tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post5230357412456418168..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. TuchmanBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-67159629307573577112013-02-01T05:32:59.246-05:002013-02-01T05:32:59.246-05:00Ha, Ha! My horrendous typing! My apologies Guy for...Ha, Ha! My horrendous typing! My apologies Guy for mangling your name!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-79557341062907022092013-02-01T03:36:51.669-05:002013-02-01T03:36:51.669-05:00Hi Brian - Yes, I meant that it influenced Camus&#...Hi Brian - Yes, I meant that it influenced Camus' The Plague and after initial confusion realised Gut is just Guy in disguise. I'm looking forward to browsing your blog which looks v. interesting, by the way.<br />Séamus Dugganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574186409184247059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-26863721071936680332013-01-31T22:08:21.818-05:002013-01-31T22:08:21.818-05:00Hi Seamus - Gut also had really good things to say...Hi Seamus - Gut also had really good things to say about The Journal of a Plague Year. I really must give it a try. <br /><br />I assume that top some extent it influenced Camus's The Plague? I really thought that was an extraordinary book.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44834084082617092912013-01-31T18:57:29.957-05:002013-01-31T18:57:29.957-05:00This is one of my favourite books, let alone histo...This is one of my favourite books, let alone history books. Tuchman engages with the story and characters while painting incredibly vivid historical tableaux. I'd also recommend <b>The Journal of a Plague Year</b>, although it is based during a later outbreak. It was certainly an influence on Camus and it's mixing of history and fiction still feels modern.Séamus Dugganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00574186409184247059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33537023115403004832013-01-22T20:05:53.710-05:002013-01-22T20:05:53.710-05:00Hi Parish - Thanks for the good word! The Medici&#...Hi Parish - Thanks for the good word! The Medici's were certainly a fascinating family. I think that one would learn a lot reading about them.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33178258444453084812013-01-22T14:16:49.287-05:002013-01-22T14:16:49.287-05:00Will mirror the comments that this seems a fascina...Will mirror the comments that this seems a fascinating read, it reminds of a book about the Medici's(series of 2)I read a while ago but whose authors name escapes. Great post & congrats on the year.@parridhlanternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793548943992250238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-91365921822080128552013-01-19T11:48:43.966-05:002013-01-19T11:48:43.966-05:00Hi Belle - There is so much interesting to read. I...Hi Belle - There is so much interesting to read. I think that both the Bible as well as history are worthwhile. They can be difficult however. I would say with history that one should find what is intereting to them. There are so many directions that one can go,<br /><br />I agree about religion. In some ways it has had an enormously positive impact, but is has also created so much conflict and strife. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-37232174651654259382013-01-19T11:41:10.322-05:002013-01-19T11:41:10.322-05:00Hi Richard - It seems that this book has been on m...Hi Richard - It seems that this book has been on many people's TBR. I stumbled on it somewhat randomly. It is more famous that I initially thought. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58822648233157856302013-01-19T08:47:53.062-05:002013-01-19T08:47:53.062-05:00“Whatever solace the Christian faith could give wa... “Whatever solace the Christian faith could give was balanced by the anxiety it generated.”<br /><br />Well, bingo! Nothing much has changed in religion then. <br /><br />I could never commit to reading history the way you do right now but I do see myself rocking away my old age with books like this. I seriously thought it would be the Bible, but now I'm thinking it needs to be history books. <br /><br />As usual, a most excellent review.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28836495363565910662013-01-19T00:28:25.548-05:002013-01-19T00:28:25.548-05:00Have wanted to read this for years, Brian, but hav...Have wanted to read this for years, Brian, but have yet to get around to it. Thanks for the enthusiastic recommendation and reminder!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55639954217108726892013-01-18T19:40:13.377-05:002013-01-18T19:40:13.377-05:00Hi Guy - Thank!
