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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
It is hard to imagine a work of history more relevant to our own time than this one. We are beleaguered by COVID-19, the 14th century by Bubonic Plague. In the US, we have spent 20 years watching our tax dollars pay for what seems like an endless adventure on the other side of the world, with no real goals or gains. The Hundred Years War was felt by the populations of France and England to be equally fruitless, and the burdensome taxation that financed it a source of deep resentment. The Papal Schizm and clerical excess caused many to distrust the church, much the way sexual abuse and the ridiculous prosperity gospel drive people to disaffiliate with religion today. And of course the conflict between Islam and Christianity never really went away. 40 plus years after its original publication, the mirror of the 14th century has only grown closer.
A well written history for non professionals. I really enjoyed it. The narrator was wonderful. I will definitely look for more of Tuchman's books.
I didn't finish this book but that is because of the best possible reason, which is that it's too good. This is quite dense material. Tuchman is thorough and so far she hasn't left anything out! I'm going to buy this book and dip into it periodically (I read a library copy) so that I don't get sick of inhabiting the 14th century. It's added depth to many fiction books I've read that are set at this time.
This was such a great idea, to describe life in the 14th century through the life of one nobleman. Unfortunately, the execution still read like a dry history text, and I lost interest.
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
An in-depth look at the 14th century, guided by tracing the life of a French noble of that era.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced