Book Review: Winter of the World

After several months of Christmas, wine, and good Jazz music I have finally finished book 2 of Ken Follett's Century Trilogy, Winter of the World. It is a continuation of the characters from book 1, this time with a focus on their children. Just as the story did in book 1, the characters in this book intersect with one another in the backdrop of World War II. It is a fictional account of romance drama and incredible historical cultural insight. I was very satisfied with this book and it has immersed me into a long winter phase of WWII appreciation (as you can probably tell from my posts of late).

The Premise

The story begins in 1933 at the start of Hitler's Third Reich. The streets of Germany are in total political upheaval, dominated by fascist bullying tactics. Maud and Walter (characters from book 1) are opposed to the rising Nazi party and support social democracy. However they do their best to remain neutral and raise their children in the changing country. Their daughter Carla is a righteous nurse, while their son Erik is a conformist Hitler youth who later joins the Nazi army.

Carla quickly finds herself disgusted by the Nazi policies, such as their discrimination to Jews and later their euthanasia programs on the sick and disabled. She does her best to secretly aid the resistance as well as the Soviet army throughout the story. Meanwhile her brother Erik assimilates to the Nazi regime as a proud young supporter however he also changes his attitude throughout the story.

Meanwhile on the British Isle, Lloyd Williams, the bastard son of Ethel and Earl Fitzherbert (characters from book 1) emerges as the new heroic idealist. Just like his mother Ethel and his father in law Bernie, he is very engaged in social liberal politics. He hates fascism so much that he voluntary chooses to fight against it in the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

Lloyd's heart is at first broken by an American woman named Daisy Peshkov, who is the daughter of the wealthy Russian mobster Lev Peshkov (the Russian-American immigrant from book 1). Daisy moves from Buffalo high society to English high society after being humiliated at a part. In England she quickly weds Boy Fitzherbert (the wealthy son of Earl Fitzherbert). At first Boy is a supporter of the English fascist party which makes Daisy a supporter, and this breaks Lloyd's heart.

While Boy enlists in the British army, Daisy drives ambulances during the British Blitz of 1941. However during the war their relationship goes through a whirlwind of scandal and infidelity. Daisy later meets Lloyd a second time while he is stationed at her estate and the two have an affair. She later intends to divorce her husband Boy to be with Lloyd. At first Boy is unwilling to grant the divorce yet he dies in a heroic plane crash and permits Lloyd to marry her.

The third story comes from the American perspective of Greg Peshkov (the bastard son of Lev Peshkov). Unlike his corrupt father however Greg pursues a righteous path, working for the government. He is able to land a job with Senator Gus Dewar and later works with a team on the development of the nuclear bomb. He falls for a black actress and has a kid with her. His story somewhat intersects with the two sons of Senator Dewar, Woody and Chuck who both serve in the American army. Woody loses his fiance at the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Chuck dies at a battle in the Pacific.

The fourth story comes from the Soviet perspective, of Vladimir Peshkov (the son of Lev Peshkov, who is raised by his uncle Grigori). Vladimir is a proud Soviet citizen who serves as spy for the Soviet KGB. He fights in the Spanish Civil War where he meets Lloyd and goes on several covert missions infiltrating Nazi Germany. He is eager to see the downfall of fascism yet later grows doubtful about communism. He falls for a beautiful scientist, named Zoya, who helps construct the Russian nuclear bomb.


The Characters

Carla von Ulrich: She is the righteous daughter of Maud and Walter, and shares her parents disgust for the Nazi regime. At first she does her duty for the government and serves as a nurse. However she quickly realizes the injustice done upon Jews, women, and the disabled. After the death of her father at the hands of a Gestapo officer she does her part to secretly expose and sabotage the Nazi government. She helps her mother seduce a German officer into bringing them war plans and handing them off to Soviet spies. She also plays a heroic role in saving children and less fortunate people throughout the story.

Erik von Ulrich: Unlike his courageous sister, Erik quickly supports the Nazi regime. A lot of this has to do with his young naive teenage ambitions to fit in, be strong, and be popular. He serves in the German army and is later captured in a battle. He later witnesses all the injustice done upon the Jews and prisoners of war and changes his fervor towards the Nazi party. However in a total turn of ideals he later supports the Communist party, which is just as extreme.

Thomas Macke: He is the Nazi arch villain of the story, a vicious Gestapo officer. He confronts the Von Ulrich family on several occasions concerning their political alignments. He threatens Walter's cousin for his homosexuality and kills his lover. He later kills Walter for his involvement in revealing the secret euthanasia programs.

Lloyd Williams: He is the heroic blue-collar protagonist of the story, in the likes of his uncle Billy from book one. He shares his mother's courage and desire to get involved in social politics that support the labor cause. He is not afraid of a fight, and often gets involved in protests, scuffles, and battles against the Fascist and Conservative coalitions. His romance with Daisy is the best part of the story.