I looked it up on Project Gutenb...Hi Guy - Thank!<br /><br /> I looked it up on Project Gutenberg and I can get it free. I think that I will download it!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30629012101059396152013-01-18T18:33:23.986-05:002013-01-18T18:33:23.986-05:00Brian: I think you can get it free for the kindleBrian: I think you can get it free for the kindleGuy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46746645048703358732013-01-18T09:58:42.767-05:002013-01-18T09:58:42.767-05:00Hi Delia - I think that may of us would say that ...Hi Delia - I think that may of us would say that much of out focus has been later centuries and also on antiquity. It seems, at least in my mind the tears between the fall of the Roman Empire and the 16th century are somewhat shrouded.<br /><br />I agree about history and art and believe that it works both ways, art also influences history!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-45396253491388375672013-01-17T22:46:16.944-05:002013-01-17T22:46:16.944-05:00Interesting book - what terrible times! It's a...Interesting book - what terrible times! It's always fascinating to read about history and how it influenced the arts. I admit to not having read any books about the plague as my interests lay more towards the 17th and 18th century. Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77530173424603965872013-01-17T05:56:52.209-05:002013-01-17T05:56:52.209-05:00I have not read Defoe's book. I will try to ad...I have not read Defoe's book. I will try to add it to my TBR.<br /><br />Coucy was a minor historical character at best. Tuchman chose to chronicle his experiences since there was ample historical material and since his travels and experiences were vast and somewhat comprehensive. It allowed her to include a personal narrative in the book.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44714527462100343612013-01-17T00:35:53.512-05:002013-01-17T00:35:53.512-05:00I have never heard a negative thing about this boo...I have never heard a negative thing about this book, and I've come across many people who've read it--that doesn't include me. <br /><br />Never heard of the Knight you mentioned before. <br /><br />Have you read Daniel Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year? I love that book. It reads as though it's non fiction, an eye witness account which it couldn't be. Great stuff!Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-17360657231064712032013-01-16T22:22:01.635-05:002013-01-16T22:22:01.635-05:00Hi Serrallion - Indeed Tuchman has a great reputat...Hi Serrallion - Indeed Tuchman has a great reputation. I believe that she has done much scholarship on World War I but I have not read anything other then this book. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71941047556755577262013-01-16T22:19:23.246-05:002013-01-16T22:19:23.246-05:00Hi Rachel - It is amazing just how well rounded a ...Hi Rachel - It is amazing just how well rounded a historian Tuchman is. There is a fair amount about battles and evan strategy in this book. There is also a lot about culture. But there is also a lot about how the warfare of the time influenced culture.<br /><br />I think that ultimately you would enjoy this even if you were bored with some short segments.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-87304657785078591472013-01-16T13:57:46.279-05:002013-01-16T13:57:46.279-05:00Brian -
I've had this one on my TBR list for...Brian - <br /><br />I've had this one on my TBR list for going on 20 years now, and I'm grateful to you and your fine post for bringing it back to my attention. I was always impressed by Tuchman's reputation as an autodidact, and look forward to reading her work.seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-90543303712736504922013-01-16T10:33:08.871-05:002013-01-16T10:33:08.871-05:00This sounds like an excellent history. I'm int...This sounds like an excellent history. I'm interested in the period, especially books that delve into culture (as this one seems to). I've always found culture (and plagues!) more interesting than war as far as history goes. That is, I'm interested in the cultural causes and impacts of war, but not so much in strategy/battles.<br /><br />This book looks like something I'd really enjoy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974988315420539840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-31028673656189448252013-01-16T09:34:42.881-05:002013-01-16T09:34:42.881-05:00Hi Michelle - I thought that I was the only who wa...Hi Michelle - I thought that I was the only who was not sure which books that I owned or not! If you do read this I would love to hear your take on it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52465445711921880922013-01-16T02:17:20.710-05:002013-01-16T02:17:20.710-05:00Great review! I'm thinking I may own this book...Great review! I'm thinking I may own this book. I have a ton of non-fiction on my shelves that I really need to get to. This sounds like one I should read. If I don't have it, I will be looking to add it, or at least check it out at the library.Michelle Stockard Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03572227726980569386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55384734598423739562013-01-15T22:38:39.458-05:002013-01-15T22:38:39.458-05:00Thanks Jane!
I know the feeling of having books s...Thanks Jane!<br /><br />I know the feeling of having books sitting around forever that I really want to read!<br /><br />Based upon your tastes I really think that you would like this one. I would love to hear your thoughts on it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-13474034713865319712013-01-15T22:31:26.488-05:002013-01-15T22:31:26.488-05:00Oh wow! Thanks a lot, now I want to drop everythi...Oh wow! Thanks a lot, now I want to drop everything and read this book...of course, it's been on my shelves unread for years, but it sounds perfect for my current interests. Great review, Brian--you've really whetted my appetite.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-65842501165833207722013-01-15T21:43:40.283-05:002013-01-15T21:43:40.283-05:00Hi Miguel - It is definitely interesting if one is...Hi Miguel - It is definitely interesting if one is interesting in European history.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com