My thanks NetGalley and Abrams ComicArts for this graphic novel history that looks at a city that has always been in the midst of interesting times, from religion, to architecture, empires and olive trees, and key points in history.

I don't remember why I started reading history books, I know I was young and I think the books just looked cool, being about World War II. I don't remember the titles, but I remember there was a huge difference between the books. One was very jingoistic, very rah rah the flag, and dying for a cause. The other took me longer to read, but I remember learning about things that school had never mentioned, and even how worse war actually was. And the Holocaust. I became more interested in not just the dull reciteing of facts that was history in American schools, but the why did history happen. What was going on that made this incident, what lead up to this. More than just history, but religion, wellness, morale, philosophy. I also picked up at an early age there was a lot to know. A lot more than I would be capable of finding out, retaining, or understanding. One can't understand the world without understanding history, but history is so vast, so full of humans being humans, that it is hard to get a grasp. That is why I enjoyed this graphic novel so much, and feel that that sequential storytelling works well with nonfiction subjects. One can see a city be built, see the buildings, the olive trees, the people, and the horrors of war, and see the impact, not just read it. And of course learn something. The History of Jerusalem: An Illustrated Story of 4,000 Years is written by Vincent Lemire, and illustrated by Christophe Gaultier, adapted from Lemire's own book history of Jerusalem from its founding, destruction, rebirth, more destruction and rebuilding up to the present day.

The book starts with a word from the narrator of the graphic novel, an olive tree that has lasted as long as Jerusalem and tells the story from the beginning. Readers are introduced to the area, the stories that are told, as well as the recorded history. Much of this will be familiar if one has a religious leaning, but the inclusion of point of view featuring Judaism, Islam and Christianity, all told equally from good and bad actions is quite interesting. There is much about sieges, much about occupations, Romans, Persians, Christians, Saladin, and more. And there is much about the bloodshed for the city. There are sections highlighting the religious sites, and the many cisterns and aqua ducts that are really fascinating.

The story is told well, and really is a comprehensive look, with a bibliography of others books to follow up on if one wishes to know more. I am sure people will have problems with this book, it's the way of the world now, but I really learned quite a bit, and was surprised at how much history, and how much learning they could put into this book. The narrative never drags, and I never got lost, even with the cast of hundreds that appear in the book. Again the amount of information, religion, architecture, merchants, arts, even information on olives was quite good, and sent me down a rabbit hole of looking things up, and finding more books to read. The art is quite good, never setting on easy. The buildings when discussed look wonderful, the people all seem different and of their times, and when needed the art conveys a lot of emotion, especially sadness at all the blood that has been spilled.

For readers who like nonfiction graphic novels, graphic novels where they learn things, or for people who want to know more, but don't know where to start. This is a vey good start, and again has a good bibliography for those that want to know more, and and to understand why things happen in the modern world, and why we can't seem to let go of the past.