Don Nardo

Don Nardo (born February 22, 1947) is an American historian, composer, and writer. With more than three hundred and sixty published books, he is one of the most prolific authors in the United States,^[1] and one of the country’s foremost writers of historical works for children and teens.^[2]

History

Childhood and education

Don Nardo was born in Columbia, Missouri.

With his younger brother, Philip (born 1949), Nardo spent the first few years of his life on the road as his parents, who were popular nightclub entertainers, traveled throughout the country.

In the early 1950s, the family settled in Natick, Massachusetts, where Nardo was at first home-schooled but later attended the local public schools. As he grew older, he developed an interest in many of the fields he would later pursue professionally, including acting, music, history, and writing. In high school, he performed in numerous plays and was voted best actor in his senior class.^[3] Outside of school, he learned to play the trumpet and began composing chamber and orchestral music, including a four-movement symphony at age fourteen.^[4] However, having little formal musical training, he was initially unable to notate these pieces properly, so in the next few years he taught himself to do so by studying books on orchestration.

After graduating from high school in 1965, Nardo majored in theater at Syracuse University, but left after a few semesters to pursue an acting career in New York City.^[5] Later, in the 1970s, he returned to school, obtaining a degree in history from Worcester State College (and graduating magna cum laude).^[6]

Early professional work

As a young character actor, Nardo appeared in numerous stage productions, including work in summer stock in upstate New York and dinner theater in the American South.^[7] He also worked with the National Shakespeare Company under producer-director Philip Meister,^[8] including productions of Macbeth, Othello, and As You Like It. Later, Nardo's theatrical interests shifted more to writing screenplays and teleplays. While working on his first few scripts, he taught high school social studies and English in Barnstable, Massachusetts.^[9] One of these screenplays, The Bet, won a $5,000 award from the Massachusetts Artists Foundation in 1982. Among the teleplays was an episode of ABC’s Spenser: For Hire, starring Robert Urich. Titled “Skeletons in the Closet,” it guest starred E.G. Marshall and Boyd Gaines. Nardo also co-wrote, produced and directed a low-budget feature film, In Deadly Heat, which was distributed as Stuff Stephanie in the Incinerator by Troma Entertainment and released to the video market in 1990 by Media Home Entertainment.

Writing career

Although Nardo had avidly studied history informally since childhood and had acquired a degree in history in the 1970s, he did not begin writing history books until the 1980s. A chance assignment by a Boston-based publisher to write several chapters of a new high-school-level history textbook led to offers from several young adult publishers. In the years that followed, the offers kept coming, as did positive reviews from School Library Journal,^[10] Booklist, and other noted journals. He joined the Association of Ancient Historians in the 1990s.^[6] And by 2004, he had penned more than a hundred books about the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and other ancient peoples. In that same year, noted classical historian Victor Davis Hanson stated online: “There is an entire series of great children’s books [about ancient history] by Don Nardo, who has emerged as the premier practitioner of that important craft.”^[2] At the request of Chelsea House, Scholastic, Lucent Books, Compass Point Books, Morgan Reynolds, and other publishers, Nardo also wrote numerous books about medieval civilization, among them a biography of the eccentric Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe that won a special commendation by the National Science Teacher’s Association.^[11] In addition, he fulfilled numerous requests to write books about modern history, including several studies of Native American culture, America’s wars, and the U.S. founders and their writings.

Music

Meanwhile, Nardo continued to compose music, including a second symphony; concertos for violin, cello, piano, clarinet, French horn, and trumpet; four string quartets;^[5] a musical tribute to Thomas Jefferson; incidental music for stage plays, including a large-scale school production of The Hobbit, for which he also conducted the pit orchestra;^[9] several romances arranged for strings or orchestra; an oratorio based on the King Arthur legends,^[12] and other works. In 1987 the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Royston Nash, commissioned him to compose a concert piece for children based on H.G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds.^[5] A more recent commission came from renowned Portuguese guitarist Paulo Soares and versatile Portuguese violinist Peter M. Ferreira—a double concerto for violin and Portuguese guitar, the first major concert piece ever written for the latter instrument. Between 2008 and 2010, Nardo was the resident composer and arranger for Ferreira’s Connecticut-based Amadis Orchestra.^[13]Another commission from the Cape Cod Symphony, now under conductor Jung-Ho Pak, came in 2011, part of the orchestra's 50th anniversary celebration. Titled Cape Cod Impressions, the large-scale orchestral piece was accompanied by photos of the Cape projected onto huge screens and received standing ovations at all performances.^[4]

Personal life

Nardo has been married twice. The first union produced a son, Dana (born 1972), who became a graphic artist and animator. Nardo and his second wife, Christine, are avid animal lovers who have a particular fondness for dogs and presently share their home in Massachusetts with a golden retriever named Lily.^[4] They also enjoy traveling and have made frequent trips to Greece and other countries that Nardo frequently writes about.

