by Christine Miller & H. A. Guerber

From the Creation of the world through the fall of the Persian empire at the hands of Alexander the Great in 331 BC, The Story of the Ancient World retells as an engaging narrative the history of mankind’s beginning, the rise of the nations, and the story of the great ancient civilizations of the Sumerians, the Hebrews, the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians. Old Testament history is taken as authoritative, and the history of the other great ancient civilizations is also told, woven in and out of the Old Testament story at the proper places in the narrative.

As the story of the entire ancient world was never completely told in a single volume of Guerber’s histories, Christine Miller has taken Guerber’s The Story of the Chosen People and has included chapters relating the history of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians, and has woven them all together into a single, seamless narrative, carefully preserving Guerber’s own style. An extensive bibliography of sources is included. The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.

by H. A. Guerber

From the first inhabitants of Greece through its incorporation as a province of the Roman Empire in 196 BC, The Story of the Greeks retells as an engaging narrative the the history of Ancient Greece and the stories of its famous leaders and philosophers. In 115 lessons, we learn of the Trojan War, the Rise of Sparta, the Democracy of Athens, the Grecian-Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War, the Conquest of Alexander the Great, and much more. We meet the good and the just; the wicked and proud: Theseus, Achilles, Lycurgus, Draco, Solon, Leonidas, Pericles, Socrates, Dionysius, Demosthenes, to name just a few.

In her preface, Miss Guerber writes, “This elementary history of Greece is intended for supplementary reading or as a first history text-book for young pupils. It is therefore made up principally of stories about persons; for, while history proper is largely beyond the comprehension of children, they are able at an early age to understand and enjoy anecdotes of people, especially of those in the childhood of civilization. At the same time, these stories will give a clear idea of the most important events that have taken place in the ancient world, and, it is hoped, will arouse a desire to read further. They also aim to enforce the lessons of perseverence, courage, patriotism, and virtue that are taught by the noble lives described.” The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.

by H. A. Guerber

From the first settlers of Italy through the end of the Empire of the West in AD 476, The Story of the Romans retells as an engaging narrative the history of Ancient Rome and the stories of its famous leaders and citizens. In 102 lessons, we learn of the legend of Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, the seven kings of Rome, the rise of the Roman Republic, the Punic Wars, Caesar’s conquests, the Roman Empire, the Christianization of the Empire, and much more. We meet the good and the just; the wicked and proud: Tarquinius Superbus, Horatius, Coriolanus, Cincinnatus, Tiberius and Caius Gracchus, Archimedes, Cicero, Nero, and Constantine, to name just a few.

Miss Guerber relates in her preface her intention for The Story of the Romans. She writes, “The aim is not only to instruct, but to interest, school children, and to enable them, as it were in play, to gain a fair idea of the people and city of which they will hear so much. This book is also planned to serve as a general introduction to the study of Latin, which most pupils begin before they have had time to study history. With little, if any, knowledge of the people who spoke the language they are learning, children cannot be expected to take so lively an interest in the study as they would if they knew more.” The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.

by H. A. Guerber, Christine Miller, C. M. Yonge

From the first inhabitants of Europe through the end of the War of the Roses, The Story of the Middle Ages retells as an engaging narrative the history of medieval Europe and the stories of its famous kings, knights, and saints. In 147 lessons, we learn of the settling of Europe and its romanization, the coming and conversion of the barbarians, the Holy Roman Empire, feudalism and arms and armor, the Viking raids, the Crusades, and much, much more. We meet Christian martyrs and saints, the kings of France and England, the German Emperors, and the knights whose deeds of valor the bards made legendary. We meet the good and the just, the wicked and the proud: Saints Denis, Martin, Patrick, and Augustine, Attila the Hun, King Arthur, Charlemagne, Rollo the Viking, Otto the Great, William the Conqueror, Richard the Lion-Hearted, and Joan of Arc, to name just a few.

