Description
The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon is a seminal work in children’s literature, first published in 1921. It was the inaugural recipient of the Newbery Medal in 1922, awarded for its outstanding contribution to children’s literature .
In 1926, an updated edition was released, featuring an additional essay titled “After Seven Years,” which reflected on the impacts of World War I . This edition continued to be illustrated by van Loon himself, maintaining the original’s engaging narrative style and visual appeal.
The book is structured into brief chapters that chronicle the history of Western civilization, beginning with early humans and progressing through significant developments in writing, art, architecture, religion, and the formation of modern nation-states. Van Loon’s approach was to include only those individuals or events that had a profound impact on the course of civilization
