Mosque

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A mosque rises above the city, the small, ordered domes of the compound surrounding the enormous central dome of the prayer hall and towering minaret. How was such a structure built? By whom? And why? As he describes the construction of a fictional but typical Ottoman mosque of the late sixteenth century, acclaimed author and artist David Macaulay reveals that a mosque was just one part of a much larger complex of buildings. While the mosque served the spiritual and religious needs of the community, the surrounding buildings provided education, food for its students and the needy, a place for commerce, lodging for travelers, and even public baths. Planning and building a complex of structures to serve such diverse purposes was no easy task, but here David Macaulay describes the process clearly, demonstrating each step with his spectacular illustrations.

FROM THE CRITICS

The New York Times Book Review

''Mosque'' is a superbly illustrated and technically engrossing explanation of how a great Turkish mosque complex would be built in about 1600. It's like an erector set packed into a book....Macaulay remains respectful of Islam without fawning. — Nicholas D. Kristof

Publishers Weekly

With the level of precision and care that his fans have come to expect, Macaulay (Castle; Cathedral) broadens his bookshelf of architectural wonders with this timely new addition, adding color to his palette as well as insight into the Middle East. He whisks readers to the Ottoman empire of the 16th century, where a fictitious admiral prepares to underwrite a new mosque ("The time had come to demonstrate both his faith and his gratitude in the way that had become traditional for a man of his standing"). Macaulay meticulously illuminates the spiritual and architectural considerations in the process of design and construction; he explains the importance of the mosque's alignment upon the kibla ("an imaginary line that points toward and radiates from Mecca"), then examines its structural complexities, such as a "system of piers and arches" to support the building's domed roof. In the process, the mosque's many societal functions emerge; it is actually a complex of buildings consisting of a college for religious education, a kitchen, a public bath, fountain and so on. The monument grows stone by stone through color-washed pen-and-ink illustrations. Full-spread vistas alternate with smaller inset sketches that offer a step-by-step look at brick-making, the crafting of stained glass windows, etc.; readers can practically hear the busy hum of the worksite. Macaulay's wide-ranging perspectives pull onlookers into the thick of the construction, capturing everything from a minaret's-eye view of the activity below to an image of the soaring dome seen from the ground. As always, the level of visual detail is extraordinary; no less so is the explanation of the mosque's role at the center of Muslim social and religious life. All ages. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

The mosque we observe here under construction, from planning to dedication, is a fictional one, but it is based on actual buildings from the 16th century. When the aging Admiral Suha Mehmet Pasa decides to demonstrate his faith and his gratitude to his God, he calls upon architect Akif Agha to plan buildings for a charitable foundation, with a mosque as its spiritual centerpiece. The text details all the steps taken to complete the building, inside and out. The complex becomes a vital part of the life of the city. In his imaginatively attractive way, Macaulay combines accessible exposition with tinted line drawings to lead us through all the complex construction processes in ways that make them easy to follow. Pages of pictures of specific building techniques alternate with double-page scenes showing the gradual assembling of parts, with workmen at their tasks and people using the buildings at the end. He thus injects a human content into the study of technology which includes vast amounts of information. A glossary is included. 2003, Walter Lorraine Books/ Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 9 up.

VOYA - Rollie Welch

Macaulay adds to his series of books describing buildings through visual dissections of structures with this examination of Middle Eastern mosques. Macaulay's talent enables a hefty amount of information to be presented in a minimal number of pages and illustrations. Through a wonderful blend of architectural detail, historical information, and a fictionalized story, the labor put into designing, constructing, and completing a mosque is brought to life. An informative text and appealing simple but artistic drawings bridge the gap between juvenile picture book and young adult nonfiction, making this book quite suitable for report topics. Although Islam is emphasized, featuring the five pillars of faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage, this book does not pretend to be a primer on the religion. Rather the importance of Islamic daily prayer plus giving back one's wealth to the community become reasons for building the mosque. Readers not familiar with the social structure of an Islamic society might be surprised to learn how a mosque is also somewhat of a social center including baths with hot and cold rooms. A minor complaint about the work is that a student with no architectural background might find descriptions of shoring up walls to support the unique dome of the building mind-boggling. That aside, because of United States involvement in the Middle East and the general population having sparse knowledge about Islamic history and culture, this title is a must-have for both school and public libraries. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9;Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin, 96p.; Glossary. Illus., $18. Ages 11 to 18.

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