Daisy Peshkov: This character goes thru quite a transformation throughout the story. She begins as somewhat of a sassy spoiled princess, as she flees from one romance to another. In England she quickly married for wealth and position as she is able to seduce Boy Fitzherbert. However she later finds that he is unfaithful to her and she begins a new independent lifestyle. At this point she falls for the working class soldier, Lloyd Williams and completely changes her ideals. She later marries Lloyd and helps him pursue his future career in politics.

Greg Peshkov: He is another righteous character who wants nothing to do with his father's corrupt business. However he still shares his father's bold, sharp personality as well as a hunger for love. He jumps from one romance to another, yet remains particularly devout to a black actress named Jacky, whom he sleeps with at a young age. He later discovers that he has a kid with Jacky and decides that he doesn't want the kid to be a bastard like he was.

Vladimir Peshkov: He is a proud Soviet citizen wanting to serve his country, just like his revolutionary uncle who raised him, Grigori. He overlaps with multiple characters in the story trying to infiltrate Fascist regimes. Similar to Lloyd's character he wants nothing more then to see the collapse of Fascism. However he later realizes that his Soviet government is just as bad. At the end he chooses a life of love and family.

Woody Dewar: He is the eldest son of Senator Gus Dewar and his wife and journalist, Rosa. They are stern liberal democrats and supporters of president Franklin D. Roosevelt. Woody shares his mother's passion for journalism and photography. He falls for a woman named Joanne, and they get engaged together, however she tragically dies at the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He later enlists in the army and serves as an officer during DDay. He later finds love again.

Chuck Dewar: He is the younger son of Gus and Rosa who enlists in the Navy. He secretly reveals to his brother Woody that he is a homosexual. He is stationed at Hawaii and has a secret relationship with a man named Eddie. He later dies for Eddie during at a battle in the Pacific.  

Historical Look: The Aftermath of WWII

The final post I'll do here on reviewing the topic of WWII is it's costly aftermath. After six years of total war Europe was in complete shambles, ruined from German aggression. The greatest matter at hand was the justice to be served on those whom had committed crimes against humanity. However there was also the question on how Germany was to be governed in the future. In the end the fate of Germany and most of Europe was decided thru the Marshall Plan which in essence divided Europe between two superpowers; the western Capitalist ideals of America, and the eastern Communist ideals of Russia. And this difference in political idealism would lead to 50 years of tension known as the Cold War.

The Postdam Conference

On August 2, 1945 the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom all met at the Potsdam Conference to establish post-war order, discuss peace treaties, and counter the effects of war. These efforts were lead by Josef Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Harry S. Truman. Churchill only oversaw parts of the conference as he was later replaced by Clement Attlee.

Germany was divided into four zones, with occupation by the Soviets, Americans, British, and French. They were also forced to de-Nazify which was a widespread process of demilitarization, democratization, decentralization, and decartelization (which essentially transitioned business away from cartels and back to the free market). Germany was also forced to pay for reparations especially for the damage it had caused the Soviet Union. 

A month after the fate of Europe was decided, the USA dropped atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshma killing thousands in an instant. This new super weapon caused Japan to quickly surrender and Truman declared VJ day. Japan was occupied by the USA, under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur until 1951. Meanwhile Korea was under the control of Soviet Union.

Nuremberg Trials

The Nuremberg Trials was a military tribunal that prosecuted the most prominent Nazi German leaders who were guilty of war crimes; most notably for the mass genocide that was the Holocaust. By this point after the war, many of Germany's key leaders had already committed suicide such as Adolf Hitler, Henrich Himmler, and Josef Goebbels. However there were still leaders that had been captured, such as Hitler's successor and commander of the Nazi Air Force, Hermann Goring. Most of these men were sentenced to death or committed suicide after the trials.  

The Tokyo War Crimes were held against Japan, most notably for their cruelty to prisoners and genocide such as the Nanking Massacre. The Nanking Massacre was a terrible genocide event that took place in February of 1938, where the Japanese had close to 300,000 Chinese civilians mass-murdered.

The United Nations

The Allies deliberated for some time  after the war dealing with treaties, sovereignty, trials, councils, and new international policies. They also established the United Nations as a means to maintain international peace and order. This replaced the lest effective League of Nations and this time the United States joined as it's key leading member. The United Nations still operates today headquartered in New York City.

Europe was left in ruins, with millions of homeless refugees and a collapsed economy. The Marshall Plan was put forth by a US Senator named George Marshall to revise the European economy. Meanwhile, Eastern and Central Europe was controlled by communism under heavy influence from the Soviet Union. The war brought an end to European Imperialism, and many Asian countries became independent from the British Empire, such as India and Pakistan. The European Union was founded in 1951 as a means to support each other’s economies.        