As the story of medieval Europe was never told in a single volume of Guerber’s histories, but rather piecemeal throughout several volumes, Christine Miller has taken those portions of The Story of Old France and The Story of the English by H. A. Guerber which do tell the story of the Middle Ages, and has woven them together into a single, seamless narrative, carefully preserving Guerber’s own style. Several chapters were also taken from Charlotte Yonge’s A Young Folk’s History of Germany, and The Story of the Christians and Moors of Spain. Where necessary, the chapters authored by C. M. Yonge were re-written in Guerber’s unique style to preserve the continuity and consistency of the narrative throughout. The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.

by H. A. Guerber, Christine Miller, C. M. Yonge

The Story of the Renaissance and Reformation focuses on the pivotal events of 15th and 16th century Europe, and picks up the narrative history where The Story of the Middle Ages leaves off. The cover painting used for this book is Rembrandt’s Philosopher Reading. But how did it come to be named Philosopher Reading? Rembrandt was Dutch and a devout Protestant at the time when the Dutch Reformation was in full swing, and in the 17th century when this was painted, how many people had great large books about philosophy like the one this old gentleman is reading? I think it is a Bible he is reading, and this painting reminded me of the new-found freedom everyday people had to read the Scriptures for themselves because of the progress of the Renaissance and Reformation.

As the story of Renaissance Europe was never told in a single volume of Guerber’s histories, but rather piecemeal throughout several volumes, Christine Miller has taken those portions of The Story of Old France and The Story of the English by H. A. Guerber which do tell the story of the Renaissance and Reformation, and has woven them together into a single, seamless narrative, carefully preserving Guerber’s own style. Other sources for additional material include Charlotte Yonge’s A Young Folk’s History of Germany, The Story of the Christians and Moors of Spain, and Frederic Seebohm's The Era of the Protestant Revolution, among others, and an extensive bibliography of sources is included. Where necessary, the chapters authored by C. M. Yonge and F. Seebohm have been re-written in Guerber’s unique style to preserve the continuity and consistency of the narrative throughout. The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.

by H. A. Guerber

From the first inhabitants of North America through the end of the American War of Independence in 1783, The Story of the Thirteen Colonies retells as an engaging narrative the history of the discovery, exploration, and settlement of North America, the founding and growth of thirteen English colonies along the Atlantic seaboard, the Colonial Wars between the French, English, and Indians; and the causes, events, and conclusion of the American War of Independence. In 84 lessons and 242 pages, we meet the Native Americans; the daring Spanish and French conquistadors, explorers, and missionaries; Dutch colonizers; English Separatists, Puritans, and settlers; and our courageous American heroes and statesmen. We meet the brave and the wise; the foolish and the proud: Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake, Father Hennepin, Captain John Smith, William Bradford, Cotton Mather, William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Benedict Arnold, to name just a few.

In her preface, Miss Guerber writes, “The aim has been not only to interest children in the great men of their own country, but to stimulate them to the cultivation of the lofty virtues of which they read, and to instill within their hearts a deep love for their native land. All the main facts in our early history have been given as simply and vividly as possible, and the lessons of patriotism, truthfulness, courage, patience, honesty, and industry taught by the lives of our principal heroes are carefully enforced. Great pains have also been taken to relate all the well-known anecdotes and quote the famous speeches which are so frequently alluded to in our current literature.” The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.

by H. A. Guerber

From the end of the War of Independence through the administration of William McKinley at the end of the 19th Century, The Story of the Great Republic retells as an engaging narrative the history of the United States of America through the 19th century. The struggles of the new nation under the Articles of Confederation, the rise of the need for a new form of government, the Constitutional Convention, the administration of Washington and all the presidents through the 19th century, the exploration of the American continent, the westward expansion, the relationship of the United States with European nations and world politics and events, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the rise and influence of American ingenuity, technology, and society. We meet the brave and the wise; the foolish and the proud: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Stephen Decatur, Elbridge Gerry, Francis Scott Key, Tecumseh, Andrew Jackson, Marcus Whitman, Noah and Daniel Webster, Sam Houston, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Booker T. Washington, and Sitting Bull, to name just a few.

Miss Guerber writes, “No pains have been spared to interest children in the history of their country, to explain its gradual development, to teach them to love, honor, and emulate our heroes, and to make them so familiar with the lives and sayings of famous Americans that they will have no difficulty in understanding the full meaning of the numerous historical allusions so frequently found in the newspapers and elsewhere. While a special effort has been made to cultivate a spirit of fairness and charity in dealing with every phase of our history, the writer’s main object has been to make good men and women of the rising generation, as well as loyal Americans.”

Like the other histories by H. A. Guerber that Nothing New Press has republished, The Story of the Great Republic includes additional maps, a comprehensive timeline of events and people encountered in the story, as an aid for testing retention, memory work, and to help children in constructing their own history timelines. The Bibliography lists the references used to construct the timeline. The Recommended Reading list which follows the timeline coordinates the corresponding chapters in Great Republic with wonderful “living books”: non-fiction, biographies, literature, and historical fiction. The Guerber series is geared towards grades 2-6; however, engaging enough for the entire family.