Not as wonderful as it sounded

books:


	• A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age William Manchester Back Bay Books, 1993 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 195 reviews view larger image
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Not as wonderful as it sounded

This book was not everything that I thought or hoped it would be. It was more about the religious upheavals (for the lack of a better description) than about the people. It focused on the bad behavior of the clergy and major figures of the latter middle ages who changed the religious landscape. And it focused more on the last two or three centuries of the middle ages than it did on the entire of span of the middle ages.

The flavor of the middle ages

I was expecting a history book. I love history books. This was more of a history story, a fireside tale of history. That's ok -- I can take that. It reminds me of Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose -- about the Lewis and Clark expedition.

While *not* a comprehensive history of the Middle Ages, this was a great read. Manchester sketched the time period so clearly. And through this portrait, he brings some of the major thinkers and ideas that quickened into the Renaissance.

The book gives you context for all else you may read about the fall of Rome, the crusaders, the Moors, the scientists, and the explorers. I thought the most memorable character highlighted was Magellan.

And throughout, I considered the book very aptly titled: a world lit only by fire. What can human imagination, human passion, human determination not accomplish?

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A Great Read !!

In my book, "Astronomical Symbols on Ancient and Medieval Coins", I devote a number of chapters to the astronomical symbols that were depicted on medieval coinage as signs of divine right to sovereignty. As part of my research, I read numerous books on medieval history, and I found that Manchester's book, "A World Lit Only By Fire," was of great value.

In additon to many items of interest that added to my understanding of the history of this period, I found that the book was also a great read. It was hard to put down.

I recommend this book to all who are interested in reading about medieval history.

Marshall Faintich

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

It speaks to the failure of medieval Europe, writes popular historian William Manchester, that"in the year 1500, after a thousand years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the beston the continent." European powers were so absorbed in destroying each other and in suppressingpeasant revolts and religious reform that they never quite got around to realizing the possibilities ofcontemporary innovations in public health, civil engineering, and other peaceful pursuits. Instead, theywaged war in faraway lands, created and lost fortunes, and squandered millions of lives. For all thewastefulness of medieval societies, however, Manchester notes, the era created the foundation for theextraordinary creative explosion of the Renaissance. Drawing on a cast of characters numbering in thehundreds, Manchester does a solid job of reconstructing the medieval world, although some scholars maydisagree with his interpretations.

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