The Mongols were nomadic warriors of legendary skill and savagery. Their empire encompassed most of the known world from Asia to Europe, from the Middle East to the Sea of Japan. Now the unstoppable horsemen were bearing down on China. For the Chinese, there seemed only one solution: turn their country into a vast fortress.
The Great Wall chronicles a people's struggle for absolute security in a violent and dangerous world. It is a story of incredible success and ultimate failure, of ingenuity, the will to survive and, in the end, futility.
"...beautiful and informative...thoughtful...thrilling..."—A Book of Special Note, Kirkus Reviews. "2,000 years of Chinese history read like an adventure story."—The Sacramento Bee "A stunning visual history..."—Library Talk
