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A Distant Mirror

The Calamitous Fourteenth Century

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A Distant Mirror

By: Barbara W. Tuchman
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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Summary

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 Publishing Europe Medieval Western Europe Middle Ages Witty Comedy Siege War England Royalty Crusade

Critic Reviews

“Barbara Tuchman at the top of her powers…A beautiful, extraordinary book…She has done nothing finer.”

(Wall Street Journal)

“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)

“Wise, witty, and wonderful…A great book, in a great historical tradition.”

(Commentary)

“[Wanda McCaddon] renders interesting even Tuchman’s most pedantic moments of scene-setting…[McCaddon’s] reading, with impeccable French and English accents, immerses the reader in the lengthy narrative, mixing politics with the personal. Humorous asides, especially commentary from peasantry…enliven the telling.”

(AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant
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.

Fantastic narrator

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so much information packed into a brilliantly presented narrative that I really enjoyed. very well done!

insightful and intense

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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.

Excellent

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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!

A most incredible work. Superb. Spellbinding.

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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.

A Rich Tapestry

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