Gr 8 Up-Nardo begins by placing the building in the context of Greek history and architecture. He then describes in detail how and why the Parthenon was planned, who designed and built it, and exactly how it was constructed. Information on the architectural details, such as the friezes and the sizes of the columns, is included. Sidebars offer excerpts from mythology and quotes from ancient and contemporary sources. The history of the building after the fall of the Greco-Roman civilization and current restoration efforts are briefly described. The book is illustrated with black-and-white photographs and reproductions of varying quality. Clear drawings and labeled photographs explain building and architectural terms, tools, and concepts. There is a time line, a good glossary, and an annotated list of books for further reading. While the text may offer a challenge to some students, it will be useful for those researching the Parthenon or comparing buildings from ancient times.-Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA

In these volumes, ancient architectural wonders are detailed, from the background behind their construction to how they were used to their subsequent decline and eventual conservation and restoration. Illustrations, modern photographs, maps, diagrams, sidebars, and definitions supplement the rich, detailed, but still easy-to-read text. Numerous quotations from primary and secondary sources add academic weight. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title The Palace of Versailles. %% Gr. 610. These volumes from the Building History series focus on places that were notable in their times and have relevance today. Each book discusses its subject in a way that enlightens readers about the history and culture of its time and place. Versailles begins with King Louis XIII building a small hunting lodge in the rural hamlet of Versailles in 1623. Through the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI, the estate grew into an enormous complex of palaces and related buildings, enhanced by elaborate formal gardens. The book looks not only at architectural considerations but also at the social and political ramifications of housing all the French nobility in one opulent place supported by the labor and taxes of the peasantry. Parthenon begins with the political structure of ancient Greece and then discusses the development of temple building, the construction and destruction in the seventeenth century of the Parthenon, and its importance to Roman, European, and American architecture. Each of these books is informative and useful; however, the lackluster format, covers, and illustrations will do little to draw readers. Small, black-and-white photos, diagrams, and reproductions of paintings, drawings, and engravings appear throughout the books but do not suggest the grandeur of their subjects. Still, these books are informative and should be useful for research. (Reviewed December 15, 1998)