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This is...

This is Rome

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Like the other Sasek classics, this is a facsimile edition of the original book. The brilliant, vibrant illustrations have been meticulously preserved, remaining true to his vision more than 40 years later. Facts have been updated for the 21st-century, appearing on a "This is . . . Today" page at the back of the book. These charming illustrations, coupled with Sasek's witty, playful narrative, make for a perfect souvenir that will delight both children and their parents, many of whom will remember the series from their own childhoods. This is Rome , first published in 1960, traces the history of Roman civilization to bring to life the Rome of the 60's. Sasek navigates Rome's busy, winding streets to visit such glorious historical landmarks as the statues of Michelangelo, Vatican City, the Pantheon, and the Fontana di Trevi-and to show us the eccentricities of modern Roman life, from its colorful trains, trams, and taxis to its chic espresso bars and pasta houses.

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

237 people want to read

About the author

Miroslav Sasek

32 books78 followers
Miroslav Sasek (born Miroslav Šašek) (1916-1980) was an author and illustrator from the Czech Republic. He is best known for a series of books for children titled This Is...

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5 stars
126 (49%)
4 stars
97 (37%)
3 stars
29 (11%)
2 stars
4 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Negin.
787 reviews147 followers
August 12, 2018
My daughter and I often joke that although we love visiting museums when we travel, one of our favorite parts are the gift shops. When we were in Rome recently, I came across this book at a museum gift shop. Although this is a children’s book and my children are now young adults, I took one look and knew that I just had to have it. I wish that I had known about this series earlier. I would love to have the entire series. Yes, they are children’s books, but adults can enjoy them also. The retro illustrations are such fun. The text is superb and quite informative. I just love this delightful book.

Profile Image for Ammie.
983 reviews
November 3, 2020
A little choppier than Venice, but Sasek is more about the experience. You feel like you're walking through a retro digital reality. Like Tron, but in color.
Profile Image for Jason Golomb.
288 reviews25 followers
February 27, 2012
"Once the capital of the Roman Empire, now the capital of Italy and the center of Catholic Christendom, Rome is the "eternal city" - where the old world and the new stand side by side."

M. Sasek's "This is Rome" is a beautiful picture book that will give readers of all ages a look at the wonders of this amazing city. Starting right from the beginning with the two baby brothers, Romulus and Remus, brought up by a motherly she-wolf on the Palantine Hill, Sasek's crisp descriptions blend seemlessly with his subdued watercolors to bring Rome, with it's ancient wonders, to life.

The watercolor style and some of the depictions of the "modern" Rome will appear dated to an adult eye, but the images of the city's landmarks remain true.

Sasek's tour ranges from the Forum, to the Pantheon, to the Vatican and everything in between.

If you're planning a trip to Italy, this is a perfect introduction for any pre-schooler. The drawings will help connect young children to the sites they may see.

Profile Image for Amy.
3,548 reviews33 followers
June 30, 2009
Apparently this author has written a whole series of books highlighting different cities, states, countries, etc. from around the world. I found this particular book at the BYU Museum of Art bookstore and gave it to my husband for father's day. I love the illustrations and informative but simple text. My children have seeing and learning about some of the places my husband and I have visited in Rome. Love these books! Would love the ENTIRE series!
Profile Image for Hana Kijonka.
12 reviews11 followers
February 3, 2016
Šaškovy knížky "To je ..." mám moc ráda. Jsou krásně ilustrované a zvídavé dětské a snad i dospělácké cestovatele mohou upozornit na to, co na výpravách po městech neminout. Těm, co nikam necetují navíc zpřítomní jejich atmosféru. Vzhledem k původnímu vydání v 60. letech jejich český překlad uvádí neaktuální skutečnosti na pravou míru (díky osvícenému Baobabu za jejich vydání!). A "Řím" má navíc tuze milý závěr. Vždyť přece všechny cesty vedou do Říma!
126 reviews2 followers
April 24, 2024
3.5 stars

Delightful watercolour illustrations which brighten the reader's mood. Naive and simple-looking yet with a distinct personal style. Landmarks are presented with correct perspectives and keep architectural detail highlights in black ink, giving monumental structures a sharp yet organic hand-drawn touch.

Gives the feeling of visiting the city of Rome as a tourist from 1960s would. There are other tourists present along with their guides. Cars in a myriad different sizes and shapes are fun. Other mundane ordinary elements make the city more relatable to contemporary readers. The text is simple, accessible and charming at the same time.

