A Distant Mirror
The Calamitous Fourteenth Century
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A Distant Mirror
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Narrated by:
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Wanda McCaddon
About this listen
A “marvelous history”* of medieval Europe, from the bubonic plague and the Papal Schism to the Hundred Years’ War, by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Guns of August
*Lawrence Wright, author of The End of October, in The Wall Street Journal
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.”
©1978 Barbara W. Tuchman (P)2005 Blackstone AudiobooksCritic Reviews
"Beautifully written, careful, and thorough in its scholarship.... What Ms. Tuchman does superbly is to tell how it was.... No one has ever done this better." (New York Review of Books)
"Barbara Tuchman at the top of her powers.... A beautiful, extraordinary book.... She has done nothing finer." (Wall Street Journal)
What listeners say about A Distant Mirror
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lavinia Gordon
- 27-02-2023
Fantastic narrator
Very detailed story told from an interesting perspective. High rating due to a fantastic narrator. Have subsequently bought other books because they are narrated by the same person, she has perfect tone and timing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-01-2025
insightful and intense
so much information packed into a brilliantly presented narrative that I really enjoyed. very well done!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MilennialZero
- 13-04-2016
Excellent
What made the experience of listening to A Distant Mirror the most enjoyable?
I've been listening to this one audiobook more often over the last eight years than any other. Fascinating writing. Great narration. Can one 're-read' an audiobook?
What about Nadia May’s performance did you like?
A friendly, intimate, voice. Clear enunciation and diction. Very expressive.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J.W@76
- 06-04-2021
A most incredible work. Superb. Spellbinding.
I found this work so very entertaining. I always like medieval history, yet this work illuminated such things as to give a really beautifully painted picture of things, the like of which I never dreamed. How will I find anything to come close in this genre? Narrated by Wanda McFadden, most beautiful pronunciations. Her accent gave the story a wonderful feel. Great choice!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- T. Little
- 17-07-2020
A Rich Tapestry
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is long and full of detail, but that detail brings to life a time that is unparalleled for its tensions, decadence, contradictions and woe. The author conveys what it was like to live in Europe during the pivotal and war torn period of the 14th century. She does this from many points of view, from the most abject peasant to nobility and kings of almost unimaginable pretensions, wealth, brutality and foppery. This is an important time, one that resonates with today in many ways.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Julian Ludowici
- 02-06-2024
Brilliant History
If only all historians wrote with the flair and detail of social history. A magnificent rendering of another troubled time. A real pandemic that killed 40% of the population, great rulers and the not so great all cast on the stage of life as it was, not as Tuchman thought it should be. Simply outstanding.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Simon
- 10-06-2018
Great overview of medieval life
This was a great listen. Lots of detail about historical events of the 14thcentury along side a description of everyday life. Learnt lots that hadn’t read elsewhere about this period.
Narration is very good, easily to listen to and engaging.
Definitely recommend.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss Amy V
- 09-10-2016
Absolutely loved this!
I've listened to many audiobooks on medieval history, and this is definitely now one of my favourites. The author follows the life of rich, French nobel whilst delving into the details of the medieval he lived in - both rich and poor lives. I was completely lost in this book and sad when it was over. The narrator also brings the history to life. Excellent value for money too. I highly recommend this for anyone into history.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-02-2020
Too deep for me...
Was hoping to better understand medieval Europe and it’s machinations but got a deep dive into England vs France in the 1300’s. I think we got introduced to everyone involved, plus their animals. Not for me.
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