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Loading... A distant mirror : the calamitous 14th century (original 1978; edition 1978)by Barbara Wertheim Tuchman
Work InformationA Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara Tuchman (1978)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. I found this book fascinating, but I fear that most people who pick it up will put it down after the first several chapters, in which Tuchman provides a religious, social, economic, and political context for the century. The rest of the book is defined by the military escapades of French knight Enguerrand de Coucy, but it's really just a framework to discuss the development of the themes Tuchman stakes out in the early chapters. However, if you're easily bored by military history, it might be best to take a pass on this one. Is contained inAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
References to this work on external resources. Wikipedia in English (25)The fourteenth century reflects two contradictory images: on the one hand, a glittering time of crusades and castles, cathedrals and chivalry, and the exquisitely decorated "Books of hours"; and on the other, a time of ferocity and spiritual agony, a world of chaos and the plague. Barbara Tuchman reveals both the great rhythms of history and the grain and texture of domestic life as it was lived. Here are the guilty passions, loyalties and treacheries, political assassinations, sea battles and sieges, corruption in high places and a yearning for reform, satire and humor, sorcery and demonology, and lust and sadism on the stage. Here are proud cardinals, beggars, feminists, university scholars, grocers, bankers, mercenaries, mystics, lawyers and tax collectors, and, dominating all, the knight in his valor and "furious follies," a "terrible worm in an iron cocoon." No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)944.025History and Geography Europe France and region France Capet and Valois 987-1589 Philip VI 1328-50; John II 1350-64; Charles V 1364-80 ; XIVth CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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When I began reading Dante’s Divine Comedy (not finished yet JEEZ), I realized how little I understood of 14th century western culture. For instance how the world of Dante reacted to his canticles - how his writings influenced culture. Anyway, I remembered to read this book. Which given the time we find ourselves in during a global pandemic .... this is triggering as fuck and also so goddamned well written. The parallels between then and now will ENRAGE you.
Anyway, the author’s writing is entertaining and everyone should read PARTS of this book. I get that 14th century plague and cultural commentary may not be for everyone, but if nothing else read the preface. ( )