'Manchester's book is a monument to craftsmanship, a superb piece of structuring...' - Irish Times 'A wonderful and enlightening read.' - Manchester Evening News
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
About the Author
William Manchester was a hugely successful popular historian and biographer whose books include "The Last Lion," Volumes 1 and 2, "Goodbye Darkness," "A World Lit Only by Fire," "The Glory and the Dream," "The Arms of Krupp," "American Caesar," "The Death of the President," and assorted works of journalism.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
THE DENSEST of the medieval centuries-the six hundred years between, roughly, A.D. 400 and A.D. 1000-are still widely known as the Dark Ages. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THE DENSEST of the medieval centuries-the six hundred years between, roughly, A.D. 400 and A.D. 1000-are still widely known as the Dark Ages. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Magnussen
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
'[...] if value judgments are made, it is undeniable that most of what is known about the period is unlovely. After the extant fragments have been fitted together, the portrait which emerges is a mélange of incessant warfare, corruption, lawlessness, obsession with strange myths, and an almost impenetrable mindlessness.'
This description, not of the George W. Bush administration but of the Middle Ages, opens a collection of three related essays: on the medieval mind, on the Renaissance, and on the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.
The book has generated 10-years-worth of boisterous discussion on amazon.com (187 reviews, as I write), which (should you be short of time) I will now summarise for you.
The Nays say that Mr. Manchester's account is unscholarly, inaccurate, sloppy, prejudiced and uses out-of-date sources.
The Yeas say that, be that as it may, Mr. Manchester makes a damned good story of it.
After due consideration, I find both for the prosecution and for the defence.
Although acknowledgments and sources are given at the end, the lack of specific references makes it hard indeed to track the source any of the assertions given herein; but such spot-checks as I was able to carry out bore out many of the expostulations of the critics.
The book's supreme virtue, however, is the author's ability to pull together ideas, information and viewpoint and weave them into a coherent and entertaining whole; and from this stand-point, criticising errors of detail, while valid, is a bit like criticising a Constable landscape because each leaf isn't painted accurately on each tree.
As an introduction to the Middle Ages — for example, for any American schoolchild who may be wondering why no history happened before 1620 — I recommend it, then. It's short, digestible, thought-provoking and eminently readable, and thus superior to any eyeball-glazing procession of facts, however accurate. Just be sure not to take it too seriously.
This description, not of the George W. Bush administration but of the Middle Ages, opens a collection of three related essays: on the medieval mind, on the Renaissance, and on the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.
The book has generated 10-years-worth of boisterous discussion on amazon.com (187 reviews, as I write), which (should you be short of time) I will now summarise for you.
The Nays say that Mr. Manchester's account is unscholarly, inaccurate, sloppy, prejudiced and uses out-of-date sources.
The Yeas say that, be that as it may, Mr. Manchester makes a damned good story of it.
After due consideration, I find both for the prosecution and for the defence.
Although acknowledgments and sources are given at the end, the lack of specific references makes it hard indeed to track the source any of the assertions given herein; but such spot-checks as I was able to carry out bore out many of the expostulations of the critics.
The book's supreme virtue, however, is the author's ability to pull together ideas, information and viewpoint and weave them into a coherent and entertaining whole; and from this stand-point, criticising errors of detail, while valid, is a bit like criticising a Constable landscape because each leaf isn't painted accurately on each tree.
As an introduction to the Middle Ages — for example, for any American schoolchild who may be wondering why no history happened before 1620 — I recommend it, then. It's short, digestible, thought-provoking and eminently readable, and thus superior to any eyeball-glazing procession of facts, however accurate. Just be sure not to take it too seriously.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Magnussen
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
'[...] if value judgments are made, it is undeniable that most of what is known about the period is unlovely. After the extant fragments have been fitted together, the portrait which emerges is a mélange of incessant warfare, corruption, lawlessness, obsession with strange myths, and an almost impenetrable mindlessness.'
This description, not of the George W. Bush administration but of the Middle Ages, opens a collection of three related essays: on the medieval mind, on the Renaissance, and on the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.
The book has generated 10-years-worth of boisterous discussion on amazon.com (187 reviews, as I write), which (should you be short of time) I will now summarise for you.
