The Silk Roads
An Illustrated New History of the World
To be ten in America is to be mystified—the world is so complicated, tension-filled, callous, and distressing that the allure of a virtual life on a screen is nearly impossible to resist. What can we do for that child? What tools can we provide to help her find her place, her identity?
Certainly one of the most effective ways to understand today’s world, and even to peek into the future, is to look back. By studying the people and places of ancient and not-so-distant times, it is possible to make connections, so as to better understand how everything fits together.
Peter Frankopan’s The Silk Roads: An Illustrated New History of the World is the beautifully rendered retelling of his masterpiece, The Silk Roads, albeit for children ten and up. The connections he secures between religion, trade, disease, war, science, and calamity underpin the success of this project, which is further enhanced by his rare storytelling skills and writing chops.
Not to be outdone, Neil Packer’s splendid illustrations are often accompanied by helpful captions, fascinating little snippets of lore, and insights to leaven Frankopan’s text.
The fact that so many people escape childhood without a real passion for history is more a fault of the lackluster storytelling skills of contemporary historians. The team of Frankopan and Packer are the exception extraordinaire.
Reviewed by
Matt Sutherland
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