Soviet Union and the United States emerged from the war, as total super-powers, and soon began a Cold War against one another. Each fearing that the other was getting too powerful, it lasted for nearly 40 years, as Communism spread all throughout the west.

Historical Look: World War II

And now here is my study I wrote several years back when I first became fascinated with World War II. It was the greatest human conflict in world history, the bloodiest most darkest time there has ever been. It was a war to end all wars, a sheer demonstration of industrial, scientific and the utmost destructive of weaponry. Set in Europe it involved the entirely world and resulted in over 60 million deaths.. Even in this modern age of technology and political turmoil nothing has come close to the atrocities of WWII. Whenever I feel down or upset I think of how bad things were from the 1930 to 1945. It is truly one of the most interesting historical periods there has ever been.  

Germany Invasion of Poland

On the 1^st of September, 1939 Germany invaded Poland to win back its port-city of Danzig, and expand its land. Hitler managed to make a non-aggressive pact with Soviet Union to invade and divide the country of Poland. Once the invasion was successful, Germany annexed most of the country and sent the Polish citizens to Concentration and Extermination Camps. It is believed that close to 6 million Polish-Jews were killed in these extermination camps throughout the war. This Invasion of Poland was declared an act of aggression against the League of Nations who controlled the port city, and thus became an immediate cause for war immediately following the invasion, the United Kingdom, Australia, France and New Zealand all declared war on Germany and formed the Allied Powers.  

Following the invasion of Poland, the Soviet Union began moving its troops into the Baltic States such as, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland to establish military bases. They were thus expelled from the League of Nations for their act of aggression, yet not considered as serious a threat as Germany was. 

In Western Europe, British troops began to deploy and assemble in Europe, yet did not attack Germany in fear that the Soviet Union may join them. In April of 1940, Germany carried forth Operation Weser Exercise, an assault on Denmark and Norway, to take control of important Atlantic Ports. With control of these waters, the Nazis were able to construct U-boats to harass Allied shipping, and also secure shipments from Sweden. Denmark and Norway submitted to Germany control within two months, and soon Germany controlled a large sector of central Europe. The time had finally come for the Allied Powers to act, and their first move was electing a new British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

Invasion of France

Shortly after their successful takeover of Denmark and Norway, Germany pushed further west, by invading France, Netherlands, and Belgium. The Nazis easily overran Netherlands and Belgium through their lightning strike “Blitzkrieg” war-tactics. Meanwhile the French were able to hold strong, with the assistance of the British. Yet this all changed on June 10, when Italy declared war on France and the United Kingdom, and thus invaded France.

France had no choice but to surrender, and was then divided into German and Italian occupation zones. The Battle of France became a decisive Axis Victory. Britain moved quickly to destroy the remainder of the French Fleet, in order to prevent the fleet from falling in the hands of the German Navy. At this point, Britain was now practically alone in the fight against Germany and Italy.

Bombardment of Britain

The German Air Force then began an air-campaign to prepare for an invasion of Britain. The Battle of Britain was fought entirely by air-forces, and ended in the favor of the British Air Force. The Nazis were forced to abandon their campaign, and had to find other means to conquer Britain. With the help of Italian Navy, the Germans were able to continuously fight and pester the Royal Navy, with their U-Boats. The Battle of the Atlantic switched advantages back and forth and lasted all throughout the war. 
     

In the end of September 1940, Japan joined Italy and Germany in the signing of the Triparte Pact, and thus the Axis Powers were established. By November, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania all joined the Axis Powers.

In October of 1940, Italy invaded Greece, and were pushed back within days. Although it was considered a stalemate, the battle was a tactical victory for the Greeks. Shortly after this battle, the Commonwealth of Nations was able to launch offensives against the Italian African Zones, and push the Italians to near defeat, until the Germans came to their aid. In the Battle of Crete, the Germans were able to push back and overwhelm the British and Commonwealth forces, through airborne operations consisting of paratroopers. Germany had conquered the island of Greece by the end of May.

Operation Barbarossa

On June 22, 1941 Nazi Germany commenced with Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union. With a combined force of over 4.5 million troops, Hitler wanted to eliminate the threat of communism, and generate more living space. By accomplishing this, they would have access to plentiful of resources, to deal with their remaining rivals. The Battle of Kiev was an important early victory for the Germans, who managed to encircle the city, and capture thousands of Red Army soldiers. By October the Axis Powers had gained control of the Baltic region and Ukraine, and pushed onward to Moscow.  

The British came to the aid of the Soviet Union, by invading Iran to secure its oil fields and ensure supply lines for the Red Army. The commonwealth force then carried out Operation Crusader, to win back the deserts, and push the Italian and Germans out.

In the cold winters of 1941, the Soviets were able to hold the Germans back, and after new reinforcements, were able to mount a major counter-offensive against them.            

