Richard's review of A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman
Got turned on to the book by my son, who's been listening to a recorded version. Excellent look at life and times of European 14th century. Though it focuses on the later century (from after the plague years of 1348-50) through the life of Enguerrand de Coucy (1340-1397), the last of a family going back several centuries, there's lots of background and secondary information covered.
The "mirror" of the title is intended to reference how the author feels that the 14th century somehow has cognates in the 20th century (book written in '79), though I find that rather tenuous. Much of her exposition is about how the 14th C dose NOT look much like the equivalent sociological trends today. Only about half-way through, so perhaps it will become clear later.
Good read, anyway.
The "mirror" of the title is intended to reference how the author feels that the 14th century somehow has cognates in the 20th century (book written in '79), though I find that rather tenuous. Much of her exposition is about how the 14th C dose NOT look much like the equivalent sociological trends today. Only about half-way through, so perhaps it will become clear later.
Good read, anyway.
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