City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction (Paperback)

by David Macaulay (Author) "By 200 B.C. soldiers of the Roman Republic had conquered all of Italy except the Alps..." (more)

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"City charts the planning and building of an imaginary Roman city, 'Verbonia.' Macaulay focuses on the achievement of efficient and rational city planning. His brilliantly individualistic drawings capture the essential quality of the Roman character, the ability to organize." -- Review

Review

"City charts the planning and building of an imaginary Roman city, 'Verbonia.' Macaulay focuses on the achievement of efficient and rational city planning. His brilliantly individualistic drawings capture the essential quality of the Roman character, the ability to organize." School Library Journal, Starred

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Product Details Reading level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 112 pages Publisher: Sandpiper (October 24, 1983) Language: English ISBN-10: 0395349222 ISBN-13: 978-0395349229 Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #11 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Macaulay, David #18 in  Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Architecture

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20 Reviews 5 star:  (16) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 18 of 19 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars It is a facinating format of how the Romans built., February 2, 1998 By A Customer This book is extrmely valuable as a beginning to the study of Roman Civil Engineering. The Tool and Material lists are facinating, and the drawings are worth a thousand words. For an advanced study in Roman Civil Engineering this book will go a long way to clearing up the meaning of Wordy text that do not provide illustrations. 12 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars another great resource from Macaulay, December 16, 2002 By  audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    David Macaulay's works are always entertaining, educational and literate, and this is no exception. A multitude of black-and-white line drawings illustrate the story of Roman urban planners as they design and construct a new city on the Roman empire's frontier. Every stage is explained thoroughly using text, illustrations and charts, from developing a master plan through construction. Tools are explained, cross-sections are used to good effect and specific projects such as a house, a road, a bridge and aqueduct, the forum and central market, public baths, the sewer system and an amphitheater and theater are represented. The book ends with a one-page glossary. If you or a student you know is interested in Roman engineering, this would be a marvelous book to read. 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous book, December 5, 2004 By  Alexanderplatz (Kentucky) - See all my reviews I had the good fortune to receive this book as a gift some twenty years ago as a child. The basic premise is simple enough: these people from another time and country are going to build something, and the book is going to show us how they did it. The text itself, as with many children's books, is relatively simple, but the intricate pen-and-ink drawings are spellbinding. Time and again I would go back to CITY, and pore over the pictures, often discovering some previously-overlooked detail that Macaulay had included. I highly recommend CITY, and Macaulay's other architectural books, to both children and adults. Most children are inherently curious, and interested in how things are made, why they work, and who made them. Macaulay teaches those things in his books, but more importantly, the books draw the reader in and stimulate the imagination. There's a hands-on history lesson inherent in each of these books, a brief glimpse at other cultures around the globe and in different times. Whether it's ancient Egypt, classical Rome, medieval France, or 18th Century America, the worlds in Macaulay's books are always fascinating to visit.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Cool Very interesting and well written. Amazing what they thought of then and how it still applies today! Published 6 months ago by C. Y. Neufeld 5.0 out of 5 stars See how Romans built an Empire.... A book, for children and adults, shows us how a Roman city was built, from the ground up. First they make a plan, deciding on how many people will live in the city, where the... Read more Published 11 months ago by Michael Valdivielso 4.0 out of 5 stars A great introductory book in Roman city stucture. I ordered this book for the purpose of understanding Roman constuction of a city. It is definitely an excellent source for those who wish to know how Rome may have organized it's... Read more Published 13 months ago by Kevin N. Alexander 4.0 out of 5 stars Another great David Macaulay book The only reason I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 is that David Macaulay has set the bar so high for himself over the years by writing and illustrating some real masterpieces... Read more Published on June 5, 2007 by AcornMan 5.0 out of 5 stars Roman Architecture Explained: Fascinating! In this book, David Macaulay expertly describes and illustrates the construction of the imaginary Roman city of Verbonia. Read more Published on May 31, 2007 by Chatelaine 5.0 out of 5 stars How Romans Built When taken together as a collection, Macaulay's books, from Castle and Cathedral and Pyramid, Mill, Unbuilding, Mosque, and most definitely this one, City, create what is probably... Read more Published on May 1, 2007 by Penny Dreadful 5.0 out of 5 stars A Ground Breaking Book When David Macaulay published this book in 1974, he was following in the path of the great American illustrators Edwin Tunis and Eric Sloane. Read more Published on December 26, 2006 by Marco Antonio Abarca 5.0 out of 5 stars David Macauley is brilliant! This video presentation of the building of the city of Rome is a must for anyone interested in the classics or architecture. Read more Published on August 21, 2006 by Robert D. Askren 5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for Roman history I am a huge fan of David Macaulay's historically based line drawings. I found myself drawn into the images and fact-based fictional story. Read more Published on April 18, 2006 by L. A. Case 5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book If you're studying Rome, you NEED this book! There are no pretty colored pictures here, no photos either, just very clear, exceptionally detailed line drawings that make it... Read more Published on December 17, 2005 by Grandma Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 24, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395349222
• ISBN-13: 978-0395349229
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #11 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Macaulay, David
  #18 in	Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Architecture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It is a facinating format of how the Romans built., February 2, 1998

By A Customer

This book is extrmely valuable as a beginning to the study of Roman Civil Engineering. The Tool and Material lists are facinating, and the drawings are worth a thousand words. For an advanced study in Roman Civil Engineering this book will go a long way to clearing up the meaning of Wordy text that do not provide illustrations.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another great resource from Macaulay, December 16, 2002

By	audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

David Macaulay's works are always entertaining, educational and literate, and this is no exception. A multitude of black-and-white line drawings illustrate the story of Roman urban planners as they design and construct a new city on the Roman empire's frontier. Every stage is explained thoroughly using text, illustrations and charts, from developing a master plan through construction. Tools are explained, cross-sections are used to good effect and specific projects such as a house, a road, a bridge and aqueduct, the forum and central market, public baths, the sewer system and an amphitheater and theater are represented. The book ends with a one-page glossary. If you or a student you know is interested in Roman engineering, this would be a marvelous book to read.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous book, December 5, 2004

By	Alexanderplatz (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

I had the good fortune to receive this book as a gift some twenty years ago as a child. The basic premise is simple enough: these people from another time and country are going to build something, and the book is going to show us how they did it. The text itself, as with many children's books, is relatively simple, but the intricate pen-and-ink drawings are spellbinding. Time and again I would go back to CITY, and pore over the pictures, often discovering some previously-overlooked detail that Macaulay had included.

I highly recommend CITY, and Macaulay's other architectural books, to both children and adults. Most children are inherently curious, and interested in how things are made, why they work, and who made them. Macaulay teaches those things in his books, but more importantly, the books draw the reader in and stimulate the imagination. There's a hands-on history lesson inherent in each of these books, a brief glimpse at other cultures around the globe and in different times. Whether it's ancient Egypt, classical Rome, medieval France, or 18th Century America, the worlds in Macaulay's books are always fascinating to visit.