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Rating: 
Summary: An informative look at the history and meaning of flags
Review: The first two-page spread of this Eyewitness book on "Flags" covers the anatomy of a flag and will probably tell you more about flags than you have managed to learn in the past. I learned that military flags are traditionally square, as are heraldic banners, that flags are divided into four quarters called cantons, and the various ways of fastening flags to the staff. This volume is a photographic essay about flags that not only looks at the history of flags in general but of the flags of various (mostly European) nations. William Crampton goes back to the standards carried by the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, and Romans that predated the first true flag, the Roman vexillum. Young readers will also learn about such special flags as signal flags for ships and boats, flags for special festivals and sports, political flags, and coats of arms. Information is also provided about the meaning of shapes and colors on flags. The flags of all nations are providing in the back of the book organized by continents and arranged by colors and symbols so that you can see the strong points of commonality (a nice touch). As always, this Eyewitness DK book is a visual treat, in keeping with the goal of providing a mini-museum between the covers of a book. This means there are lots of nice little treats scattered throughout the book, from a handmade flag of resistance from Cameroon in the 1960s and a Norwegian cavalry standard to soldier's prayers written on a Japanese battle flag from World War II and the flags for every office and department at the time of the Russian Revolution. You will not find out as much about the flag of the United States as you will the flags of other nations around the world, but that seems a small price to pay in this informative photographic essay.
Rating:
Summary: An informative look at the history and meaning of flags
Review: The first two-page spread of this Eyewitness book on "Flags" covers the anatomy of a flag and will probably tell you more about flags than you have managed to learn in the past. I learned that military flags are traditionally square, as are heraldic banners, that flags are divided into four quarters called cantons, and the various ways of fastening flags to the staff. This volume is a photographic essay about flags that not only looks at the history of flags in general but of the flags of various (mostly European) nations. William Crampton goes back to the standards carried by the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, and Romans that predated the first true flag, the Roman vexillum. Young readers will also learn about such special flags as signal flags for ships and boats, flags for special festivals and sports, political flags, and coats of arms. Information is also provided about the meaning of shapes and colors on flags. The flags of all nations are providing in the back of the book organized by continents and arranged by colors and symbols so that you can see the strong points of commonality (a nice touch). As always, this Eyewitness DK book is a visual treat, in keeping with the goal of providing a mini-museum between the covers of a book. This means there are lots of nice little treats scattered throughout the book, from a handmade flag of resistance from Cameroon in the 1960s and a Norwegian cavalry standard to soldier's prayers written on a Japanese battle flag from World War II and the flags for every office and department at the time of the Russian Revolution. You will not find out as much about the flag of the United States as you will the flags of other nations around the world, but that seems a small price to pay in this informative photographic essay.
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