Description
1942 printing. Hardcover has significant wear, discoloration, scuffs and marks throughout. No dust jacket. Spine has tears on the top and bottom. Binding is loose on the cover but holding firm on the pages. Pages are clean and largely unmarked aside from some small marks on some pages. Readable copy.
This well-worn copy of Hendrik Van Loon’s “Van Loon’s Lives” is a testament to the enduring appeal of the author’s accessible and engaging approach to history. Published in 1942, at the height of World War II, this volume offered readers a respite from the turmoil of the times by transporting them through the lives of some of history’s most fascinating figures.
Van Loon, a Dutch-American journalist and author, won the inaugural Newbery Medal in 1922 for his groundbreaking work in making history accessible to younger readers. “Van Loon’s Lives” continued this tradition, presenting biographies of figures like Rembrandt, Galileo, and Joan of Arc in a lively and conversational style that brought their stories to life.
Despite its weathered exterior, this copy has clearly been well-loved and frequently revisited over the decades. The loose binding and scuffed covers speak to the book’s journey through multiple hands, each reader leaving their mark on its pages. For collectors and readers alike, this volume offers a tangible connection to a pivotal moment in history, when a gifted storyteller used the power of words to transport readers beyond the turmoil of their times.
