of the Library of Alexandria - which was much more than a simple repository of books. Scholars who visited the Library dissected corpses, star-gazed, and had controversial discussions speculating about science, nature and the world. Their findings would change world knowledge. An exceptionally vivid presentation, Kelly Trumble's Library Of Alexandria would make a popular and welcome addition to both school and community library collections.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Trumbell's 'Library of Alexandria', February 4, 2010

By 

Ryan S. Mease "scott.godwin" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Library of Alexandria (Hardcover)

This text is an excellent overview of the libraries history of contributions to the human condition. The illustrations are frequent and very lively additions to the work. I did notice two small details that don't fit with my knowledge of Greek history, but they are minor and need not be discussed here. Further, while some introductions function well for adults, this is not such an introduction; the material is really meant for adolescents, and, in this respect, it is wonderful.

4.0 out of 5 stars Illustrated beautifully, May 18, 2010

By 

Xraytech (DC Area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Library of Alexandria (Hardcover)

Illustrated beautifully, short on words but I love it as I am an Artist and get easly bored with long drawn out writings.