From the inimitable bestselling author Thomas Cahill; another popular history—this one focusing on how the innovations of the Renaissance and the Reformation changed the Western world. A truly revolutionary book. In Volume VI of his acclaimed Hinges of History series; Thomas Cahill guides us through the thrilling period of the Renaissance and the Reformation (the late fourteenth to the early seventeenth century); so full of innovation and cultural change that the Western world would not experience its like again until the twentieth century. Beginning with the continent-wide disaster of the Black Death; Cahill traces the many developments in European thought and experience that served both the new humanism of the Renaissance and the seemingly abrupt religious alterations of the increasingly radical Reformation. This is an age of the most sublime artistic and scientific adventure; but also of newly powerful princes and armies and of newly found courage; as many thousands refuse to bow their heads to the religious pieties of the past. It is an era of just-discovered continents and previously unknown peoples. More than anything; it is a time of individuality in which a whole culture must achieve a new balance if the West is to continue.
#581190 in Books Anchor 1997-10-13 1997-10-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .82 x 5.20l; .75 #File Name: 0385471904408 pagesGreat product!
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Detailed and with a great perspectiveBy A. MaxhamMy review of this book consists of three major elements:First; the story and the history is much more interesting than I had anticipated. I've been sort of "grazing" British history and got this book because it certainly qualified. As Fraser notes; Bonfire night isn't much in the U.S. having been usurped by Halloween and Thanksgiving; and I'd only vaguely heard of Guy Fawkes. The "true" story isn't as simple and uninteresting as "Disgruntled Guy Fawkes tries to blow up Parliament and gets caught;" as per some popular stories. I've read a lot about Henry VIII and this story very much complements his story- Henry separates the English church from the one in Rome; setting off a chain of events that lasted for years (even to this day)- This book is about one of those events. If you are at all interested in following the consequences of actions through history; you'll like this.Which leads to my second point- Fraser does a wonderful job of putting the story in perspective. Not only does she inform you as to the history; culture; sociology (role of women in particular) and the religious environment that led to the plot to blow up James I; his heirs; and Parliament (and likely some innocent pigeons); but she also indicates how the plot still affects current thinking and events (citing such examples as Nelson Mandela).Finally; she does a great job with the story itself. Given the large cast of characters; the fact that I said "Wait; who is that again?" only a few times is very much to her credit. The story is very thorough with numerous citations and explanations of her interpretations of historical actions.This book is about the gunpowder plot and not generally about James I- it is more about the effect that his broken promises had on the plot's development.As a side note- if Mel Gibson ever read this book; he'd make a movie out of it- I just can't figure out who he'd play... Not Guy Fawkes. Maybe Garnet? Maybe Cecil (but only if Gibson made him a complete good guy). Maybe Catesby (but have to make him a good guy; and change the story a bit...)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A TreasureBy LINDA A. ROOTI am a l novelist who believes that writers in the historical fiction genre should never depend just on Wikipedia for research; because they will miss the subtleties. I had not know that Antonia Fraser had written an entire book about an event that figures in my current writing; but I was delighted when I discovered this one. It is not just a recital of the events that cause the English to remember Guy Fawkes Day. It is a delightful; artful and comprehensive review of what James VI of Scotland was confronting when he became James I of England--and it is not just for historians.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Enlightenment of the Gunpowder Plot (Guy Fawkes)By RIslanderMore of what I have grown to expect from Fraser. A good grounding into the Gunpowder Plot.
