THE LAST KNIGHT - The Twilight of the Middle Ages & The Birth of the Modern World
Written by Norman F. Cantor
I’m beginning to become a massive fan of Mr. Cantor’s work. This is the second of his books that I’ve read, and I find it (once again) to be a concise, thorough historical analysis. What more do you want from a scholarly work of history?
The premise of The Last Knight is simple: John of Gaunt is a member of the English Royal Family, and one of the richest & most powerful men in the world of the 14th century. Taking him as the archetype for his time, Cantor constructs a narrative that demonstrates how the decline of the Middle Ages can be reflected through Gaunt’s power, property, manners, beliefs, and lifestyle. Everything occuring in that time period — across national boundaries, religious affiliations & class divides — pivots around Gaunt, as the anchor of his era. As his life slowly fades into the mist, Cantor demonstrates how the Middle Ages went with him…and opened the door for the Renaissance advancements that were eagerly awaiting to take the stage.
It’s a book that reads quickly and simply, but seems packed full of sumptuous detail, along with the acknowledgement of various theories and past works on certain events in relation to Gaunt & the Middle Ages…and where exactly Cantor stands in relation to those previous works. An excellent handbook on an exciting era of transition, it’s almost disappointing that it ends as quickly as it does.
THE WAYFINDERS - Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World
Written by Wade Davis
This is the book I read prior to viewing Avatar…and it was a powerful primer.
As part of the Massey Lecture series, Wade Davis’ speeches have been transcribed into this short but sweet text, which somehow manages to cover a ridiculously large range of societies, civilizations & ethnicities, in such a compact page count (this seems to be the theme for this double book review). The experience of reading it feels like intellectual whiplash…you are hooked into a certain society and lifestyle…only to be ripped away at warp speed to investigate another fascinating society and lifestyle.
The whiplash is worth it. I have never had such a deep or varied taste of ancient, nearly extinct cultures…and I’ve never come away feeling so guilty about being descended from imperialist, domineering, conquering, barbaric European stock. The Wayfinders is a testament to humanity’s legacy…both good and bad…and acts as wisdom and warning to future generations not to make the same mistakes. It’s a message that has been written down & spoken of thousands of times…but as it appears in this book, it’s positively electrifying in presentation and dissemination.
You will walk away from this book stunned, amazed, and disgusted…sometimes simultaneously! Name for me the last book to have THAT kind of affect on its readership… ;-)
