Brenner invites readers to take a time-travel trip back to the year of Columbus' most famous voyage. Along the way, she discusses the culture of commoners and courtiers, explaining many aspects of everyday life as well as significant developments such as the spread of printed books, advances in mapmaking, the Moors' surrender of the Alhambra, the Spanish Inquisition, and the expulsion of Jews from Spain. Next, Brenner describes life on board Columbus' ship. Finally, she asks readers to imagine themselves to be Arawakan as she summarizes the life-style of these native people whom Columbus first dubbed Indians. Despite a little confusion about its audience (if the intended audience needs to be told that there were no refrigerators in 1492, it also needs explanations of terms like tunic or burned in effigy , the book will provide fascinating background material for any study of Columbus. It's particularly strong on the status and fate of the Moors and the Jews in late-fifteenth-century Spain. Reproductions of period prints and portraits illustrate the text, while a colorful, appealing watercolor painting brightens the jacket. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1991)

Phot. Brenner describes life in Spain during the fifteenth century. Food, clothing, transportation, education, government, work, and other subjects are touched on. Sections dealing specifically with Columbus are set aside from the text in bold type. An appealing book that covers subjects of interest to children. Bib., ind.

Gr 4-8-- Fascinating details keep company with a style that may strike some readers as cutesy but that gives a wealth of interesting facts about life in late 15th-century Spain. Writing in the second person, Brenner maintains a sense of immediacy between her subject and her audience. Chapters are dedicated to such topics as food and clothing, sickness and health, kings and queens, education, crime and punishment, etc. These short chapters are each followed by a paragraph about Columbus, relating events in his life; at first confusing, this seemingly abrupt change of topic becomes a sensible connection with historical relevance. Use of slang and pointless asides such as ``yuck!'' to describe a typical dinner table of the period is unnecessary and will date this work. The numerous black-and-white reproductions of woodcuts, maps, and period paintings are informative as well as decorative. The extensive notes, bibliography, and index belie the book's simplicity. Obviously, Brenner's approach will not appeal to all, but the book is of value because it successfully introduces a good deal of information and an overall picture of the period in a user-friendly format. --Rosie Peasley, Somerset School, Modesto, CA