William the Conqueror - Abbott, Jacob

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Résumé :
American master storyteller Jacob Abbott's classic work on William the Conqueror tells the dramatic story of the Norman nobleman who conducted one of the most audacious invasions in European history and thereby wrote his name into the annals of history. Starting with the origins of the Norman people, this work explores-in typical easy-to-read Abbott style-the background and development of William's home and of his reign in Normandy. Also included are the stories of Matilda, Emma, and his son Robert's rebellion. The story then moves on to political developments in England, and how William became, along with two others, a claimant to the English throne. Determined to seize the kingdom of England for himself, William raised an army of mercenaries on the Continent, equipped an invasion fleet, and sailed across the English Channel in 1066. His subsequent victory at the Battle of Hastings, his seizure and consolidation of power as William I of England, and the writing of the famous Domesday Book, all form part of this enthralling story of European history....

Biographie:
died October 31, 1879, in Farmington, Maine) was a notable American children's author renowned for his literary contributions that left an enduring mark on young readers. As a prolific writer, Abbott's influence was far-reaching, captivating generations of children with his engaging stories. He hailed from a family deeply embedded in literary circles, including his sibling John Stevens Cabot Abbott. Abbott's literary legacy was paralleled by his role as a parent, having children such as Lyman Abbott, Edward Abbott, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, and Austin Abbott, who would continue his family's intellectual lineage. Abbott's impact extended beyond his immediate family, encompassing his grandchildren as well, among them Eleanor Hallowell Abbott and Lawrence Fraser Abbott. With a focus on crafting literature for young minds, Abbott's occupation as a children's author remains his most enduring achievement. His stories resonated with readers, offering valuable lessons through relatable characters and compelling narratives. Jacob Abbott's dedication to literature that both entertained and educated underscores his lasting influence on the realm of children's literature, earning him a cherished place in literary history....

Sommaire:
Jacob Abbott (1803-1879) was an American author, educator, minister, and writer of history and moral instruction for young readers. Born in Hallowell, Maine, he graduated from Bowdoin College and later studied at Andover Theological Seminary. Abbott worked as a teacher and school administrator before turning increasingly to writing, where he became one of the most prolific and widely read American authors of the nineteenth century.Abbott wrote hundreds of books, many of them intended for children, students, and family reading. His works combined clear prose, orderly structure, moral reflection, and a strong sense of narrative, making history and biography accessible to readers who might otherwise find the subjects remote or difficult. He is especially remembered for the Rollo books and for his long series of biographies of famous historical figures, including rulers, military leaders, explorers, and reformers.His historical biographies were designed less as specialist scholarship than as readable introductions to major figures and periods. In books such as Alfred the Great, Darius the Great, Cyrus the Great, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Hannibal, Abbott helped shape the way nineteenth-century American readers encountered world history and biography. His works remain of interest to homeschoolers, classical education programs, collectors of traditional juvenile history, and readers who value straightforward narrative history....