This sweeping historical narrative plunges into the tumultuous 14th century, an era defined by devastating wars, plague, and societal upheaval. The author vividly portrays the lives of ordinary people and powerful rulers alike, examining how these calamities reshaped European civilization. It offers a compelling exploration of one of the most challenging yet transformative periods in Western history. The series is lauded for its meticulous research and evocative depiction of medieval life.
' "Wise, witty, and wonderful . . . A great book, in a great historical tradition." — Commentary The 14th century gives us back two contradictory images: a glittering time of crusades and castles, cathedrals and chivalry, and a dark time of ferocity and spiritual agony, a world plunged into a chaos of war, fear and the Plague. Barbara Tuchman anatomizes the century, revealing both the great rhythms of history and the grain and texture of domestic life as it was lived.