NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
JEAN-PIERRE ISBOUTS
THE BOOKS
With his unique talent for making history accessible and exciting, cultural historian and archaeologist Jean-Pierre Isbouts has covered the human experience from the mysteries of ancient Mesopotamia and Israel to the splendor of Renaissance Florence, and the trenches of World War I.
The Mona Lisa Myth
Publication date: December, 2013 by Brown & Pantheon
This is the first book since the sensational 2012 discovery of a second Mona Lisa in a Swiss vault to propose an entirely new reconstruction of the events that produced the world’s most famous painting. Written as narrative history, yet firmly grounded in modern scholarship (including the latest analytical tests released by the Swiss authorities to the authors), this book not only shatters the vast mythology surrounding the Mona Lisa, but also offers a bold new interpretation of the portrait, and its meaning for Leonardo’s oeuvre at large. Co-written with Dr. Christopher Heath Brown.
Who's Who in the Bible
Publisher: National Geographic. Publication date: November, 2013
The timeless stories and people of the Bible come alive in this beautifully illustrated compendium. Covering figures in both Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament, this book is an indispensable guide to the ideas, motives and aspirations of the people whose stories form the foundation of Western civilization. With 1,000 entries covering more than 2,000 people, Who’s Who also includes 180 detailed biographies that provide a fascinating chronological narrative through the Bible, backed by detailed timelines. In addition, the text features some of the most exciting new archaeological discoveries in the Holy Land, while providing extensive cross-references to the biblical text. In sum, this tour de force by Jean-Pierre Isbouts is both a browser's delight and a major reference work no home should be without.
From Moses to Muhammad
Available from Amazon.com and the Apple iBookstore
“From Moses to Muhammad” traces the fascinating shared origins of the three monotheistic religions as a direct product of the literary and cultural milieu of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel and the Hejaz, the region in southeast Arabia where Muhammad first received his revelations. In the process, Dr. Isbouts identifies a number of narratives that would resonate among all three religions, particularly those involving Abraham, Joseph, Moses and even Jesus. Now published in a second illustrated edition, the book is also available as a multimedia e-book (including eight video features) from Apple iBookstore for the Apple iPad.
Angels in Flanders
Published by Pantheon Press. Available from Amazon.com.
Two young Englishwomen, terrorizing the countryside on motorbike. A ravishing beauty from the American Midwest. And a fearless horsewoman from the British aristocracy. By the standards of the Edwardian era, they were the most unlikely of friends. And yet, together they would confront the greatest carnage of World War I, and forge an outpost of love in Europe’s darkest hour. This remarkable novel is a tribute to the heroism of these four young women at the dawn of the feminist movement, and to the incredible sacrifices made by young men on both sides -- mere teenagers, in most cases -- in one of the bloodiest chapters of World War I.
The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas
Published by National Geographic. Available from Amazon and National Geographic Books.
Casting the tumultuous history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam against the rich canvas of the Near East, The Biblical World reveals how three great religions emerged from the same cradle. Author Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts employs a non-denominational perspective and a wide range of sources—from ancient hieroglyphic texts to the latest scientific findings—to place Bible stories in the framework of history. Chronologically arranged chapters detail battles, conquests, tribal migrations, natural calamities, and more, supporting the stories with intriguing archaeological evidence. "National Geographic Society, under the authorship of Professor Isbouts, has produced a visually stunning atlas of the Bible. The quality of the historical commentary for each period matches that of the illustrations.” (DONALD SENIOR, The Bible in Review)..