- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; First Edition edition (25 Feb 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593055748
- ISBN-13: 978-0593055748
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 741,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Great Wall
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Product Description
Telegraph - March 2008
"characteristically breezy, lavishly illustrated travel history"
Product Description
China's Great Wall north of Beijing is one of the world's most famous sights. Millions every year climb the line of stone snaking over mountains. We all feel we know the Wall. But we are wrong. It is too big, too varied, too complex to be captured by a few images or a day-trip. Myths surround it. Many believe that the stone barrier marches across all China, that it has been in existence for over 2,000 years, and that it is the only man-made structure visible from the Moon. In fact, most of it is made of earth, and much of it is not there at all. It cannot even be seen from earth orbit, let alone the Moon.Estimates of its length vary from 1,500 to 5,000 miles. Even its name is deceptive - it is not an it, a single entity, but many walls (hence the uncertain length), built at different times. Yet behind the confusion are great simplicities. The many walls are united by two ideas - self-protection and unity - which go back to the First Emperor, who founded the nation in 221 BC. For 2,000 years, the Wall marked the border between China and nomadic peoples to the north and west.Mutual hostility inspired centuries of attacks, counter-attacks and Wall-building, until the northward spread of China in the 20th century made the Wall redundant. For this riveting account, John Man travelled the Wall from the far western deserts to the Pacific, exploring the grandest sections and many 'wild' ones. He is the first writer to describe two unknown walls in Mongolia. He covers two millennia of history, from the country's first unification to the present day, when the Great Wall, built and rebuilt over centuries of war, has become a symbol of tranquillity.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Another great book by John Man.
This book's subject is the Great Wall of China. It is not only a history of the wall but also deals with its cultural and sociological effects and is all the better for that. Mr Man travels around China visiting the wall and visits communities nearby to it, academic who have studied it, photographers etc. It is an interesting study and one which is informative as well as entertaining. For example, I had always assumed that there was just one wall but in fact there are several and they are not joined up, indeed it was not even the intention to ever have one continuous wall that would cross the entirety of China. Did you know that one theory even says that Roman soldiers garrisoned a part of it at one time (although this theroy is rather discredited nowadays).
Definitely one to recommend.
This book's subject is the Great Wall of China. It is not only a history of the wall but also deals with its cultural and sociological effects and is all the better for that. Mr Man travels around China visiting the wall and visits communities nearby to it, academic who have studied it, photographers etc. It is an interesting study and one which is informative as well as entertaining. For example, I had always assumed that there was just one wall but in fact there are several and they are not joined up, indeed it was not even the intention to ever have one continuous wall that would cross the entirety of China. Did you know that one theory even says that Roman soldiers garrisoned a part of it at one time (although this theroy is rather discredited nowadays).
Definitely one to recommend.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Man does a great job in telling the history of the Great Wall. But he does a lot more than that and he also cleans up two myths about it.
Myth Number One: the Great Wall can be seen from Space or from the Moon. This myth was invented in the 1930s and people quite readily believed it. Now that even the Chinese have been to Space and confirmed that it is not possible to see the Wall from up there all doubts should be laid to rest.
Myth Number Two: The Great Wall is one coherent monument. John Man quite clearly shows that the Wall was never the unity its name suggests. It comes in all shapes, forms and sizes both made of earth and stone. His book should really be called the `Great Walls'.
John Man covers the various Walls built in China and Mongolia in quite some detail with part one covering the walls made of earth and part two covering those made of stone. What makes this book such great reading are all the tales he recounts which are connected to certain sections of the Walls and the time in history when they were built.
Myth Number One: the Great Wall can be seen from Space or from the Moon. This myth was invented in the 1930s and people quite readily believed it. Now that even the Chinese have been to Space and confirmed that it is not possible to see the Wall from up there all doubts should be laid to rest.
Myth Number Two: The Great Wall is one coherent monument. John Man quite clearly shows that the Wall was never the unity its name suggests. It comes in all shapes, forms and sizes both made of earth and stone. His book should really be called the `Great Walls'.
John Man covers the various Walls built in China and Mongolia in quite some detail with part one covering the walls made of earth and part two covering those made of stone. What makes this book such great reading are all the tales he recounts which are connected to certain sections of the Walls and the time in history when they were built.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Another great book from an excellent and very readable author. Once you have read one of his books you will want the rest.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good introduction
This is a good starting point for information on the Great Wall (or walls) of China. No technical detail here but a basic history of how and when the walls were built.
Published 5 months ago by Adrian S. Morris
The Myth & History of the Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous structures on Earth and as such as much myth has grown up around it as there is history. Read more
Published 6 months ago by T. R. Alexander
Pleasant mix of travel and history
Don't expect an in-depth academic tome; this is an easy read. As Man journeys along the Great Wall, generally from west to east, he discusses the creation of the vast barrier -... Read more
Published 7 months ago by History Geek
great walls
At least this author admits that none of the Chinese walls can be seen from space and that there is more than one wall(at last count there were 14) but continues to use the... Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2008 by G. I. Forbes
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