Tag Archives: Story of Civilization

The End of Civilization, or the story thereof

Posted on August 18, 2017 by smellincoffee

Seven years ago, I began reading Will Durant’s epic  Story of Civilization series.  I use ‘epic’ deliberately, for each of the eleven volumes in this series neared a thousand pages, and they covered not just politics but every aspect of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Age of Napoleon

Posted on August 17, 2017 by smellincoffee

The Age of Napoleon© 1975 will Durant870 pages Because I could not stop for Death, he kindly stopped for me – or didn’t.  Will and Ariel Durant intended for Rousseau and Revolution to be the final volume in their epic … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rousseau and Revolution

Posted on August 2, 2017 by smellincoffee

Rousseau and Revolution© 1957 Will and Ariel Durant1092 pages “…little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fallen upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor, and of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Age of Voltaire

Posted on September 30, 2014 by smellincoffee

The Age of Voltaire: A History of Civilization in Western Europe from 1715 to 1756898 pages© 1965 Will and Ariel Durant             The ninth work in Will Durant’s sweeping Story of Civilization, The Age of Voltaire picks up … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Age of Louis XIV

Posted on February 23, 2012 by smellincoffee

The Age of Louis XIV© 1963 Will and Ariel Durant816 pages To read Will Durant is to feast from the smorgasbord of human history. Before the reader lies the full scope of human concern, frailty, and accomplishment, like so many … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Age of Reason Begins

Posted on October 26, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Age of Reason Begins© 1961 Will and Aerial Durant729 pages “We are all citizens of one world, we are all of one blood. To hate a man because he was born in another county, because he speaks a different … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Reformation

Posted on October 2, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Reformation: A history of European civilization from Wyclif to Calvin: 1300-1564© 1957 Will Durant1025 pages Although titled as a work of religious history, The Reformation is almost more a continuation of The Age of Faith in covering the final two … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Renaissance

Posted on September 12, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Renaissance:  A History of Civilization in Italy from 1304-1576 A.D.© 1953 Will Durant776 pages I assumed the Renaissance would be a high point of this series for me, second only to The Age of Reason. After a thousand years … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Age of Faith

Posted on August 30, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Age of Faith© 1980 Will Durant1200 pages After centuries of economic decay, political corruption, and relentless outside attack, the glory of Rome finally surrendered to the tides of history some four centuries into the common era. The western empire gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Caesar and Christ

Posted on October 12, 2010 by smellincoffee

Caesar and Christ© 1944 Will Durant752 pages Ave, Caesar! Athens’ grip on my imagination is rivaled only by Rome — Rome, navel of the world; Rome, which established the languages laws, and religion of western Europe. Like Our Oriental Heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment