A Brief History of Western Art

Author: A. de Jong
Translator: Ding Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Hendrik van Loon (1882–1944), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, began his studies at Cornell University in the U.S. and the University of Munich in Germany in 1903, earning his doctorate. In his early years, he was involved in various professions, serving as a teacher, editor, journalist, and broadcaster. This hefty, robust Dutch-American, weighing 200 pounds, published The Story of Mankind in 1921, which brought him worldwide fame. Over his lifetime, he authored over 30 books, recounting nearly all aspects of human history from a humanistic perspective with an accessible, witty, and insightful writing style. Most of his works became international bestsellers, retaining their charm even after nearly a century and influencing generations of readers. Van Loon himself was a polymath, fluent in 10 languages, skilled in playing the violin, and often illustrated his own books with many charming and endearing drawings.