Ann T. reviewed A World Lit Only by Fire : The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
This is a wonderful book about the Middle Ages, well written and comprehensive. If you are interested in books about medieval times, I would also suggest Sea of Faith by Stephen O'Shea and Mysteries of the medeval World by Thomas Cahill. (All non-fiction)
Genny S. reviewed A World Lit Only by Fire : The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age on + 141 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
For the reader who has good foundation in Medieval and Renaissance history. This is an interesting book because aside from accurate historical details about events, William Manchester also tells us about the more mundane and everyday details of the lives of the peasants, clergy and nobility. It is such an age of deceit and brutality and doesn't deserve the name of "AGe of Chivalry". Genny
Nina S. reviewed A World Lit Only by Fire : The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
It was a bit more scholarly than I expected based on the other reviews. Not too hard, just a bit "thick" for enjoyment reading. However I learned a lot and there were many interesting factoids about daily life during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. I enjoyed those bits more than the many discussions of historical figures that neither I nor probably 99% of readers have heard of. As stated, good but a bit dense.
Abi D. (abilee30) reviewed A World Lit Only by Fire : The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Very good book. A lot about the Church and how it operated. Also provided a good idea of the hold the Church had on the "civilized" populace.
Sharon R. (hazeleyes) reviewed A World Lit Only by Fire : The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age on + 331 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Thank heaven William Manchester wrote this book, which brought the Middle Ages and Renaissance alive for me. I loved the book, and it has informed all my historical study since then.