On Germany’s Eastern Front, the Nazis had managed to stop the Soviet offensives, and once again mounted another offensive, called Case Blue. This lead to The Battle of Stalingrad, which was not only the bloodiest battle of the war, but the bloodiest battle of human history. The Nazi army stormed into the city, where they had no regards for civilians. The battle turned into a bitter street fight and lasted for several months. The Nazis were eventually trapped and defeated by the Soviet Army. The Battle became the turning point of the war, with combined causalities over 1.5 million people. Following this battle, the Red Army mounted its second major counter-offensive.

Japanese Aggression

Meanwhile Japan also was on the rise to power, as made many demands, mostly for oil. They captured the island of Indochina to better their strategic position. The United States responded to this, by enacting an oil embargo on the country which infuriated Japan. On December 7, 1941 they began simultaneous offensives on the United States, British, and Dutch naval bases. This included an attack on Pearl Harbor, which would caused president Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare war on Japan and Germany.

By the end of April 1942, Japan had almost fully conquered Burma, Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, and Dutch East Indies and had naval bases all throughout the Pacific Ocean.  

The Americans were able to intercept many of the Japanese naval codes, and became aware of many of their plans. The Japanese intended to establish a Greater East Asia, with total control of the Pacific, and free from the Western Powers. In the Battle of Midway, the American army capitalized on their code breaking by intercepting Japanese plans to attack the island of Midway.  The Americans were prepared for the assault, and were able to defeat the Japanese Army, thus giving them the strategic initiative.

The Japanese continued to launch major offensives all throughout Asia and the Pacific. They managed to besiege British positions in India, during Operation U-Go. They also began a campaign against China, known as Operation Ichi-Go, where they hoped to not only destroy China’s fighting force, but also secure railways and important airfields. While the Japanese Army pushed westward, they began to lose grip of their hold on the Pacific. 

The Fall of Italy

On the Western front, heavy fighting was taking place in Northern Africa, where the Axis powers had gained heavy control. The Germans and Italians had already spread throughout countries like Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The Axis powers wanted to expand their territory and control the Suez Canal and the Middle Eastern oil fields. The Allies lead an attack to push them out of Egypt, in the Second Battle of El Alamein. It marked a very important defeat for the Axis Powers and brought an end to their African Expansion. 

On the night of July 9, 1943 the Allies invaded Sicily, Italy in a campaign known as Operation Husky. It was a large scale water and airborne operation that later led to land combat. The Allies were able to defeat the Axis powers, and capture Benito Mussolini. Though he was later saved by a daring German rescue known as the Gran Sasso Raid, where paratroopers managed to infiltrate the camp, and fly him out of Italy. Mussolini then returned to power in Italy, yet it was not long, until the Allied forces were able to capture Rome and defeat the Italian Army.  

Operation Overlord

On June 6^th, 1944 the Allied Forces invaded Normandy, France. This important operation was led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and consisted of close to 1 million American soldiers. The operation consisted of boat and plane landings on the German dominated beaches. The Operation was conducted in several phases, yet the 1^st part known as D-Day was the most important. The main objective of D-Day was for the Allies to win the Omaha beach from the Nazis, so as to allow more Allied ships and planes to land from Britain. Once the Allies had won the island, they established the French beach as a military harbor to move in on Germany from the west. The Nazis were eventually driven out of the country, and France was finally liberated in August.  D-Day has become a defining symbol of the war, and marked the collapse of the Axis Powers. 

As the Western Allies moved in on Germany from the west, their east was also being pushed back by the Red Army. During Operation Bagration, the Soviets managed to push the Nazi forces out of Belarus and Poland. The operation resulted in the almost complete destruction of the German Army.

In the Pacific, the American forces had also managed to narrow the Japanese’ perimeter. In June of 1944, they began an offensive operation in the Mariana and Palau Islands and were thus able to land in the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur led a successful invasion of the island of Leyte, in the Philippines. The Battle of Leyte Gulf is considered to be the largest naval battle in history. Although the Japanese were completely overwhelmed, they used shrew tactics such as Kamikazes, to bring havoc to the American army.  Once the battle was over, the American army was able to bring liberation to the Philippines after three years of Japanese control.

The Fall of Germany

On December 16, 1944 Germany launched one last major offensive in Belgium, known as The Battle of the Bulge. Hitler had hoped to split the British and American line in half, capture Antwerp Belgium and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in his favor. The Germans managed to achieve complete surprise on the Allied Forces. It took the Allies six weeks to repulse the attack, and eventually move onward into Italy. The Western Allies attacked the German forces in Italy, which eventually lead to their surrender on May 2, 1945. Mussolini was eventually captured and overthrown by the Italian government. He was later executed on April 28^th during the Allies invasion of the country. His body was hung upside down in a plaza for all to see as a symbol to discourage Fascism.

