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A Distant Mirror

the Calamitous 14th Century
Nov 17, 2017DavidSpencer99 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I was curious about parallels of medieval times to our own. This book’s cover blurb says, “Tuchman examines not only the great rhythms of history but the grind and texture of domestic life: what childhood was like; what marriage meant; how money, taxes and war dominated the livers of serf, noble, and clergy alike.” I appreciated the explanation of royalty’s frivolous spending and taxing to support their vain pursuit of honor and glory. I had never heard of the Free Company that threatened peaceful existence between wars. I was enlightened by the various uprisings among the commoners that almost changed society but foundered on lack of a common goal and enduring leader. But, I had to infer that serfs and laborers get the dreary dregs, because we get no details on them. With sources like Froissart and the Monk of St. Denis, we see only the childhoods and weddings of knights and dukes. Tuchman confines our view of domestic life to the castle, and occasionally, the guild hall. With the title “A Distant Mirror” I had hoped to find more distinct parallels between Tuchman’s calamitous 14th century and our increasingly disturbed 21st century. I didn’t find many because she shows the effects of war, plague, marauding Free Companies, and religious schism almost exclusively from the viewpoint of nobles, with brief mention mechants and guild members.