A very interesting and comprehensive work on Peter and the places and people of his time throughout Europe and the Middle East. Very detailed book andA very interesting and comprehensive work on Peter and the places and people of his time throughout Europe and the Middle East. Very detailed book and very interesting. My only complaint, and it is a big one, is that I listened to the audiobook, and Frederick Davidson's highly affected accent is almost unlistenable. One of the worst audiobook narrations I have ever listened to you. Completely unlistenable. ...more
Completing this work was an epic undertaking. The six volumes are massive. But it is fascinating. It covers a much broader period than I expected, witCompleting this work was an epic undertaking. The six volumes are massive. But it is fascinating. It covers a much broader period than I expected, with only the first two volumes really focusing on Rome—the remaining four volumes are focused on the Byzantine empire. But this work is more a primer on the history of the origins of modern Europe and the history of major European and Middle Eastern powers. The complex tapestry of competing powers, the complicated relationship between Christianity and the crown, and competing Christian doctrine makes this a primer for medieval history. So much fascinating subject matter....more
I am surprised how much this book is less about the decline and fall of Rome and more the foundations of modern European history. Volume III covers thI am surprised how much this book is less about the decline and fall of Rome and more the foundations of modern European history. Volume III covers the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the rise of the Goths, the rise of the Frankish kingdom, the conversion of Clovis, and the shift of power to the Eastern Roman Empire.
Volume 4 focuses heavily on the well documented reign of Justinian, Belisarius, wars in Africa, Italy, the Caucuses, and the Levant, legal reforms, the evolution of the Church, and much more.
Gibbon is a surprisingly engaging writer. He surprises with great wit, acerbic criticism, and meaningful political insight. For example, the shade he Gibbon is a surprisingly engaging writer. He surprises with great wit, acerbic criticism, and meaningful political insight. For example, the shade he threw at Commodus was delightful. One part political discourse and another part geography review of the Roman world from Romulus to 300AD. ...more
Generally interesting book on the history of Rome from its founding through 212 AD. I appreciated the heavy emphasis the author put on identifying theGenerally interesting book on the history of Rome from its founding through 212 AD. I appreciated the heavy emphasis the author put on identifying the sources of her conclusions and separating conjecture from demonstrable documentary evidence. She also went to great lengths to explore the everyday lives of ordinary Romans, both in Rome and in the provinces. A good overview of Roman history. ...more
This is a well-written and consistently fascinating work. The histories of Cuba and the United States are inextricably intertwined. This history is enThis is a well-written and consistently fascinating work. The histories of Cuba and the United States are inextricably intertwined. This history is engaging and I enjoyed hearing the history from an average Cuban's perspective. I came away with greater empathy for a Cuban point of view on the history of United States intervention in and exploitation of Cuba.
I felt the author was generally fair and even-handed. The book leans pretty heavily into the paradigm that United States foreign policy is governed solely by imperialism, racism, and an intent to exploit, which, while there are certainly elements of truth, is radically simplistic. The author cherry picks statements from certain U.S. politicians to paint an overly simplistic picture of United States motives. That said, there was certainly plenty of U.S. activity in Cuba that was motivated by less than altruistic purposes, and this book does a good job of providing an inventory of those abuses.
A good portion of the book, unsurprisingly, is dedicated to the Castro regime. Writing about Castro is nearly an impossible task. Ferrer succeeds in upsetting readers on both sides, which isn't necessarily bad.
She doesn't offer readers sufficient treatment to the impact of Castro's confiscations, his imprisonment practices (she rightfully criticized Guantanamo detentions, but gives Castro's similar detentions little discussion), and why so many that fled held such visceral hatred for him. Her discussion of Castro's abuses, while mentioned, do not carry the same emotional weight as her discussion of United States exploitation of and injustices against Cuba.
But I have read a lot of reviews from readers who feel like she was unduly harsh on Castro. While such reviews come from a radical perspective, I concede that writing objectively about Castro, especially in the context of a broader work about the whole of Cuban history is a difficult task. This book is valuable for introducing United States readers to history from a Cuban point of view.
A comprehensive biography that covers all of the key events, highlights Napoleon’s attributes, skills, and practices that made him effective and his mA comprehensive biography that covers all of the key events, highlights Napoleon’s attributes, skills, and practices that made him effective and his mistakes that caused his fall. It falls short of being a compelling five-star book. But it is very good. ...more
A lot of interesting details, but it was hard to identify which claims were based on reliable accounts and which details were based solely on unreliabA lot of interesting details, but it was hard to identify which claims were based on reliable accounts and which details were based solely on unreliable sources and questionable hearsay. An interesting read; the book is a buffet of a number of papacies of questionable character, some with significant impact on broader European history. ...more
Loading...
