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Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World (Hinges of History) | 
| Author: Thomas Cahill
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 67580
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0385495560
Dewey Decimal Number: 909.07
EAN: 9780385495561
ASIN: 0385495560
Publication Date: March 4, 2008
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Product Description
From the bestselling author of How the Irish Saved Civilization, a fascinating look at how medieval thinkers created the origins of modern intellectual movements.
After the long period of decline known as the Dark Ages, medieval Europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship, art, literature, philosophy, and science and began to develop a vision of Western society that remains at the heart of Western civilization today, from the entry of women into professions that had long been closed to them to the early investigations into alchemy that would form the basis of experimental science. On visits to the great cities of Europe-monumental Rome; the intellectually explosive Paris of Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas; the hotbed of scientific study that was Oxford; and the incomparable Florence of Dante and Giotto-acclaimed historian Thomas Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 From a master's degree academic from Scotland who enjoyed other books by Cahill... wow, so unimpressed. September 25, 2008
I feel wrong writing this review having only read half of Cahill's Middle Ages book; however, reading the negative reviews which coincide with my own feelings, I feel that while I cannot give a succint "review" of the entire book, I can convey inital impressions, all of which show that Cahill's most recent offering is dogmatic, "all over the place," and uninteresting. And I know that even if the other half of the book is spectacular, a half-good book should not be priced at $19.99.
Being previously a bit unaware of Greek and Irish history, I read "Sailing the Wine Dark Sea" as research for a dramaturgy gig a few years ago for the play "Iphigenia at Aulis," and I highly enjoyed it. I did my master's dissertation on cross-cultural interpretations of Euripides' Medea, and used "How the Irish Saved Civilization" as well as Mary Denis Reidy's EXCELLENT book "Breaking the Silence", among other texts, to learn about Irish culture. I did not enjoy "How the Irish Saved Civlization" as much as "Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea," but it was an excellent introduction to Irish culture and history for people who enter knowing very little, and taught me about the Tain (spelling?)
HOWEVER, Cahill's most recent book, which, given its illustrations and (for a paperback) hefty pricetag assume that it is his magnum opus, falls short. I have never wanted to put down a Cahill book having only read 20 pages, but I did with this one. I'm writing a novel that has a point where it discusses UFO symbols in Middle Age and Renaissance painting, I don't need to learn about Hildegard and Richard the Lionhart - I got enough of that in college from a much more well-spoken person, thank you!! A friend of mine is a friend of Cahill's and says he's a great guy - but being great doesn't mean every book of yours is hit. As a fellow writer, Mr. Cahill, I suggest not touting your next book as your magnum opus and skipping on the illustrations. Also, after a line you quoted from Hildegard or perhaps another medieval person (I'm too lazy to grab the book at the moment), after the quote you wrote, "What a bitch!" You've gone from being a kind introduction to interesting cultures many of us know nothing about, to that embarrassing high school Shakespeare professor who tries to convince us that Hamlet was the world's first rapper. Remember that your audience may be neophyptes in certain areas, but are, by no means, stupid. It is going to pain me to finish the rest of this book, but I will. And if he feels inclined to promote Catholicism's influence (which I've already noticed) why not write a political text, why put it in inappropriate places like books on the Middle Ages? We KNOW that a lot of people were Catholic back then, the Reformation hadn't happened yet!!) then I will keep on despising the book. Cahill, as an Irishman (I assume so, because Cahill is an Irish last name) should know that his Catholic agenda is not welcomed in strictly historical texts, and that his personal interjections don't work and come across as odd and unnecesary, bringing the reader out of the "Middle Ages" and into a political debate. I'm as Catholic as the day is long but I wouldn't never write a history book in the guise of a Middle-Aged text and insert my own beliefs. If you want to do that, write a book on religion, and leave history out of it.
 Disappointing August 23, 2008
I was bothered to find his personal and political views throughout the book. If I was looking for that I would read Michael Moore.
These "mysteries" are actually "sacraments" August 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The title of this book embodies a bait and switch: the "Mysteries" of the title, you don't learn until the no-number small print page near the back of the book, are actually intended to be the Catholic "sacraments," which is appropriate in a book which, as you are finally told on page 313, is really about the "Catholic contribution to Western civilization." Through a series of biographical vignettes that are admittedly colorful and well-written, the author is trying to prove that western Catholicism is the mediating influence that turned classicism into the Renaissance. Interspersed among the vignettes are a series of tiresome proselytizing homilies and sermons by the author in the first person about the virtues of Roman Catholicism. As you would expect from an author who is seeking to use history to prove a theological point, this is not very good history. On the other hand, the book is beautifully illustrated in color and extremely well written, and as a result the anecdotes about some of the seminal figures of the Middle Ages will stay with you.
Misleading Title Alert! Should be Titled: Catholicism Through The Middle Ages August 3, 2008
I bought this book with the expectation of learning more about the middle ages. Because, you know, the title of the book is "Mysteries of the Middle Ages - And the Beginning of the Modern World".
The book begins with a history of the Greece and Roman Empires which is fair enough. However it then dives into 4 or 5 characters and places which seemingly have nothing to do with each other. While taken individually the chapters are decently written and entertaining, they rarely relate to one another and I find myself trying to figure out where the author is going with things.
Towards the end of the book, it quickly turns into a diatribe about what is wrong with the world and Catholicism. I kept asking myself what George W. Bush among others has to do with the Middle Ages.
Finally, at the end of the book in the Postlude, the Author admits "The story this book has had to tell is the story of the (often overlooked and belittled) Catholic contribution to Western Civilization." This one sentence sums up what this book has been about. I'm not sure who decides the title of the book, but I am sure the Publishing company wants to take in as many people as they can to make a few bucks. It really is a shame, because nothing on the outside of the book indicates what it is truly about.
The only upside to this book is that the images, charts, and footnotes are beautifully illustrated throughout the book. Which is why I picked this one over others - I guess that is what I get for buying a book because of the pictures, as my sister succinctly pointed out.
If you are looking for a good summary of the Middle Ages, avoid this book like the plague!
 Good book, but what is the thesis? July 31, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Pros: An incredibly engaging style, great story telling ability, good subject selection.
Cons: Lack of clear thesis, weak ending, random political diatribes.
Mysteries of the Middle Ages is, for the most part, an intriguing book. It touches on a lot of different aspects of medieval life and manages to present a much more diverse picture than many books about the period. Figures like Hildegard of Bingen and Francis of Assisi leap to life in a way that I have rarely seen in a history book. Cahill certainly has a talent for storytelling and character and (what is more difficult) for telling about true stories and characters.
My enjoyment of this book is significantly diminished, however, by the fact that Cahill does not have a clearly stated thesis. The best I could tell, the thesis was something along the lines of "medieval attitudes led directly to modern attitudes". Not the most original in the world at this point of time, but fairly good for a book meant for popular consumption. If Cahill had just stated his thesis, however, the book would have been much improved.
Still, I probably would have given five stars if not for the fact that the last two chapters or so are very slow and not nearly as interesting as the rest of the book. The random diatribe against the Catholic Church at the end is a ridiculous and bizarre way to sum up this book.
Still, Cahill's sheer storytelling talent is nothing to be scoffed at. This is a book that makes me want to go out and read ten more books about some of the historical figures that were presented and this is a very good thing.
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