The Nays say that Mr. Manchester's account is unscholarly, inaccurate, sloppy, prejudiced and uses out-of-date sources.
The Yeas say that, be that as it may, Mr. Manchester makes a damned good story of it.
After due consideration, I find both for the prosecution and for the defence.
Although acknowledgments and sources are given at the end, the lack of specific references makes it hard indeed to track the source any of the assertions given herein; but such spot-checks as I was able to carry out bore out many of the expostulations of the critics.
The book's supreme virtue, however, is the author's ability to pull together ideas, information and viewpoint and weave them into a coherent and entertaining whole; and from this stand-point, criticising errors of detail, while valid, is a bit like criticising a Constable landscape because each leaf isn't painted accurately on each tree.
As an introduction to the Middle Ages — for example, for any American schoolchild who may be wondering why no history happened before 1620 — I recommend it, then. It's short, digestible, thought-provoking and eminently readable, and thus superior to any eyeball-glazing procession of facts, however accurate. Just be sure not to take it too seriously.
This description, not of the George W. Bush administration but of the Middle Ages, opens a collection of three related essays: on the medieval mind, on the Renaissance, and on the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.
The book has generated 10-years-worth of boisterous discussion on amazon.com (187 reviews, as I write), which (should you be short of time) I will now summarise for you.
The Nays say that Mr. Manchester's account is unscholarly, inaccurate, sloppy, prejudiced and uses out-of-date sources.
The Yeas say that, be that as it may, Mr. Manchester makes a damned good story of it.
After due consideration, I find both for the prosecution and for the defence.
Although acknowledgments and sources are given at the end, the lack of specific references makes it hard indeed to track the source any of the assertions given herein; but such spot-checks as I was able to carry out bore out many of the expostulations of the critics.
The book's supreme virtue, however, is the author's ability to pull together ideas, information and viewpoint and weave them into a coherent and entertaining whole; and from this stand-point, criticising errors of detail, while valid, is a bit like criticising a Constable landscape because each leaf isn't painted accurately on each tree.
As an introduction to the Middle Ages — for example, for any American schoolchild who may be wondering why no history happened before 1620 — I recommend it, then. It's short, digestible, thought-provoking and eminently readable, and thus superior to any eyeball-glazing procession of facts, however accurate. Just be sure not to take it too seriously.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Manchester does it again with an outstanding book. The tidbits about Martin Luther's strange quirks [which you will find written about in few books] would have the preeminent protestant put away in the loony bin today. As with Manchester's other books- he takes you there with detail. While some Medieval academics look with contempt on this work- this academic finds few flaws in Manchester's works. If only more "historians" were quality writers !!!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 273 reviews
3.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
A disturbing and negative read
I was rather disturbed by this book. The writer focuses almost entirely on negative stereotype of medieval life, portraying it as a grim affair, and highlighting such things a use... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jonathan Russell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mostly about the Reformation
Firstly, I commend you Mr Magnusson's review, and note that with 250 reviews on Amazon.com, his summation is still accurate. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John Middleton
1.0 out of 5 stars
Incompetent, inaccurate, and outdated
A World Lit Only By Fire is embarrassingly bad. Manchester should have taken the advice of his more knowledgeable colleagues, which he dismisses in the introduction, and stuck to... Read more
Published on 19 April 2006 by S. Lawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent introduction to Mediaeval Europe & Magellan
(...)I cannot recall textbooks on the topic being so tightly written and enjoyable to read. (...)In my view, Manchester's decision to concentrate on key characters and ideas of the... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2003 by Ian Laurenson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic exploration of the times and the people
What a wonderful introduction to this period of history. Never having been a big fan of history (I am not particular to dry facts), this book opened a world to my eyes. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2001 by M. Borden
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining view of the Renaissance
Firstly I must admit that I have very little knowledge of the Renaissance (I found it a boring subject at school! Read more
Published on 1 Jun 1998
4.0 out of 5 stars
Training Wheels
The Amazon.com review is a bit harsh for this enjoyable book. Though Manchester is no Medievalist and has an inability to understand the age, his volume is an entertaining and... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 1998
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