Selected works

• Krakatoa. Lucent Books, 1990. ISBN 1560060115
• Gravity: The Universal Force. Lucent Books, 1990. ISBN 1560062045
• World War II: The War in the Pacific. Lucent Books, 1991. ISBN 1560064080
• Eating Disorders. Lucent Books, 1991. ISBN 1560061294
• The Persian Gulf War. Lucent Books, 1991. ISBN 1560064110
• The War of 1812. Lucent Books, 1991. ISBN 1560064013
• Anxiety and Phobias. Chelsea House, 1992. ISBN 0791000419
• Charles Darwin. Chelsea House, 1993. ISBN 079101729X
• Medical Diagnosis. Chelsea House, 1993. ISBN 0791000672
• Greek and Roman Theater. Lucent Books, 1994. ISBN 1560062495
• The Battle of Marathon. Lucent Books, 1995. ISBN 1560064129
• Traditional Japan. Lucent Books, 1995. ISBN 1560062444
• Modern Japan. Lucent Books, 1995. ISBN 1560062819
• Braving the New World: 1619-1784, From the Arrival of the Enslaved Africans to the End of the American Revolution. Chelsea House, 1995. ISBN 0791022595
• The Age of Pericles. Lucent Books, 1996. ISBN 1560063033
• The Age of Augustus. Lucent Books, 1996. ISBN 1560063068
• Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. President. Chelsea House, 1996. ISBN 0791024075
• The Punic Wars. Lucent Books, 1996. ISBN 156006417X
• Life on a Medieval Pilgrimage. Lucent Books, 1996. ISBN 1560063254
• The Bill of Rights. Greenhaven Press, 1997. ISBN 1565107403
• The Collapse of the Roman Republic. Lucent Books, 1997. ISBN 1560064560
• Readings on A Tale of Two Cities. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 1997. ISBN 1565106482
• The Trial of Socrates. Lucent Books, 1997. ISBN 1560062673
• Readings on the Canterbury Tales. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 1997. ISBN 1565105850
• The Scopes Trial. Lucent Books, 1997. ISBN 1560062681
• The Medieval Castle. Lucent Books, 1998. ISBN 1560064307
• The Rise of Nazi Germany. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 1998. ISBN 1565109651
• Women Leaders of Nations. Lucent Books, 1998. ISBN 1560063971
• Life of a Roman Slave. Lucent Books, 1998. ISBN 1560063882
• The Assyrian Empire. Lucent Books, 1998. ISBN 1560063130
• Readings on Homer. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 1998. ISBN 1565106385
• Rulers of Ancient Rome. Lucent Books, 1998. ISBN 1560063564
• Readings on Sophocles' Antigone. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 1999. ISBN 1565109694
• Greek and Roman Sport. Lucent Books, 1999. ISBN 1560064366
• The Declaration of Independence: A Model for Individual Rights. Lucent Books, 1999. ISBN 1560063688
• Readings on Julius Caesar. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 1999. ISBN 1565108523
• The Mexican-American War. Lucent Books, 1999. ISBN 1560064951
• Readings on Othello. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 2000. ISBN 0737701870
• Games of Ancient Rome. Lucent Books, 2000. ISBN 1560066555
• Greek Drama. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 2000. ISBN 0737702060
• Women of Ancient Greece. Lucent Books, 2000. ISBn 1560066466
• Life in Ancient Athens. Lucent Books, 2000. ISBN 1560064943
• Francisco Coronado. Franklin Watts, 2001. ISBN 0531119742
• The Ancient Romans. Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN 1560067063
• The End of Ancient Rome. Greenhaven Press, 2001. ISBN 0737703725
• The Ancient Greeks. Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN 1560067055
• The Complete History of Ancient Greece. Greenhaven Press, 2001. ISBN 073770425X
• Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome. Greenhaven Press, 2001. ISBN 0737705515
• Egyptian Mythology. Enslow Publishers, 2001. ISBN 076601407X
• Roman Roads and Aqueducts. Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN 1560067217
• Readings on Euripides' Medea. Editor, Greenhaven Press, 2001. ISBN 0737704020
• Understanding Hamlet. Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN 1560068302
• Daily Life in Ancient Rome. KidHaven Press, 2002. ISBN 0737706120
• Greek Temples. Franklin Watts, 2002. ISBN 0531162257
• Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology. Greenhaven Press, 2002. ISBN 0737707194
• Wrestling. Lucent books, 2002. ISBN 1560068930
• The Solar System. KidHaven Press, 2002. ISBN 0737712902
• Pyramids of Egypt. Franklin Watts, 2002. ISBN 053120359X
• The Indian Wars: From Frontier to Reservation. Lucent Books, 2002. ISBN 1560068914
• Roman Amphitheaters. Franklin Watts, 2002. ISBN 0531162249
• Life of a Roman Gladiator. Lucent Books, 2003. ISBN 1590182537
• From Founding to Fall: A History of Rome. Lucent Books, 2003. ISBN 1590182545
• Ancient Persia. Blackbirch Press, 2003. ISBN 1567117406
• Great Elizabethan Playwrights. Lucent Books, 2003. ISBN 1590180178
• Adolf Hitler. Lucent Books, 2003. ISBN 1560069511
• The Italian Renaissance. KidHaven Press, 2003. ISBN 0737710365
• Women of Ancient Rome. Lucent Books, 2003. ISBN 1590181697
• Andrew Johnson. Children’s Press, 2004. ISBN 0516242423
• The Roman Army: Instrument of Power. Lucent Books, 2oo4. ISBN 1590183169
• Philosophy and Science in Ancient Greece: The Pursuit of Knowledge. Lucent Books, 2004. ISBN 1590185668
