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First Sentence
To stand on a sea-washed promontory looking westwards at sunset over the Atlantic is to share a timeless human experience. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
To stand on a sea-washed promontory looking westwards at sunset over the Atlantic is to share a timeless human experience. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In this monumental work, Barry Cunliffe (Professor of European Archaeology at Oxford) traces the history of those living along the Atlantic coast of Europe. Beginning in 8000 BC, he traces the material culture of peoples spread from Spain through the British Isles, and on to the southern coast of the North Sea. The histories of other peoples and lands are covered as they impact the peoples of the Atlantic coast. Maintaining that the covered people shared a common culture, he covers everything known about them in a methodic, and extremely in-depth manner.
There are some books that are good, and some that are very good, and then there are books that just knock your socks off--this book is one of the latter. Professor Cunliffe covers the history of an extensive area with a depth of information that would seem to require a book at least five times the length. In fact, if I have one complaint against this book, it is that it contains so much information on topics that are not within the sphere of my interest. This means, that if you are interested in the history of these lands, from 8000 BC to AD 1500, then this book is for you!
I must add that this book is wonderful in its production, including many maps and colorful pictures. In a way, this book has the feel of a textbook, but it is neither dry nor incomprehensibly academic. If you are interested in the possibility of advanced prehistoric civilizations, this book contains nothing in that direction. However, the depth of the analysis it does provide on archaeology makes it a wonderful resource for checking claims by other authors. This is a great book that you should consider buying.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In "Facing the ocean", Barry Cunliffe gives us almost 10 000 years of man's history along the shores of Western Europe. His aim is to show the connections and similarities of the coast people along the Atlantic coast, mainly from Spain to Scotland. A great task - but Cunliffe manages to solve it without overloading his book. Yes - this is really "his" book - very personal, but it is difficult not to be caught by his enthusiasm! However, he is always reliable, giving us his sources etc. On the road, Cunliffe deals with several subjects, like the developments of ships and sailing techniques (very interesting!), the ritual landscapes, the impact of the Romans, the migrations, the coming of the Northmen. The book is filled with illustrations, all very to the point and commented on in the text. Of great value are also the maps especially made for this book. Cunliffe also gives us a very good commented bibliography. "Facing the ocean" will be of great interest to everybody interested in history. It should also be found in school libraries all along the East Atlantic coast.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
the hypothesis is not new. the ancient people of the atlantic shore of nw europe shared ideas and values and probably much else besides. the testimony is in the stones and their burial goods. to this barry cunliffe brings alive the proofs of trade. i have never before been so captivated by an intellectual argument as when i read about the goods of passage, their routes along old waterways and the timelessness of the stories even the merest artifact can tell. it is not all luixury goods and the benefits of an elite. to this barry cunliffe's colleagues have added vibrant illustrations of the movement of ocean currents and the deliberate journeys of the oceanic people who rode the first tides of european history. I had many puzzles answered. not least how did vasco da gama make it to india via the coast of s america when it was undiscovered? (somebody else showed him the way. i was left with many curiosities whetted. orkney remains a very serious puzzle - has barry cunliffe ever been there? - fabulous masonry, huge collective efforts but no evidence of an economy to support what is a neolithic cathedral. but these are minor compared with the pleasure of reading an unfolding cohesive argument. I shall return, i am sure, many times to the richness of his text and the familiarity of his themes. A wonderful book i will keep near me for many years to come
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Truly outstanding
One of the best books fiction or non fiction that I have read. I keep going back to it ten years on. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Faustino Beardsley
A balancing act
Our history is taught, to the disgust of natives of other parts of the UK, with its focus on London. Our prehistory is taught facing France and Germany. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Peasant
A coastal community
There are historians who still contend the history of the Atlantic began in 1492 with Columbus's crossing. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2005 by Stephen A. Haines
A Masterly Overview - to be read and treasured
In his introduction Barry Cunliffe says that this is the book he has wanted to write for years. On reading it, it became apparent to me that this was the book I'd been wanting to... Read more
Published on 28 May 2003 by Tim62
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