I wish my "adult" books could be this good. ( )

Macaulay, as usual, effortlessly combines text and his trademark pen-and-ink drawings to describe a monumental construction. Here his focus is not on the great works of yesteryear — castles, cathedrals and pyramids — but rather the Industrial Revolution. "Mill" tells a fictional story about the construction of a series of Rhode Island textile mills over the 19th Century. He showcases the quiet brilliance and competence of the initial mill, then goes on to describe the series of advancements that make the waterwheel and machinery ever more elaborate and efficient (until they are eclipsed by a neighboring steam-powered mill). Accompanying this are fictional diary entries from people connected to the mill — entries that can get surprisingly, archly, dark in tone. It's not as transcendent a work as Macaulay's "Castle" or "The Way Things Work," but is quietly brilliant and consistently informative. ( )

This entry by Macaulay not only shows the variety of engineering problems and solutions developed by 19th century Americans but also shows the changes and improvements to those solutions over time as the techniques available to and the demands on the mill change. The emphasis in this work is on how great the change is, and over how narrow a band of time, really emphasizing the dramatic changes in power generation and consumption over early industrialization in America. I think that even though this takes place in Massachusetts that it would be quite relatable to the history of many American towns. ( )

Macaulay describes the various kinds of mills and then goes on to discuss the evolution of textile mills and the industry in New England. The illustrations make it easy for the intended juvenile audience to follow along with what is going on and are marvelous. Macaulay used readers from historic mill villages to ensure the accuracy of his narrative. While the preface of the book makes it clear the mills described in the book itself are imaginary, they are based on mills found in New England during the given time periods. ( )

Not one, but several mills, in order of construction. Illustrations are less fine and bolder than in previous works like "Cathedral". ( )