Tuchman was one of americas foremost popular historians and winner of two pulitzer prizes for the guns of august and stilwell and the american experience in china tuchman was born into a prominent new york family on january 30, 1912. The calamitous 14th century, published in 1978, is a work by american historian barbara tuchman, focusing on life in 14th century europe. Tuchman also takes care to describe the lives of the people, from nobles and clergymen, right down to the peasantry. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I need the summary of a distant mirror by barbara w. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free. Tuchman reflects on world events and the historians. With consummate ease, barbara tuchman draws her reader into the sprawling, violent 14th century, making clear at once both the gulf that separates the modern and medieval worlds, and those striking, often ugly, similarities, lodged in the human character, which make that age a mirror of our own humanity. Tuchman was born into a prominent new york family on january 30, 1912. 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 medieval world world in her case basically meaning england and france. The guns of august is considered to be barbara tuchmans best book.
The book received critical praise and a sturdy niche on the bestseller lists. Im currently working my way through tuchman s a distant mirror. Barbara tuchman is one of my favourite historians ive come across. Tuchman is, on one level, a seven hundred page encyclopedia. If youre interested in medieval history whether its social, religious, political, or economic a. The main title, a distant mirror, conveys tuchmans idea that the death and suffering of the 14th century reflect that of the 20th century, especially the horrors of world war i. Dramatically written and ably combining narrative with interpretation, the book has already proven its great appeal, though its relation to our own time of troubles is left discreetly implicit.
Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The march of folly a distant mirror the guns of august the proud tower by barbara w. I would like to read all of her books that are highly acclaimed. 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. Barbara tuchman s international bestseller is indeed a distant mirror that subtly evokes astonishing parallels between those turbulent times and our own ominous decades. In this sweeping historical narrative, barbara tuchman writes of the cataclysmic 14th century, when the energies of medieval europe were devoted to fighting. Im currently working my way through tuchmans a distant mirror. If youre interested in medieval history whether its social, religious, political, or economic a distant mirror is a fantastic place to start. 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. A distant mirror by tuchman barbara and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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.
Which books by barbara tuchman are considered to be her. 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. The calamitous 14th century is a narrative history book by the american historian barbara tuchman, first published by alfred a. Also appearing in a distant mirror are john wycliffe, catherine of siena, geert groote, and charles vi whose monarchy would be marred by bouts of madness. The calamitous 14th century paperback july 12, 1987 by barbara w. The books focus is the crisis of the late middle ages suffered by europe in the 14th century. Tuchman is, on one level, a seven hundred page encyclopedia of the 14th centurys political, military, religious, social, cultural and economic history. Tuchman then took seven years to research and write a distant mirror. Praise for a distant mirror beautifully written, careful and thorough in its scholarship. And there are a couple of other very relevant observations in this timely interview from 41 years ago.
National book award in history for the first paperback edition of a distant mirror in 1980. 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. Small previous owners label to top of front pastedown, several closed tears and. Tuchmanthe acclaimed author of the pulitzer prizewinning.
A distant mirror the 14th century and today internet archive. The calamitous 14th century pdf opinions customers have never still eventually left their own overview of the experience, or otherwise not read it but. However, tuchman does not just focus on political and religious changes. Barbara wertheim tuchman january 30, 1912 february 6, 1989 was an awardwinning american historian and author.
Tuchman is a firstrate writer, on still another level, the book is a compelling, personalized account of individual men and women living through these. Which books by barbara tuchman are considered to be her best. It was published by alfred a knopf inc and has a total of 720 pages in the book. The calamitous 14th century thus far in regards to the ebook weve a distant mirror. A distant mirror is a humbling reminder of what calamities and opportunities epidemics can wreak on our species. I have read the guns of august, and then the zimmerman telegram. A distant mirror barbara tuchman 1978 book club edition. Large octavo, original black cloth, cartographic endpapers, uncut, original dust jacket. Which books by barbara tuchman are considered to be her best books. 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. In 1978, tuchman was elected a fellow of the american academy of arts and sciences. The calamitous 14th century the guns of august 2 complete books by barbara w. A distant mirror by barbara tuchman, first edition.
She became the first female president of the american academy of arts and letters in 1979. 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. The calamitous 14th century by barbara w tuchman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tuchman, including the guns of august, and a distant mirror. Barbara wertheim tuchman january 30, 1912 february 6, 1989 was an awardwinning american historian and author quotes. Barbara tuchman writing styles in a distant mirror. Both a distant mirror and her the march of folly are relevant today. Now, in a distant mirror, she has deserted the contemporary scene to portray the calamitous 14th century.
A distant mirror by barbara tuchman a distant mirror. A distant mirror by barbara tuchman, first edition abebooks. 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. In her preface she makes clear that she is interested in comparing the 14th century in europe a time of war, disease, social and economic dislocation, and general demoralization with the two 20th century decades before the book s publication. Tuchman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. But tuchmans americanjewish establishment roots are also the basis of one of the two stellar pieces. The first edition of the novel was published in september 21st 1978, and was written by barbara w. Read a distant mirror the calamitous 14th century by barbara w. Tuchman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at abebooks. This is an old history book published back in 1978, but i liked it. Barbara tuchmans international bestseller is indeed a distant mirror that subtly evokes astonishing parallels between those turbulent times and our.
Thats part of barbara tuchmans historical philosophy. 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, practicing history, the march of folly, and the first salute. Barbara tuchman, 77, twice a pulitzer prize winner, died on february 6, 1989. Tuchman 19121989 achieved prominence as a historian with the zimmermann telegram and international fame with the guns of august.
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. Condition is good, the dust jacket has a tear on the front cover shown in picture. A distant mirror by barbara tuchman the greatest books. Praise for a distant mirror beautifully written, careful and thorough in its. The books focus is the crisis of the late middle ages suffered by europe in. 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.
It still stands up well, despite being more than fifty years old. Tuchman was one of americas foremost popular historians and winner of two pulitzer prizes for the guns of august and stilwell and the american experience in china. With more than 100,000 copies already in print, in addition to those distributed by three major book clubs, her new book may well reach a larger audience than any other serious work of history published in our time. Popular history, imaginatively researched, that tells us much of the life and anguish of the fourteenth century, with its wars, social upheavals, and the black death. Barbara tuchman clearly has the qualifications needed for undertaking. Tuchman published stilwell and the american experience in china, which won her second pulitzer prize. We carry a wide selection of titles in the arts, theology, history, politics, social and physical sciences. To study how little some people are affected or learn to change from repeated disasters, i was shocked.
The calamitous 14th century by barbara tuchman 1978 book club edition hardcover. This book abounds in the same elements that have made her previous. The calamitous 14th century is remarkable for the disasters, but also the reaction people had to those events. Small previous owners label to top of front pastedown, several closed tears and mild toning to upper edges of dust jacket. Notes from china, a distant mirror, practicing history, the march of. Barbara tuchman american author and historian britannica. Tuchman does indeed practice history as a lawyer practices law, or a doctor medicine. The march of folly from troy to vietnam by barbara w.
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