Julia Mogan Built a Castle
by Celeste Davidson Mannis
Bibliography
Mannis, C. (2006). Julia built a castle. New York: Viking. ISBN 0-670-05964-1
Summary
The book describes the life of Julia Morgan; her dream of becoming an architect; and the accomplishments of her life. Julia was the only woman in her engineering class at Berkeley; where she learned how buildings were constructed and why. She longed to study at the greatest school of architecture in Paris because she believed that building should be beautiful. After many years and great persistence, she became the first woman in history of the E’cole des Beaux Arts to receive a certificate in architecture. Julia completed over 450 projects but one of the most amazing was designing the San Simeon Castle in California.
My Impression
I found this book surprisingly very interesting. It is a great inspiration to students and especially girls to pursue their dreams. The details of the castle are so incredible you can’t help but share them with a friend.
Reviews
The opening spread shows a youngster constructing a geometric sandcastle while the text quietly states: Julia Morgan loved to build. The book highlights other significant moments: young Julia visiting construction sites with her engineer father; being the only woman in her engineering class at UC Berkeley in the 1890s; her pride at receiving a certificate in architecture from Paris's École des Beaux-Arts; her return to San Francisco and early career. The last half of the book is devoted to the construction of William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon. Mannis points out that Morgan's creations are solidly built and noted for their enduring beauty… An inspiring tale and encouragement for someday builders. -- Teresa Pfeifer, School Library Journal
The lively narrative crystallizes the struggles against the gender bias Morgan encountered and brings the details of a large-scale building site to a child's level, such as the movie screenings that entertained the castle's live-in construction crew. The book's large format and Hyman's full-bleed paintings capture the grandeur of both Morgan's aspirations and the dramatic landscapes in which she worked. A concluding photo of the finished structure would have been nice, as would notes about the provenance of material in quotations, but the unsung heroine and the handsome, engaging presentation counterbalance these missteps. -- Jennifer Mattso, Booklist
Suggested Activities
Use this book when teaching career exploration and research; or as an introduction to research on famous American woman.