The Soviets had now advanced through East Prussia, Poland, and Vienna. In April 25^th, 1945 they stormed Berlin, in the extremely bloody Battle of Berlin. The Soviets had managed to encircle the city, and move toward its center. This was the Nazis final stance, where Hitler and many of his other high officers committed suicide. The raising of the Soviet Flag on the Reichstag became the defining symbol of Germany’s defeat.

Fall of Japan

In the Pacific, the American forces had also managed to narrow the Japanese’ perimeter. In June of 1944, they began an offensive operation in the Mariana and Palau Islands and were thus able to land in the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur led a successful invasion of the island of Leyte, in the Philippines. The Battle of Leyte Gulf is considered to be the largest naval battle in history. Although the Japanese were completely overwhelmed, they used shrew tactics such as Kamikazes, to bring havoc to the American army.  Once the battle was over, the American army was able to bring liberation to the Philippines after three years of Japanese control.

On April 12, 1945 American President Roosevelt died and was succeeded by Harry S. Truman. Truman carried forth where FDR had left off, and America now put their focus on Japan. While British and Chinese forces won back Burma, the American forces continued through the Pacific islands. The Battle of Luzon led to the unconditional surrender of Japan, yet fighting carried on beyond the Philippines islands. The Americans were now ready to move in on Japan and did so by winning the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. American bombers then destroyed Japanese cities and cut off their imports. At this point the Allies began working on some agreements to end the war, yet the Japanese did not like the terms.

On August 6^th and August 9^th of 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They did this in hopes to bring an instant end to the war, and also display their power to the world. The bombs killed a grand total of 320,000 Japanese civilians in a matter of seconds. To make matters worse for the Japanese, the Soviets declared war on them, and invaded the Japanese-held country of Manchuria. On August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered to the Allied Powers, and WW2 was finally over.

Historical Look: The Great Depression

After several months, I have finally finished book two of Ken Follet's history trilogy, "Winter of the World". I found the book to be just as good as the first one, full of great historical insight. It is set about fifteen years after WWI during the midst of the Great Depression and the Rise of the Third Reich.  I will soon have a review on the book, yet first I wanted to jump into some of these historical settings. I have already written about the Spanish Civil War, Rise of Fascist Italy, and the Rise of the Third Reich. So I'm going to post on different topics including the Great Depression, World War II, and the Aftermath of WWII.


The Stock Market Crash of 1929

Beginning with the American Stock Market Crash of 1929, the world entered a period of serious economic downturn that lasted nearly a decade. There were many causes that led to this depression, yet most had to do with the economic boom of the 1920s. Other explanations are deflation in asset prices, dramatic drops in credit, and disruption of trade. President Herbert Hoover received much of the blame for letting the economy slip so badly. The early 1930s marked a time of high unemployment, low profits, poverty, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and loss opportunities for economic growth. The city streets turned into slums of homeless people, which became known as Hooverville, in honor of Herbert Hoover. The crisis eventually spread beyond the United States and into the global market of almost every country.

The New Deal

 In 1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president of the United States. By 1933 he constructed a policy to recover the economy, called The New Deal. The First New Deal was enacted to provide short-term recovery, from 1933-1935. This dealt with banking reform laws, emergency relief programs, work relief programs, agriculture programs, industrial reform, most notably the National Recovery Administration (NRA), and the end of the Prohibition.

The Second New Deal carried on from 1935-1938 and included labor union support, the Works Progressive Administration (WPA), Social Security, and programs to aid farmers. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, was the last major program passed, which set maximum hours and minimum wages for workers.

The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was a period of severe dust storms that spread throughout much of the American and Canadian prairies and farms, damaging a good portion of the agriculture industry. For nearly 6 years these storms led to draughts that stopped crop rotation and sent thousands of farmers out of work. It also left more than 500,000 people homeless in states like Texas, Oklahoma, and throughout the Great Plains.

Onset of World War II 

Things got better for a while, until The Recession of 1937 hit the economy, causing high rises once again in unemployment. The Recession lead to strong opposition against the New Deal, claiming that it had done nothing, and spent far too much of the Federal budget. This eventually strengthened the Conservative Coalition, who were eventually able to stop Roosevelt from spending more money on his New Deal. The Conservative Coalition managed to shut down most of the New Deal programs during World War 2, and end his business regulations in the years to come.  

In the end it was the massive rearmament policies to counter the threat of Nazi Germany that saved most countries from the Depression. Once World War II began in 1939, the United States managed to double its Gross Domestic Product, due to a high demand for war spending. Once soldiers were sent off to war, companies and factories grew desperate for workers to continue weapon production. The war effort got things moving again, and afterwards the economic crisis was over and the economy was back on track.  

