In this sweeping historical narrative, barbara tuchman writes of the cataclysmic 14th century, when the energies of medieval europe were devoted to fighting internecine wars and warding off the plague. Here, barbara tuchman masterfully reveals the two contradictory. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this a distant mirror study guide and get instant access to the following critical essays. And there are a couple of other very relevant observations in this timely interview from 41 years ago. You might think some random century from time is a pretty obscure subject for anyone 7 centuries later to be reading about, but im telling you its not. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The guns of august and the proud tower are published by penguin. In other words, freedom associated with speech we totally backed. But the intellectual naivete and inconsistency that make practicing history so disappointing a book also confirm the doubts that many historians have expressed about her work over the years. The calamitous 14th century paperback july 12, 1987. Barbara tuchman reveals both the great rhythms of history and the grain and texture of domestic life as it was. Tuchman 19121989 achieved prominence as a historian with the zimmermann telegram and international fame with the guns of augusta huge bestseller and winner of the pulitzer prize. Tuchman might also have profited by giving serious thought to the reasons academic historians generally avoid the highly personalized, or biographical, approach.
Tuchmans last book before her death in february 1989. The calamitous 14th century ebook written by barbara w. A distant mirror by barbara tuchman the 571st greatest. A distant mirror really is a book about the 14th century, not a tract written for the club of rome in a burst of malthusian zeal. I need the summary of a distant mirror by barbara w. In individuals as in nations, contentment is silent, which tends to unbalance the historical record. The calamitous 14th century thus far in regards to the ebook weve a distant mirror. Praise for a distant mirror beautifully written, careful and thorough in its scholarship. Tuchman also takes care to describe the lives of the people, from nobles and clergymen, right down to the peasantry.
The calamitous 14th century, published in 1978, is a work by american historian barbara tuchman, focusing on life in 14th century europe. A distant mirror the 14th century and today internet archive. In barbara tuchman years to research and write a distant mirror. The guns of august is considered to be barbara tuchmans best book. It looked like such a long book, and id heard that it was also a very detailed one, so i knew i would need to pick the right time to read it and that time came at the beginning of april this year. Barbara tuchman achieved prominence as a historian with the zimmerman telegram and international fame with the pulitzerprize winning the guns of august. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Jun 24, 2018 i tend not to read nonfiction very often, but barbara w tuchmans 1978 history of the 14th century, a distant mirror, is one ive been intending to read for years. However, tuchman does not just focus on political and religious changes. Which books by barbara tuchman are considered to be her best. Very slight signs of age or use to 1978 edition, owners name inside. I tend not to read nonfiction very often, but barbara w tuchmans 1978 history of the 14th century, a distant mirror, is one ive been intending to read for years.
Tuchmans fourth book, the guns of august, a study of the background and beginning of world war i, made her a celebrity after its publication in 1962. The calamitous 14th century barbara tuchman this study guide consists of approximately 60 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a distant mirror. The title of this book is a distant mirror and it was written by barbara w. This is an old history book published back in 1978, but i liked it. A selftrained historian, she was a writer for the nation and an editor for the us office of war information. The calamitous 14th century, which was published at the end of the. She is also the author of the proud tower, stilwell and the american experience in china also awarded the pulitzer prize, a distant mirror and the march of folly. The main title, a distant mirror, conveys tuchmans idea that the death and suffering of the 14th century reflect that of the 20th. It is informative and entertaining, but there are more than a few points where i stop and go hmmm, especially when she gets into sociology especially her claims around the medieval treatment of children, psychology and religion in the. Dj is browned at top edge and slightly edgeworn and has extra folds on the front flap 4 photo sections, two time pulitzer prize winning author, distinguished and widely read historian.
She won the pulitzer prize twice, for the guns of august 1962, a bestselling history of the prelude to and the first month of world war i, and stilwell and the american experience in china 1971, a biography of general joseph stilwell. Tuchmans discussion of war plans revolves around the men who provided their intellectual backbone. It was published by alfred a knopf inc and has a total of 720 pages in the book. The calamitous 14th century is a narrative history book by the american historian barbara tuchman, first published by alfred a. The dramatist national endowment for the humanities neh. The central theme of the work of historian barbara w.
