Description
Product Description
More than 130 years after its completion, the Brooklyn Bridge remains one of the most extraordinary landmarks and symbols of Brooklyn and New York City—and the story behind this architectural marvel is just as extraordinary.
The Brooklyn Bridge was originally designed by John Augustus Roebling, but it was his son, Washington, and his daughter-in-law, Emily, who oversaw the bridge’s construction. As work on the bridge went on, Washington developed caisson disease, leaving him bedridden for the majority of the bridge’s 14-year construction. Washington’s wife, Emily Roebling, took his place running the work site, deftly assuming the role of chief engineer, supervising the project and overseeing the workers, contractors, a hostile press, and greedy city politicians—an unusual position for a woman to take on at the time.
In this inspiring graphic novel, author Peter J. Tomasi and illustrator Sara Duvall show the building of the Brooklyn Bridge as it has never been seen before, and the marriage of the Roeblings—based on intellectual equality and mutual support—that made the construction of this iconic structure possible.
From School Library Journal
This graphic novel details the Brooklyn Bridge's construction over the course of more than a decade. John Augustus Roebling and his son Washington shared the ambitious goal of designing a bridge over the East River. When John passed away after an accident on the pier in 1869, Washington single-handedly ran the project. This was only the beginning of a series of challenges, including further accidents and deaths among the work crew, negative press, a scrupulous and difficult board of trustees, and the influence of greedy politicians. When Washington became ill with the bends, his wife, Emily, took over the day-to-day operations overseeing the crew and negotiating with the board of trustees. Duvall's illustrations effectively convey the beauty and utility of the bridge as it came to fruition, as well as Washington and Emily's charged emotions. The art deftly builds excitement even during the calmer scenes, zooming in on the smallest details and back out to the big picture—precisely what Washington and Emily had to do to solve the puzzle of the bridge's construction. VERDICT Those without any background knowledge may find this a challenging read at first, but advanced teen readers with an interest in U.S. history and engineering will appreciate this.—Emily Butler, Deerfield Academy, MA
Review
"DuVall’s bright and crisp, superhero-style comics artwork easily distinguish among the characters and is a perfect match for Tomasi’s impressive history, which balances action and emotion well. Together, they make sense of the complicated work of nineteenth-century bridge-building and the concurrent behind-the- scenes political and boardroom antics.”
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Booklist)
“With just the right balance of history and drama, this very well-done work keeps readers intrigued right to the end… Highly recommended.”
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Library Journal, Starred Review)
“The Brooklyn Bridge is as much a feat of engineering as it is a familiar sight, as this graphic novel by Peter J. Tomasi and illustrator Sara Duvall reminds us.”
(
New York Magazine)
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The Bridge meticulously depicts the enormity of the project, from meeting room intrigues to the sometimes perilous construction site...Mr. Tomasi and Ms. DuVall capture many historic moments.”
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The New York Times)
“Hard to believe that a graphic novel about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge could be exciting and as informative as "The Bridge”... The book is a great way to learn history.”
(
Cleveland Plain Dealer)
“You'll get some serious New Yorker cred after you read this.”
(
Bustle)
“An iconic landmark beloved by many for its panoramic views of the New York skyline…This beautifully rendered graphic novel, illustrated by Sara Duvall, details how this engineering marvel was brought to fruition.”
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Shelf Awareness)
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