Art: Top 10 Monumental Statues

The final study I'll do pertaining to monumental architecture is a list of the most iconic statues. While sculpting is a whole different artform than architecture, it still shares the basic principles which is constructing a physical structure. Many of the most iconic sculptures actually had to incorporate architectural designs for their foundations and such. The sculptures on this list are all behemoths, large in size and significance. They are cultural monuments, that serve as symbols of the people's past and their present. (Just as I excluded the Eiffel Tower from my favorite towers list, I'm going to exclude the Moai and The Christ the Redeemer statues from this list since they are already included in my favorite wonders list. For the record the Christ the Redeemer statue would be my all time favorite statue).

My Top Ten Favorite Monumental Statues



10. The Thinker

Sculptor: Auguste Rodin
Year Constructed: 1880
Location: Paris, France
Material: Bronze Sculpture
Size: 6 feet high
Significance: Rodin's famous thinker sculpture of a nude man sitting with his chin on his hand has become one of the most replicated statues of all time. It was originally built as a part of a statue Rodin sculpted known as the Gates of Hell which was a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy. The thinker in the statue was meant to represent an artist who could either be seen as Dante looking down upon those in the inferno, or Rodin himself considering his work. Other interpretations is that it is Adam reflecting upon his sin that has doomed mankind. From this statue, the thinker became it's own statue, usually sitting on some form of pedestal. There are currently about 28 life size monuments of Rodin's iconic Thinker statue.


9. Spring Temple Buddha

Sculptor:
Year Constructed: 2009
Location: Leshan County, Henan, China
Material: Gold and copper alloy
Size: 420 feet
Significance: It is the tallest monumental statue in the world, built as a homage the Buddhist God. It is still somewhat of a modern undiscovered wonder, since it is 2 hours away from the nearest town in China. However considering the sheer size of this behemoth statue, it can be seen from miles away. The statue is a part of the sacred area known as the Fodushan Scenic Area which consists of the ancient Foquan Temple and the Bell of Good Luck.. Standing on top of it's pedestal among a green valley this glimmering Spring Temple Buddha is a true sight to behold.

8. Pieta

Sculptor: Michelangelo
Year Constructed: 1499
Location: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Material: Cararra Marble
Size: 5.7 feet high, 6.4 ft wide
Significance: It is one of the most famous classical sculptures of the Italian Renaissance. It depicts the Mother Mary carrying her son Jesus after the Crucifixion. The detail on the statue is incredible as it incorporates a groundbreaking style of realism. This status is one of Michelangelo's greatest works and sits at St. Peter's Basilica.


7. Mount Rushmure

Sculptor: Gutzon Borglum and Lincoln Borglum
Year Constructed: 1927-1941
Location: Pennington County, South Dakota
Material: Granite rock
Size: 60 feet
Significance: It is an American landmark, located in the Black Hill mountains of South Dakota. Carved out of the mountain are four giants faces depicting some of America's finest presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The statue took 14 years to complete and is the main attraction of a national park.


6. Venus de Milo

Sculptor: Alexandros of Antioch
Year Constructed: 130-100 BC
Location: Built in Greece; Housed in the Louvre Museum of Paris
Material: Marble
Size: 6'8 feet high
Significance: It is one of most famous works of ancient Greek culture, believed to have been sculpted in 130 BC by Alexandros of Antioch. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. The statue was discovered with it's arm's missing in 1820 among ancient ruins. It was quickly identified as a masterpiece of Greek art and enshrined in the greatest of art museums.


5. Abraham Lincoln

Sculptor: Daniel Chester French

Year Constructed: 1920
Location: Washington, DC
Material: Georgia Marble
Size: 30 feet high
Significance: It is the center piece statue of a memorial building in Washington DC to honor the great President Lincoln. The statue is of white marble and carved with impeccable detail of the president. What makes it even more unique is the building of which it is enclosed in, The Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is a classical structure of great white pillars and steps, mounted on a hill. It is a fitting home for this monumental statue which encapsulates the classical theme of Washington DC.

4. Great Sphinx of Giza

Built By: The Ancient Egyptians during the Reign of Pharaoh Khafre
Year Constructed: 2558-2532 BC
Location: Giza, Egypt
Material: Limestone
Size: 66.3 feet high, 238 feet long
Significance: Along with the Great Pyramids it is one of the oldest man-made structures still standing. The statue represents a mythical creature with the head of a man and a body of a lion. This regal statue is believed to have been commissioned by the Pharaoh Khafre and his own personal monument. It is one of the most famous icons of the historic Egyptian culture.


3. The Motherland Calls

Sculptor: Yevgeny Vuchetich
Year Constructed: 1967
Location: Volgograd, Russia
Material: Stone, Concrete
Size: 279 feet
Significance: Built in 1967 it was once the tallest statue in the world, not standing on a pedestal. The statue depicts a glorious female warrior, dressed in robes, leading a charge with a sword in one hand while her other hand gestures others to follow her. The statue was built as a commemoration to the lives lost at the Battle of Stalingrad one of the bloodiest battles in WWII. It has become an iconic statue of Russian culture and heritage.


