Want to read a great book on European history
January 24, 2011 3:52 PM Subscribe
Looking for recommendations for books on the history of western civilization.
Ideally, I want to read something that also touches upon art and architecture in Italy and Spain. We are hoping (if the stars are all aligned!) to take some time off in Italy or Spain in the fall of 2011. Would like to be able to place their cities in their appropriate historical and cultural contexts – but it is not absolutely necessary that a book cover this subject.
The books don’t need to be exhaustive and need not necessarily be (primarily) about history. I had loved reading “The White Rock – An exploration into the Inca heartland”. This really was a book about exploration in Peru, but Hugh Johnson wrote about the Incas with such passion and eloquence that it stayed in my head. Similarly, I still remember James Michener’s Poland from way back (although, it was a work of fiction). I have the “Decline and fall of British Empire” on my reading list for 2011. (The “Decline and Fall of Roman Empire” is an obvious candidate for my current needs. Not sure if this is the best book out there on the subject).
Would very much like to get a few recommendations along these lines.
Ideally, I want to read something that also touches upon art and architecture in Italy and Spain. We are hoping (if the stars are all aligned!) to take some time off in Italy or Spain in the fall of 2011. Would like to be able to place their cities in their appropriate historical and cultural contexts – but it is not absolutely necessary that a book cover this subject.
The books don’t need to be exhaustive and need not necessarily be (primarily) about history. I had loved reading “The White Rock – An exploration into the Inca heartland”. This really was a book about exploration in Peru, but Hugh Johnson wrote about the Incas with such passion and eloquence that it stayed in my head. Similarly, I still remember James Michener’s Poland from way back (although, it was a work of fiction). I have the “Decline and fall of British Empire” on my reading list for 2011. (The “Decline and Fall of Roman Empire” is an obvious candidate for my current needs. Not sure if this is the best book out there on the subject).
Would very much like to get a few recommendations along these lines.
I was just about to mention From Dawn to Decadence myself! On the other end of the size spectrum, there's A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich (who wrote The Story of Art).
posted by Chicken Boolean at 4:05 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by Chicken Boolean at 4:05 PM on January 24, 2011
Daniel J Boorstin's Trilogy , The Discoverers, The Creators, and The Seekers is very much what you are looking for. i linked to the second in the trilogy because it is the one dealing with Art.
Discoverers is probably the best of three, however.
posted by OHenryPacey at 4:19 PM on January 24, 2011
Discoverers is probably the best of three, however.
posted by OHenryPacey at 4:19 PM on January 24, 2011
I've just started Venice: Pure City. I can't really tell how it's going to pan out, yet - it's a bit meandering and so far it doesn't have the structure of most nonfiction/history I typically read. But it might be up your alley.
I also loved Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling - it's more biography (well, biography pertaining to one small moment in art history), but it gave me a great sense of Rome during that time period. The same author also wrote Brunelleschi's Dome, which is I think the more popular title (and is about architecture, so it might fit your interests better).
I also could swear I read a biography of Artemisia Gentilleschi with a similar scope (basically a veiled popular/social history of ordinary Romans during the Renaissance, though the eyes of one particular family), but I can't figure out which it was - pretty sure it wasn't either of the novels based on her story, though.
posted by Sara C. at 4:20 PM on January 24, 2011
I also loved Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling - it's more biography (well, biography pertaining to one small moment in art history), but it gave me a great sense of Rome during that time period. The same author also wrote Brunelleschi's Dome, which is I think the more popular title (and is about architecture, so it might fit your interests better).
I also could swear I read a biography of Artemisia Gentilleschi with a similar scope (basically a veiled popular/social history of ordinary Romans during the Renaissance, though the eyes of one particular family), but I can't figure out which it was - pretty sure it wasn't either of the novels based on her story, though.
posted by Sara C. at 4:20 PM on January 24, 2011
When I was looking for an overview of western civilization, I picked up William McNeill's History of Western Civilizaion: A Handbook. I thought it was great, and it covers art history to some extent.
posted by crLLC at 4:44 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by crLLC at 4:44 PM on January 24, 2011
Guns, Germs, and Steel
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:01 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:01 PM on January 24, 2011
another vote for Dawn to Decadence
Also, Braudel, The Mediterranean.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:46 PM on January 24, 2011
Also, Braudel, The Mediterranean.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:46 PM on January 24, 2011
The Cartoon History of the Universe, and, check out the Folio Society for good calls on what texts are worthwhile. I went through a lot of Folio-Society-published history at one point and was so pleased with it I stopped looking for book reviews &c, just counted on them to only print good volumes, and that worked out very well. (I am praising their selections here, but the physical books themselves are quite nice too)
posted by kmennie at 6:02 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by kmennie at 6:02 PM on January 24, 2011
If I was going to Italy, I would reread Memoirs of Hadrian.
posted by Wantok at 6:43 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by Wantok at 6:43 PM on January 24, 2011
Will & Ariel Durant, The Story of Civilization.
posted by ovvl at 8:47 PM on January 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 8:47 PM on January 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
You mentioned Gibbon as one source you are considering, and if something like that or Burckhardt is what you have in mind, then I reckon what you're really aiming for is sort of a 19th C. education in Western civ. And that's a great idea. The appreciation of Italian art and antiquities itself has such a special place in the history of Western civilization that you might consider reading/browsing relevant parts of Goethe's Italian Journey, some essays from Pater's Renaissance, and choice bits of Ruskin's The Stones of Venice and other things like that to experience works that do double duty, not just teaching you about Italian art and architecture but also incorporating you into a certain tradition as a traveler. There's no chance you'll read it all, but just knowing what topics they cover and how they approach things may alert you to quite a bit.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 1:59 AM on January 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Monsieur Caution at 1:59 AM on January 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you! I didn't expect so many great recommendations :-). I am definitely going to get "From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life 1500 to the Present". It seems closest to what I wanted (although at 800 pages, it is a little intimidating).
I am going to spend some time researching what else to read. I am probably going to pick up "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" and Boorstin's "Creators" too, although suspect the first book is what I am going to read first.
Thank you very much once again (I was somewhat unexpectedly swamped at work and therefore couldn't respond sooner ..)
posted by justlooking at 7:00 PM on January 25, 2011
I am going to spend some time researching what else to read. I am probably going to pick up "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" and Boorstin's "Creators" too, although suspect the first book is what I am going to read first.
Thank you very much once again (I was somewhat unexpectedly swamped at work and therefore couldn't respond sooner ..)
posted by justlooking at 7:00 PM on January 25, 2011
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posted by KokuRyu at 4:01 PM on January 24, 2011