The 4,000-year history of the city of Jerusalem is revealed through an exceptional illustrated narrative that touches on the birth of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, as well as famous conquerors, powerful empires, and more. This captivating and objective 256-page graphic novel, written by the renowned historian Vincent Lemire and illustrated by cartoonist and filmmaker Christophe Gvolatile, is an excellent choice for the classroom and for anyone wanting to explore the fascinating history of Jerusalem.

The history of Jerusalem is, in many cases, the history of the development of Western civilization—religions were born on its streets, famous conquerors besieged it, and great empires clashed over it. Four thousand years ago, Jerusalem was a small, isolated village situated on a ridge between the Mediterranean and the desert. Today, it is a bustling metropolis with nearly a million inhabitants, attracting visitors from around the world.

As the cradle of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — the three major monotheistic religions — and as a spiritual capital for more than half of humanity, Jerusalem’s history offers a unique perspective on the stories of these different religious identities. Readers will encounter Abraham, King Herod, Empress Helena (mother of Constantine the Great), Queen Melisende of Jerusalem, Saladin, Suleiman bin Abdul-Malik bin Marwan, General Edmund Allenby, Palestinian nationalist Abdul-Qadir al-Husayni, former mayor Tedi Collie, and many other notable figures who helped shape Jerusalem’s history.

But many hands are needed to build a city, and the history of Jerusalem is the history of its residents living large and small lives within its walls. As Lemire and Gvolatile guide us through the lives of Jerusalem’s most famous inhabitants, they also introduce us to people, priests, artisans, architects, and residents who have built Jerusalem’s history over the past five thousand years.

Pages: 256, Year of Publication: 0619, Dimensions: 21x21cm