2. Statue of Liberty

Sculptor: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel

Year Constructed: 1886
Location: New York City, New York (Built in France)
Material: Copper
Size: 305 feet (151 ft statue, 154 ft pedestal)
Significance: It is the most famous monumental statue in the world overlooking the New York City Harbor. The statue was actually dedicated as a gift from France to the United States. The architecture was designed by Gustave Eiffel (the same guy who designed the Eiffel tower) and sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It depicts the Roman goddess Libertas, a robbed female carrying a torch in one hand and a tablet of laws in the other hand. She also wears a crown which serves as a lookout point for people who climb the stairs to the top. The statue has an iconic green color and in the nighttime the torch is light. I have actually seen this statue in person and was quite impressed by it. It is one of the most iconic symbols of American culture, freedom, and liberty.


1. David

Sculptor: Michelangelo
Year Constructed: 1501
Location: Florence, Italy (Galleria dell' Academia)
Material: Marble
Size: 17 feet
Significance: It is in my opinion the most famous and masterful statue of all time. It is one of the most iconic artworks of the Italian Renaissance as it represents complete liberty with it's detail. The statue depicts the biblical hero of David carrying his sling that defeated the giant Goliath. David is perhaps one of the most romantic and heroic characters in the bible. He was a soldier who became a king of the Isralites. He was known for his courage, strength, wisdom, leadership, poetry, music, and so much more. This statue leaves nothing to the imagination as it displays David in all his glory. It was first built to stand outside the Cathedral of Florence, however was positioned in a central plaza in Florence. In 1873 the statue was moved to the Galleria dell' Academia in Florence to conserve the masterful statue in a museum.  It is Michelangelo's greatest work of art, above his Last Judgement painting and Pieta statue, and the most iconic statues of all time.

Architecture: Top 10 Baseball Stadiums

Baseball stadiums are some of the most classic sports venues still in use. Considering that the game of baseball was once a nations past-time these stadiums are filled with such immense history. Stadiums such as Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are some of the oldest stadiums still in use today. They're structure is quite different than the square shaped fields and buildings we see for football, soccer, and even basketball. Instead these stadiums are built to incorporate the distinctive baseball diamond shape. As a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and the game of baseball I have actually been to quite a few Major League stadiums, and still have a few I want to visit sometime in my life. One of my favorite standards for a great baseball park is the general view. So here is the list of my top ten favorite and most iconic baseball stadiums.  

My Top Ten Favorite Baseball Stadiums


10. Coors Field

Location: Denver, Colorado
Tenants: Colorado Rockies
Year Constructed: 1992
Capacity: 50,398
Architect: HOK Sport
Significance: It's one of the newest franchises I'll have on this list, since I myself prefer the old school baseball teams, however I've actually been to this one and can say it was quite the experience. The stadium opened in 1992 with the start of the Rockies franchise, and I went with my family on our visit to Denver, CO. I remember the most striking part about the stadium is the rare view of the mountains surrounding the ballpark and the skyline of downtown Denver.


9. Kauffman Stadium

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Tenants: Kansas City Royals
Year Constructed: 1973
Capacity: 37,903
Architect: Kivett and Myers
Significance: It is the sixth oldest stadium in the MLB and yet it is still one of the most modern as a specifically baseball stadium. It is also one of the few stadiums that are named after a person and not a corporation. It is named after Ewing Kauffman the founder of the Kansas City Royals. Since their inception in 1969, the Royals have brought their fans two World Series championships to be witnessed at Kauffman Stadium. I have seen these stadium once from the outside on a visit to see my cousin a few years ago.


8. Yankee Stadium

Location: New York City, New York
Tenants: New York Yankees
Year Constructed: 2009
Capacity: 49,638
Architect: Populous (HOK)
Nicknames: The House that George Built, The House that Jeter Built
Significance: It is actually the second stadium named Yankee Stadium, built as an exact replica of the legendary house that Babe Ruth built. The greatest appeal of this stadium is simply that it is home to the most successful baseball team in history. However it doesn't quite have the same old school feel that it's predecessor did. I was fortunate enough to experience a game at the 1st Yankee Stadium in 2005 with my family before it was torn down and replaced. On it's opening season, the new stadium saw the Yankees win their 27th championship lead by the great Derek Jeter.


7. Dodger Stadium

Location: Los Angeles, California

Tenants: Los Angeles Dodgers
Year Constructed: 1959
Capacity: 56,000
Architect: Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury
Nicknames: Chavez-Ravine, Blue Heaven on Earth
Significance: It is the 3rd oldest baseball stadium still in use home to the historic Los Angeles Dodgers. It;s greatest flaw is that the stadium has it's back turned on the skyline, unlike most others in this list which use the skyline as a backdrop. Nonetheless there are mountains, palm trees, and Californian weather to make up for that. Since the Dodgers moved to this ballpark from Brooklyn, they have added four more World Series titles to their franchise.


