Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: A Forest of Kings : The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya by David Freidel, Linda Schele ISBN: 0-688-11204-8 Publisher: Quill Pub. Date: 24 January, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.56 (9 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Dry But Worth It
Comment: Of the various books available on Mayan culture that a layman has any chance of engaging profitably, this is one of the best. Detailed and well-organized, it presents a wealth of material on the subject, with plenty of accompanying illustrations that are well linked to the text, unlike other books which drop in pictures seemingly at random or which fail to explain why they are placed as they are. (Or, my personal favorite, those that assume you know why the picture is there, and what it's of, and don't bother to provide captions.)
If you're not afraid of "tomes," this is an excellent book for you, though it's not an introductory text. I'd recommend starting with something a little more basic before you tackle this fellow. But once you've familiarized yourself with the lay of the land regarding the Mayas, you won't find many books that cover so many different aspects of their life and culture in such a deep, dense way. You can feel these authors' love for their subject.
However, that being said, I must warn you this is a fairly dry book, and I am a reasonably tolerant reader when it comes to subjects I enjoy such as this one. It's chock full of great stuff, but its tone and style are heavily scholastic, so be prepared. It's still worth it. I have read any number of books thicker than this in a few sittings, but I found I retained more of the material and stayed more engaged by taking small bites of it over a few weeks.
Rating: 4
Summary: An eye opener
Comment: It was so surprising to me to find out how complex the Maya society was. To learn that about their wars, their kings, and their complex religion was fascinating. The illustrations were excellent.
Rating: 5
Summary: Superlative book on Mayan culture - fascinating read
Comment: It is so sad that we have lost Linda Schele. But we can rejoice that we still have her wonderful books. This book is among her best. It is almost magical in the way she and David Freidel create the atmosphere of the Mayan culture. There are wonderful pictures and illustrations. She unfolds the stories of the archaeological discoveries and then helps us understand the real lives revealed in the evidence.
The book also shows how the Mayan glyphs and counting systems work. There are nowadays very good texts only and the language, but this book shows us how the glyphs are woven into the culture and religion of these people. We learn how the lineage worked and how the monuments were used as what we would call propaganda to support one line over other possibilities. We learn about the role of magic and visions and the way the leaders were the empowered by those visions.
There is just so much here that any reader will be richly rewarded. The Mayan civilization is incredibly fascinating because it is so foreign to our own and yet it is a part of the heritage of the American continents.
This book isn't just a text, it is a work of art in itself. You will have a hard time putting it down.
 |
Title: Popol Vuh: The Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life by Dennis Tedlock ISBN: 0684818450 Publisher: Touchstone Books Pub. Date: 01 January, 1996 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
 |
Title: The CODE OF KINGS: The Language of Seven Sacred Maya Temples and Tombs by Linda Schele, Peter Mathews, Justin Kerr, MacDuff Everton ISBN: 0684852098 Publisher: Scribner Book Company Pub. Date: 01 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
 |
Title: The Blood of Kings: Dynasty and Ritual in Maya Art by Linda Schele, Mary Ellen Miller, Justin Kerr, Kimbell Art Museum ISBN: 0807612782 Publisher: George Braziller Pub. Date: 01 May, 1992 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
 |
Title: An Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya by Mary Miller, Karl Taube ISBN: 0500279284 Publisher: Thames & Hudson Pub. Date: 01 April, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: The Maya (Ancient Peoples and Places) by Michael D. Coe ISBN: 0500280665 Publisher: Thames & Hudson Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