• The Ancient Greeks At Home and At Work. Lucent Books, 2004. ISBN 1590185269
• The Trial of Galileo. Lucent Books, 2004. ISBN 1590184238
• The 1940s. KidHaven Press, 2004. ISBN 0737715162
• Black Holes. Lucent Books, 2004. ISBN 1590181018
• The Byzantine Empire. Blackbirch Press, 2005. ISBN 1410305864
• The Etruscans. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 1590185641
• The Ice Ages. KidHaven Press, 2005. ISBN 0737730552
• The Minoans. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 159018565X
• The Globe Theater. Blackbirch Press, 2005. ISBN 1410305600
• Cleopatra: Egypt's Last Pharaoh. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 1590186605
• Mummies, Myth, and Magic: Religion in Ancient Egypt. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 1590187075
• Artistry in Stone: Great Structures of Ancient Egypt. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 1590186613
• The Creation of the U.S. Constitution. Greenhaven Press, 2005. ISBN 073772580X
• A Travel Guide to Ancient Pompeii. Lucent Books, 2005. ISBN 1590184572
• King Tut’s Tomb. KidHaven Press, 2005. ISBN 0737723521
• The Age of Colonialism. Lucent Books, 2006. ISBN 1590188330
• Pericles: Great Leader of Athens. Enslow Books, 2006. ISBN 0766025616
• The Search for Extraterrestrial Life. Lucent books, 2006. ISBN 1590188322
• The Roman Republic. Lucent Books, 2006. ISBN 1590186583
• The Roman Empire. Lucent Books, 2006. ISBN 1590186575
• Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece. Greenhaven Press, 2007. 0737733888
• Greenhaven Encyclopedia of Ancient Mesopotamia. Greenhaven Press, 2007. ISBN 0737734418
• The Salem Witch Trials. Lucent Books, 2007. ISBN 1590189507
• Architecture. Lucent Books, 2008. ISBN 1420500031
• France. Children’s Press, 2008. ISBN 0516259482
• The Civil War. Lucent Books, 2008. ISBN 1420500651
• Clara Barton: "Face Danger, But Never Fear It." Enslow Publishers, 2008. ISBN 0766030245
• Ancient India. Lucent Books, 2008. ISBN 1420500619
• The Battle of Saratoga. Compass Point Books, 2008. ISBN 0756533422
• Mathew Brady: The Camera is the Eye of History. Enslow Publishers, 2008. ISBN 0766030237
• Tycho Brahe: Pioneer of Astronomy. Compass Point Books, 2008. ISBN 0756533090
• The Atlantic Slave Trade. Lucent Books, 2008. ISBN 1420500074
• Early Native North Americans. Lucent Books, 2008. ISBN 1420500341
• Julius Caesar: Roman General and Statesman. Compass Point Books, 2009. ISBN 9780756538347
• Peoples and Empires of Ancient Mesopotamia. Lucent Books, 2009. ISBN 1420501011
• Arts and Literature in Ancient Mesopotamia. Lucent Books, 2009. ISBN 1420500996
• The Industrial Revolution in Britain. Lucent Books, 2009. ISBN 1420501526
• The Industrial Revolution in the United States. Lucent Books, 2009. ISBN 1420501534
• Maya Angelou: Poet, Performer, Activist. Compass Point Books, 2009. ISBN 075651889X
• Alexander the Great: Conqueror of the Known World. Morgan Reynolds, 2010. ISBN 1599351269
• Buddhism. Compass Point Books, 2010. ISBN 9780756542368
• The History of Television. Gale, Cengage, 2010. ISBN 9781450501629
• Extreme Threats: Climate Change. Morgan Reynolds, 2010. ISBN 1599351196
• Extreme Threats: Asteroids and Comets. Morgan Reynolds, 2010. ISBN 1599351218
• Extreme Threats: Volcanoes. Morgan Reynolds, 2010. ISBN 1599351188
• The Vikings. Lucent Books, 2010. ISBN 1420503162
• Religious Beliefs in Colonial America. Gale, Cengage, 2010. ISBN 1420502662
• The History of Terrorism. Compass Point Books, 2010. ISBN 9780756543105
• Aztec Civilization. Lucent Books, 2010. ISBN 1420502425
• The Theory of Evolution: A History of Life on Earth. Compass Point Books, 2010. ISBN 9780756542146
• United in Cause: The Sons of Liberty. Compass Point Books, 2010. ISBN 9780756542993
• The Islamic Empire. Gale, Cengage, 2011. ISBN 142050634X
• Migrant Mother. Compass Point Books, 2011. ISBN 9780756543976
• The Rwandan Genocide. Gale, Cengage, 2011. ISBN 142050567X
• The Women's Movement. Lucent Books, 2011. ISBN 1420505920
• The Black Death. Gale, Cengage, 2011. ISBN 1420503480
• Bull Run to Gettysburg: Early Battles of the Civil War. Compass Point Books, 2011. ISBN 9780756543686
• Painting. Gale, Cengage, 2011. ISBN 1420505491
• Medieval Europe. Morgan Reynolds, 2011. ISBN 1599351722
• Ancient Egyptian Arts and Architecture. Gale, Cengage, 2011. ISBN 1420506717
• Classical Civilization: Greece. Morgan Reynolds, 2011. ISBN 1599351730
• Polar Explorations. Gale, Cengage, 2011. ISBN 142050360X
• The Birth of Christianity. Morgan Reynolds, 2012. ISBN 1599351455
• The Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology. Compass Point Books, 2012. ISBN 9780756544799
• The Heroes and Mortals of Greek Mythology. Compass Point Books, 2012. ISBN 9780756544805
• The Epics of Greek Mythology. Compass Point Books, 2012. ISBN 9780756544829
• The Mortals and Creatures of Greek Mythology. Compass Point Books, 2012. ISBN 9780756544812
• India. Children's Press, 2012. ISBN 0531253104
• Destined for Space: The Story of Space Travel. Capstone Press, 2012. ISBN 9781429675406