She begins her book with a discussion of the little ice age, a change in climate that lowered the average temperature of europe until the 18th century. Tuchman is a firstrate writer, on still another level, the book is a compelling, personalized account of individual men and women living through these turbulent, disastrous times, especially one. A distant mirror by tuchman barbara and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Large octavo, original black cloth, cartographic endpapers, uncut, original dust jacket. Tuchman, 9780345349576, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Tuchman is, on one level, a seven hundred page encyclopedia of the 14th centurys political, military, religious, social, cultural and economic history. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a distant mirror. Barbara tuchmans a distant mirror im currently working my way through tuchmans a distant mirror. A distant mirror by barbara tuchman a distant mirror. She was a historian who made the past interesting to millions of readers. January 30, 1912 february 6, 1989 was an american historian and author. Tuchmanthe acclaimed author of the pulitzer prizewinning classic the guns of augustonce again marshals her gift for character, history, and sparkling prose to compose an astonishing portrait of medieval europe. A distant mirror by barbara tuchman, first edition abebooks.
Barbara tuchman, 77, twice a pulitzer prize winner, died on february 6, 1989. Read a distant mirror the calamitous 14th century by barbara w. Jan 26, 2011 this detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on a distant mirror. Her other works include bible and sword, the proud tower, stilwell and the american experience in china for which tuchman was awarded a second pulitzer prize, notes from china, a. Barbara tuchman s a distant mirror im currently working my way through tuchman s a distant mirror. Small previous owners label to top of front pastedown, several closed tears and. Tuchman is a firstrate writer, on still another level, the book is a compelling, personalized account of individual men and women living through these.
In 1966, barbara tuchman consolidated several long essays that she published in magazines before she wrote the guns of august, in her book the proud tower. The proud tower, stilwell and the american experience in china also awarded the pulitzer prize, a distant mirror, practicing history, and the march of folly, the first salute was mrs. The fourteenth century reflects two contradictory images. It still stands up well, despite being more than fifty years old. Dec 01, 2005 the fourteenth century reflects two contradictory images. In a distant mirror, barbara tuchman illuminates the dark ages. The book received critical praise and a sturdy niche on the bestseller lists. Her other works include bible and sword, the proud tower, stilwell and the american experience in china for which tuchman was awarded a second pulitzer prize, notes from china, a distant mirror. The atlantic covers news, politics, culture, technology, health, and more, through its articles, podcasts, videos, and flagship magazine. Tuchman 597 pages this book counts for my dewey decimal challenge and for the 2011 nonfiction challenge about the book in a distant mirror, historian barbara tuchman reveals in harrowing detail a tortured century with parallels to our own. The calamitous 14th century various other visitors are able to choose about a book. In short, tuchman writes with great brio, exquisite pacing, and a keen eye for telling details and arresting quotes.
Her description of medieval daily life, the role of the church, the influence of the great plagues, and the social and political conventions that make this period of history so engrossing, are carefully woven into an integrated narrative that sweeps the reader along. From 196072 she was a trustee at radcliffe college. Which books by barbara tuchman are considered to be her. Tuchman 19121989, american historian, was born in new york city and graduated from radcliffe college in 1933.
Lecturer at harvard university, university of california, and the u. Tuchmanthe acclaimed author of the pulitzer prizewinning classic. The assassination of the archduke in june 1914, as the guns of august tells it. Tuchman favored a literary approach to the writing of history, providing eloquent explanatory narratives. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Again she is to some extent a prisoner of her previous successes. Tuchman 19121989 is the first world war and its origins to be sure, other topics engage her the medieval era in her 1978 book a distant mirror. Both a distant mirror and her the march of folly are relevant today. The title of a distant mirror, which was published in 1978, suggests that the horrors of the 14th century are a reflection of the miseries of the modern age. The calamitous 14th century audiobook by barbara w. Barbara tuchman writing styles in a distant mirror.
The calamitous 14th century pdf opinions customers have never still eventually left their own overview of the experience, or otherwise not read it but. A distant mirror is a humbling reminder of what calamities and opportunities epidemics can wreak on our species. A distant mirror a distant mirror audiobook, by barbara w. In this sweeping historical narrative, barbara tuchman writes of the cataclysmic 14th century, when the energies of medieval europe were devoted to fighting. Barbara wertheim tuchman 1912 1989 american writer, selftrained historian, and twotime pulitzer prize winner.
757 1491 193 497 423 812 521 242 374 1425 191 173 82 289 1334 827 528 612 1035 1509 810 499 1267 1270 1089 502 1106 628 844 787 788 357