Washington's Monument: And the Fascinating History of the Obelisk
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.15 (730 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1620406500 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-04-01 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Eye On The Needle A fun book to read. The author, John Steele Gordon, writes well and makes good use of informative asides and digressions to enliven the basic story.Once finished with this brisk book, you will have all you need to know not only about Washington's Monument, but about ancient Egyptian obelisks and how they have been relocated to points far away from the Nile.The design of the book itself is a nice tribute to its contents.. "but still was excellent. I personally think the Dublin Spire should have" according to Edward O. Wolcott. An interesting book. More about obelisks in general than the Washington Monument, but still was excellent. I personally think the Dublin Spire should have been added, but this is an understandable oversight.. I was not disappointed. I love learning odd facts of history and Jay D I saw this book discussed on Book TV and decided to order it. I was not disappointed. I love learning odd facts of history and this book doesn't disappoint. The book alternates with a bit of info on the Monument, and then some about the Obelisk in history. Well written. Quick read. And enjoyable
It’s a measure of the author’s roving curiosity that there are more than 100 footnotes packed into the brief--and appropriately vertical--volume." The Wall Street Journal"Do yourself a favor by examining John Steele Gordon’s Washington’s Monument, everything you need to know--and some things you thought you’d never need to know--about one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks Even though historian Gordon’s work is a short book on a tall subject, he has told it in rewarding detail. In his telling, the Washington Monument is only the latest episode in the 4,000-year history of the obelisk. Gordon’s book is an account of the form itself Shifting effortlessly over three continents and four millennia, Mr. Gordon’s account moves briskly despite copious digressions, ranging from th
. He has written for Forbes, Worth, the New York Times, and the Washington Post,and his columns appear regularly in the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of The Scarlet Woman of Wall Street, Hamilton's Blessing,AThread Across the Ocean, An Empire of Wealth,
Conceived soon after the American Revolution ended, the great monument to George Washington was not finally completed until almost a century later; the great obelisk was finished in 1884, and remains the tallest stone structure in the world at 555 feet. Their stories illuminate that of the Washington Monument, once again open to the public following earthquake damage, and offer a new appreciation for perhaps the most iconic memorial in the country.. The story behind its construction is a largely untold and intriguing piece of American history, which acclaimed historian John Steele Gordon relates with verve, connecting it to the colorful saga of the ancient obelisks of Egypt.Nobody knows how many obelisks were crafted in ancient Egypt, or even exactly how they were created and erected since they are made out of hard granite and few known tools of the time were strong enough to work granite. Generally placed in pairs at the entrances to temples, they have in modern times been ingeniously transported around the world to Istanbul, Paris, London, New York, and many other locations. The colorful story behind one of America's greatest monuments and of the ancient obelisks of Egypt, now scattered around the world