Hidden under this child-like apparent simplicity there are lovely analogies to be found. **Spoiler** there's a representation of the statues of Roman emperors and the following part show their modern counterparts. Not only same gestured but almost the same traits, albeit with a modern environment, clothing, context... I thought it was just brilliant!
33 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2011
Our family traveled to Rome when my son was three years old...eight years ago. Since he can't remember most of the things we saw and experienced, I'm always on the lookout for things that will jog his memory and will review some of the amazing experiences we had. I spotted this book in the gift shop of an art museum, and HAD to have it! Miroslav Sasek became famous for his children's travel books, particularly the whimsical artwork. This is a fun book to have to review all of the aspects of our trip to Rome.
Profile Image for Emily.
17 reviews
August 30, 2007
Miroslav Sasek's mid-century illustrations are dreamy and a perfect fit for a romantic city like Rome. He illustrated travel books like this for a bunch of cities. Paris is especially elegant--like pastel macaroons on grandma's plate.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
35 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2009
A book like this is serious eye candy to me. Just go look at it.
Profile Image for Teri.
1,361 reviews
May 22, 2012
Wonderfully illustrated book for all ages. Wish I had read it before my two trips to Roma! A quick and easy overview of points of interest in Rome.
Profile Image for Alice.
4,307 reviews36 followers
February 11, 2016
This is such a fun series! As I have said before, I am still amazed that most of the facts and details or still relative (50 something years later) I even learned a thing or too...
Profile Image for Helen.
525 reviews9 followers
February 28, 2024
I am anticipating my trip with students and parents from RRMS in March 2025. I will promote the trip and thought I would like to tie in a couple of books. This is a classic travel picture book from the 1960's. The pictures are whimsical. The tale is fun and quick to read. Though I have been to Rome twice last year, Rome remains such a mystery. The history goes so far back, with power and might and architecture. The Trevi Fountain is a must, but the Borghese Gardens remain at large yet. Though I have seen the Colosseum and the Vatican, it was only a few hours. There is still more to discover and this book points to some of the treasures still waiting for the eyes and the senses.

I will keep this in a special section marked TRAVEL.
Profile Image for Marcos Kopschitz.
382 reviews34 followers
May 19, 2017
Miroslav Sasek, artista tcheco, escreveu e ilustrou uma coleção de livros sobre grandes cidades, pensados como guias de viagem para crianças. Natural de Praga, mudou-se depois para Munique, na Alemanha, após a instalação do regime comunista na antiga Tchecoslováquia. De férias em Paris, criou o primeiro título, Isto é Paris , que apresentou a seu editor, Jefrey Simmons, em 1958. O segundo título foi Isto é Londres . Diz Simmons: “Sua divertida poesia, paralelamente a ilustrações brilhantes e encantadores, deu origem a uma série diferente de qualquer outra.”

De fato, as ilustrações são muito bonitas e expressivas, provavelmente em sua maior parte em aquarela, e bem detalhadas e fiéis. No caso de livros como este, sobre Roma, do finalzinho dos anos 1950, sendo uma cidade muito antiga, muitas coisas não mudaram, como o Coliseu ou a Basílica de São Pedro. Mas ainda se notará algo da época, como os veículos ou as roupas – o que também é muito interessante, é como uma visão do mundo de há cerca de 60 anos. Também é interessante lembrar que não havia, então, os guias espetacularmente ilustrados com centenas de fotografias coloridas como os de hoje, muito menos recursos como o Google Street View, de modo que um guia ilustrado como este exercia uma enorme atração, e não apenas para crianças. Mesmo hoje, continua uma belíssima obra.

Ao final, há algumas notas que atualizam informações que podem ter ficado antigas. A editora Cosac Naify chegou a publicar três livros, e talvez pretendesse continuar, mas ficou nesses. A série é bem mais extensa, mas os outros volumes só podem ser obtidos em edições estrangeiras.

A edição muito bem cuidada sob todos os aspectos é uma marca da Cosac Naify, importante casa que revolucionou o mercado editorial brasileiro. Infelizmente, anunciou o encerramento de suas atividades ao final de 2015. Então, os títulos tendem a se esgotar com o tempo e não serem reimpressos. Assim, é aconselhável adquiri-los enquanto estão disponíveis.

Referências

> Autor: Miroslav Sasek (1916 – 1980), texto e ilustrações
> Tradutor: Alípio Correia de Franca Neto, do original This is Rome
> Publicação original: 1959
> Publicação no Brasil: 2011, pela Cosac Naify
> Tamanho grande, aproximadamente 23 x 31 cm, em cores, capa dura

Alguns livros de Miroslav Sasek

Os três primeiros foram traduzidos para o português e publicados pela Cosac Naify. A maior parte dos outros, quase todos em inglês, pode ser adquirida na Amazon brasileira (em maio / 2016).

