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musicalpopcorn 's review for:
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
by Barbara W. Tuchman
In this book, Tuchman moves through 14th century France mostly by following the life of Enguerrand de Coucy. While interesting and well-researched, it is extremely detailed to its own detriment. There are so many names, places, and dates, it’s impossible to absorb the book the way the reader wants.
It is also aging and parts, especially the descriptions of crusades and encounters with Muslims, are of an old form of Western-centric history that are inaccurate and have a tendency to downplay or downright insult the people east of Medieval European borders.
I’ve wanted to read this book for a few years and I’m glad I can say that I have, and I enjoyed it for the most part, but if you asked me to describe specific parts, I would have a hard time because it was truly a difficult read.
It is also aging and parts, especially the descriptions of crusades and encounters with Muslims, are of an old form of Western-centric history that are inaccurate and have a tendency to downplay or downright insult the people east of Medieval European borders.
I’ve wanted to read this book for a few years and I’m glad I can say that I have, and I enjoyed it for the most part, but if you asked me to describe specific parts, I would have a hard time because it was truly a difficult read.