Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882-1944) was a historian, journalist, and writer whose works helped introduce generations of readers to the study of history and culture. Born in the Netherlands and later a citizen of the United States, van Loon wrote numerous books on world history and civilization, combining scholarship with an engaging narrative style. His The Story of Mankind received the first Newbery Medal and remains one of the most influential popular histories of the twentieth century.