Another GREAT book in this series. The writing is so sharp, and it's told so well, that it's hard not to adore it. ( )

The pictures [alone] in this book make it worthwhile. ( )

the chapter on music was very good. ( )

Covers the great period of scientific, cultural and artistic progress in Europe, from 1685 to 1798. This is one of the more interesting periods to me, as it represents a slow digging out from the intellectual muck of the middle ages and the total power of the Church, which inhibited much progress (but occasionally sponsored it). ( )