1. (2011) Isto é Paris
2. (2011) Isto é Nova York *** R
3. (2011) Isto é Roma *** R

4. This is London
5. This is Washington, D.C.
6. This is Hong Kong
7. This Is Edinburgh
8. This Is Venice
9. This is San Francisco
10. This Is Munich

11. This is Australia
12. This is Greece
13. This is Britain
14. This is Ireland
15. This is Israel
16. This is America: A National Treasury
17. This Is Texas
18. This is the United Nations
19. This Is Cape Kennedy
20. This Is the World: A Global Treasury

*** R – Livros já resenhados por mim. Para ler minha resenha, role a página do livro até que ela apareça.
Profile Image for Sara Budarz.
915 reviews39 followers
April 18, 2025
An adorable history of Rome - although so dense with information that it seems more fitting for older readers or adults than little kids.
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.3k reviews457 followers
March 3, 2020
Dit keer gaan we naar het Rome van 1965 en wat was het geweldig. Heerlijk om door de stad te reizen die ik ooit eens wil bezoeken. Ik zou het ook niet erg vinden om terug in de tijd te reizen om deze Rome van 1965 in het echt te zien. We zien allerlei gebouwen, lezen over belangrijke mensen, we reizen per scooter of metro naar plekken, we drinken lekkere wijn, en meer. Ik heb echt genoten van de prachtige illustraties en ik vind het jammer dat Miroslav Sasek er niet meer is, want ik had hem graag dit soort dingen in het echt willen zien tekenen. Te zien hoe het allemaal tot stand komt.

Wederom las het soms niet helemaal lekker, en als je weet dat al 2 boeken dus niet echt geweldig zijn vertaald, tja dan vraag je je toch bij elk nieuw boek af, wat is er nu weer veranderd? Wat is er nu weer verkeerd? Wederom de vertaling voegt dingen toe en haalt dingen weg. Ik heb eens gezocht naar de Engelse editie en gekeken wat er anders is. Zoals op pagina 47 wordt niks verteld over hoe de tuin heet en ook het plaatje eronder mist tekst. En ook op andere pagina's worden hele stukken belangrijke info weggelaten... Het is vigIle Urbano, niet Vigle urbano.... Er zijn nog een paar andere spellingsfouten.. Grappig hoe ze Ceasar the Dictator naar Caesar de veroveraar van Gallië heeft gemaakt.
Sorry, maar voor mij is een vertaling belangrijk. Het maakt of breekt het boek. Plus, als je vertaald hou het dan zo dicht mogelijk bij wat er staat. Een paar dingen toevoegen is OK als het maar correct is. Maar haal niet hele teksten weg. Ga geen cijfertjes uit je hoofd halen, doe goed je berekeningen als je van miles > kilometers moet.
Ik heb nog 3 van deze boeken over. Kijken wat Miroslav Sasek heeft getekend, de mensen die in de stad wonen, de bezienswaardigheden... en hopen dat misschien deze keer de vertaling WEL klopt.
Profile Image for Kay.
1,887 reviews14 followers
March 31, 2021
This one is extra fun because of all the history! I've only been to Rome once, so I don't know if there's anything outdated here, but since most of the book is antiquities (Classic art & architecture), I feel a bit safe saying it looks about the same today. ;)

There were sights I knew and was familiar with from my own trip to Rome, and there were sights I haven't yet seen but got to add to my virtual list after seeing them illustrated here.

Really fun book to read before or after a trip to Rome!
Profile Image for Manfred Moonlight Ackermann.
840 reviews3 followers
May 9, 2022
Tout d'abord, j'ai eu du mal à la sortir pour me plonger dans Rome.

Mais cela a pris tout son sens lors de la visite de la ville, où replonger dans ce livre est finalement un bonheur, on y reconnait les bâtiments les plus célèbres, mais d'autres également.

Et du coup, je vais voir les tomes consacrés aux autres villes, Paris et Londres, qui ont été réédités. Historique à plus d'un titre, et fun pour les enfants de voir une ville dans son ancienne version 😉
Profile Image for Lian.
80 reviews
April 13, 2018
Few compare to Sasek’s This Is series. The retro illustration, whimsical colour palette and enchanting text are Everything.
971 reviews17 followers
March 16, 2020
While a kids picture book (sent by my aunt in London years ago), this book tells the basic history and facts of Rome with vivid pictures and simple wording.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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