References

1. ^ "Library of Congress Online Catalog: Dan Nardo". United States Library of Congress. http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=don+nardo&Search_Code=NAME%40&CNT=100&hist=1&type=quick. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Victor Davis Hanson’s Private Papers, August 2004. Retrieved 2009-06-06
3. ^ Natick High School (June 1965). Sassamon. Natick, MA. p. 193. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Don Nardo: Composer, Historian, Author, Screenwriter". November 25, 2008. http://www.nardopublishing.com/bio.htm. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Miller, Barbara A. (February 24, 1988). "This Renaissance Man Turned Desire into Reality". Cape Cod News. p. 6. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Kinzl, Konrad (1999). Directory of Ancient Historians in the United States. Claremont, CA: Regina Books. p. 49. 
7. ^ Crosby, Johanna (December 31, 1987). "Cape Duo’s ‘Spenser’ Script to Air Sunday". Cape Cod Times. p. 15. 
8. ^ "Obituary for Philip Meister". New York Times. April 5, 1982. http://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/05/arts/philip-meister-helped-start-cubiculo-theater.html. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "The Barnstable High School Drama Club History". http://bhsdc.org/site/?page_id=156. 
10. ^ Grabarek, Daryl; Thornton-Verma, Henrietta (June 1, 2007). "Reference Review". School Library Journal. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6448971.html. 
11. ^ Texley, Julianna. "Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: 2008". National Science Teachers Association. http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ostb2008.aspx. 
12. ^ White, John (March 17, 1981). "Nardo Composes ‘Arthur', Oratorio". Insight. p. 7. 
13. ^ Ferreira, Peter. "Peter M. Ferreira: Repertoire". http://www.peterferreira.com/repertoire.html. 

External links

• Official Official Website

Persondata
Name	Nardo, Don
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 22, 1947
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death