Charlemagne. Charlemagne. Charlemagne. Judy Ferro became intrigued with the man over thirty years ago. He brought teachers and books to central Europe, endowed institutions of learning and created a surge in arts and architecture known as the Carolingian Renaissance. And he ruled over three million square miles for 47 years. Yet, books have said that the man wasn't important or even that he was illiterate. When she got a chance to talk about Charlemagne to Americans visiting Germany, the guides told her, "You must explain everything. Americans know nothing about Charlemagne." When she visited the magnificent chapel Charlemagne built at his home in Aachen, a friend said, "Did you find your ruins?" The idea of a 1200 year-old building that has been in constant use is so foreign to our thought!A former high school teacher and librarian, Judy has written two coming-of-age books about girls coming to grips with unknown futures at a time when most grow up to take the same role as their mothers. Both Desiderata and Agnes are suitable for family reading.