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A Distant Mirror

The Calamitous Fourteenth Century

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A Distant Mirror

Written by: Barbara W. Tuchman
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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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 Audiobooks Europe Medieval Western Western Europe World Middle Ages Witty Siege Comedy Royalty War England Crusade Renaissance
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What the critics say

"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)

"Barbara Tuchman at the top of her powers.... A beautiful, extraordinary book.... She has done nothing finer." (Wall Street Journal)

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I am a great fan of Tuchman. I love the perspective she brings - the condemnation of war and the idiocy beneath the events that bring it about.

Great work of historical analysis

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I was introduced to this book while in University. Listening to it now is my third time thought it. Barbara's language is so evocative it's like she was there. It's an incredible recounting of the past. Wanda's narration is just lovely.

Pure joy

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Very well read, captivating material! Really enjoyed the description of customs, dress, and numbers. The reader adds a lot to the delivery

Very well read, captivating material!

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I'm learning so much from this book, worth a second and third listening. There is a lot of information and detail packed into this book.

It might be one of the best comprehensive guides to the history of the middle-ages.

Kings, Queens, Barons, Princes, Princesses, Peasants, and Priests; this book vividly depicts life in all roles of the medieval age.

medieval history is mind-blowing!

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Tuchman brought fourteenth century France - and the dual popes - to life for me. The reader too grew on me as the story went on.

Very enjoyable.

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