Motel of the Mysteries

David Macaulay

Oct 1979 · Sold by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

About this ebook

A future archeologist finds the remnants of a mysterious ancient people—us—in a wry satire that is “a marvel of imagination and . . . wonderfully illustrated” (The New York Times).
 
It is the year 4022, and the entire ancient country of Usa has been buried under many feet of detritus from a catastrophe that occurred back in 1985. Howard Carson, an amateur archeologist, is crossing the perimeter of an abandoned excavation site when he feels the ground give way beneath him. Suddenly, he finds himself at the bottom of a shaft, which, judging from the DO NOT DISTURB sign hanging from an archaic doorknob, is clearly the entrance to a still-sealed burial chamber.
 
Carson's incredible discoveries, including the remains of two bodies, one laid to rest on a ceremonial bed facing an altar that appeared to be a means of communicating with the Gods and the other lying in a porcelain sarcophagus in the Inner Chamber. These dramatic discoveries give Carson all the clues he needs to piece together the entire civilization—which he gets utterly wrong.
 
The acclaimed author and illustrator of Castle and Pyramid, David Macaulay presents a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek satire of both historical presumption and American self-importance.

Ratings and reviews

... very disappointing read. The concept has loads of potential, but doesn't keep the reader's attention beyond a few images that makes the corners of one's mouth slightly rise in a force smile. I'm a teacher and wanted to use this to present the notion of historians use of artifacts to study the past. Despite the fact this book is about that very topic, I will pass.

I remember reading this book in elementry school, brought me right back to library day all those years ago. I will definitly buy a paper copy for my son.

About the author

David Macaulay is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books have sold millions of copies in the United States alone, and his work has been translated into a dozen languages. Macaulay has garnered numerous awards including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, an American Institute of Architects Medal, and the Washington Post–Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award. In 2006, he was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, given “to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations.” Superb design, magnificent illustrations, and clearly presented information distinguish all of his books. David Macaulay lives with his family in Vermont.