6. Camden Yards

Location: Baltimore, MD
Tenants: Baltimore Orioles
Year Constructed: 1992
Capacity: 48,876
Architect: Populous
Nicknames: The House that Cal Built, Birdland, The Yard
Significance: It is a modern day retro stadium with it's iconic B&O warehouse included as a part of the stadium in right field. It also has an incredible view of downtown Baltimore. The house is  best known for it's superstar shortstop Cal Ripken, who broke the record in 1995 for the most consecutive games played. The Baltimore Orioles have won 3 world series, yet none since they moved from Memorial Stadium to Camden Yards in 1992. I have yet to see this stadium nor the city of Baltimore however it's my understanding that it is a true gem of the MLB.


5. Busch Stadium

Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Tenants: St. Louis, Cardinals
Year Constructed: 2006
Capacity: 43,975
Architect: Populous (HOK)
Significance: It is the 3rd version of Busch Stadium home of one of baseball's most successful teams, the St. Louis Cardinals. It is located at the heart of the city and has an incredible view of the skyline and the iconic Gateway Arch. Upon it's opening in 2006 the Cardinals treated their fans to their 10th franchise World Series. Five years in later they would bring home their 11th world series title. The stadium is iconic mostly because of the team that inhabits it, as well as the great view it provides. I have driven past this stadium once and can say that besides the scenic Arch it is probably the best thing that St. Louis has going for it.
 

4. PNC Park

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Tenants: Pittsburgh Pirates
Year Constructed: 2001
Capacity: 37,898
Architect: Populous (HOK)
Significance: This home of the historic Pittsburgh Pirates offers arguably one of the best downtown views in the Major Leagues. Beyond the outfield walls lies an impeccable view of the Allegheny River, the yellow Roberto Clemente Bridge, and the skyline of downtown Pittsburgh. Add to this an incredible atmosphere with a passionate fanbase makes this ballpark one of the best in the nation. The Pirates have 5 World Series titles however have not won it all since 1979. This stadium is definitely on my bucket list to experience.



3. AT&T Park

Location: San Francisco, CATenants: San Francisco Giants
Year Constructed: 2000
Capacity: 41,915
Architect: Populous (HOK)
Significance: It is one of the most modern, breathtaking stadiums in the major leagues. It offers a magnificent view of  the San Francisco Bay as well as the skyline from the 1st base upper deck side. I was very fortunate to catch a game here in 2008 with my cousin in the 4th row of the lower deck. Coincidentally enough the Giants were playing the Cubs that day. It was an incredible heavenly experience much thanks to the view. Since it's construction the Giants have added three more World Series championships to their historic legacy.


2. Wrigley Field

Location: Chicago, IL
Tenants: Chicago Cubs
Year Constructed: 1914
Capacity: 41,268
Architect: Zachary Taylor Davis
Nicknames: The Friendly Confines
Significance: It is the 2nd oldest Major League ballpark still in use, and home to one of my all time favorite sports teams. I've actually been to this stadium at least over 10 times and often say the experience is like heaven on earth. Some of it's most iconic features are it's green ivy wall, it's scoreboard, it's red marquee sign, and the rooftops in outfield. It is also loaded with famous folklore such as Babe Ruth pointing his shot and the Billy Goat curse. The stadium is actually located in a neighborhood rather than a downtown city. The people there are all extremely friendly and perhaps inspired by the summer wind coming off of Lake Michigan, or maybe it's just the rich history that is located within the stadium. For over 100 years it has been a history of losing, and yet the fanbase has remained more loyal than ever thanks to it's positive Wrigley environment. Well just last year the Chicago Cubs fanbase were finally able to taste glory and bring a long overdue trophy back to Wrigley. This stadium is the heart of Chicago and one of the most iconic franchises in sports.


1. Fenway Park

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Tenants: Boston Red Sox
Year Constructed: 1912
Capacity: 37,497
Architect: James McLaughlin
Nicknames: America's Most Beloved Park, The Cathedral
Significance: It is the oldest Major League ballpark still in use, and along with Wrigley Field it is the most historic and iconic. I chose this stadium as number 1 over Wrigley only because it has been home to more legendary players, including the great Babe Ruth. Some of it's most iconic features include the Green Monster wall, Pesky's Foul Pole, and the Lone Red Seat which marks the longest ever home run hit at Fenway Park by Ted Williams. Just like Wrigley Field, the stadium has its high share of legendary folklore, most notably the Curse of the Bambino, which saw the Red Sox go on a nearly 90 year drought without a championship. However in 2004 the Red Sox returned to glory when they finally brought an end to the drought to win the series. Few years later they won two more championships and thus had furthered their legacy. I have only seen this stadium from a far yet it is most definitely on my bucket list. Fenway represents not only one of the most iconic franchises in the world yet also a nation's most beloved past time.