Book reviews from FanofTime-LifeBooks

Andrew Jackson, Soldier and Statesman

by Ralph K Andrist

Andrew Jackson: Soldier and Statesman is one of many books from the American Heritage Junior Library. This series is an introduction to key people and events in American history. This volume portrays the personal and political events of the life of Andrew Jackson. Topics covered include Jackson in the American Revolution, the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson's intervention in Florida, the 1824 and 1828 presidential elections, the Eaton affair, and the Bank War. Jackson as a fighter and a man of action is the prevalent theme of the book. The highly readable text and the many paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and maps from the period make this an ideal book for middle or high school students. A bibliography and index are included. If you are a teacher or parent looking for a concise and informative biography of Old Hickory this book is ideal for you.

The Trail Driver

by Zane Grey

Zane Grey’s The Trail Driver is a historical novel set on the Chisholm Trail in the 1870s. Adam Brite, Texas Joe Shipman, Panhandle Smith, and the other cowboys in the outfit encounter quicksand, stampeders, swollen rivers, treachery, hail storms, electrical storms, outlaws, and stampedes as they drive cattle from San Antonio, Texas to Dodge City, Kansas. And, to make things interesting, one of the cowboys turns out to be a girl. This is the first Zane Grey book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are wanting to start reading Zane Grey books and do not know where to begin you cannot go wrong with The Trail Driver.

Imperial Rome

by Moses Hadas

Imperial Rome is one of twenty-one volumes in the Time-Life book series Great Ages of Man. Originally published in the 1960s, this series is a history of the world’s cultures. This volume is an overview of Roman political, military, and cultural history from 753 B.C. to 476 A.D.Author Moses Hadas has written a concise yet informative book on one of the great empires of antiquity. Topics covered include the expansion of Rome, daily life, religion, literature, the decline of Rome, and the legacy of the Roman empire. Language, law, government, and architecture are just a few of the legacies of Ancient Rome. As with other books in this series, the numerous illustrations and picture essays greatly enhance the narrative. This volume includes several maps, a time line of Roman emperors, a time line of Roman political and cultural history, and a biographical reference section profiling great Roman writers and statesmen. This book is not only a concise history of Rome but a useful reference book as well. I used this book while teaching world history to my middle school students and found it quite useful. Highly recommended.

Great Ages Of Man - Classical Greece

by C M Bowra

Classical Greece is one of twenty-one volumes from the Time-Life book series Great Ages of Man. This series is a history of the world's cultures. As with other books in this series, Classical Greece has numerous illustrations and maps which supplement the narrative.This volume presents the political and military history of Ancient Greece with an emphasis on Athens and Sparta. Social history and early Greek drama and philosophy are also covered. The reference section is especially useful as it describes the heroes of Greek mythology as well as great and famous Greek statesmen, philosophers, poets, artists, and scientists. I used this book when I taught Ancient Greek history and Greek mythology to my middle school students. Ideal for teachers or readers wanting a basic introduction to the birthplace of democracy, drama, philosophy, and the Olympic games. Highly recommended.