History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Two Lives of Charlemagne (Penguin Classics)

Average customer rating:

Einhard gives some real insight into the man.
Not all books are novels (or even fiction, for that matter)
Einhard and Notker the Stammerer
1,200 years old
An excellent source on the early middle ages

Two Lives of Charlemagne (Penguin Classics)
Einhard , and Notker the Stammerer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140442138

Customer Reviews:

Einhard gives some real insight into the man........2007-09-16

When I first read Lewis Thorpe's translations of Charlemagne's biographies by Einhard and Notker the Stammerer, I realised that these were of varying value in assessing the man, king, and emperor. Einhard, who was a monk and in effect Charlemagne's private secretary and thus close to the Frankish king, gives a lucid, fairly-detailed, and down-to-earth description of Charlemagne as man, ruler, and father. Even allowing for the fact that he was writing about his late lord and may have indulged in a little licence in praising the late emperor-king, the reader does get some genuine and valuable insights into Charlemagne as a man and ruler and the times in which he lived. He covers all the great events of Charlemagne's reign, such as the 32-year war against the Saxons; and on occasion, he could be mildly critical of his late lord, such as when he wrote that Charlemagne tended to dote on and be over-protective of his daughters. On the other hand, Notker's life of Charlemagne is not a real account of Charlemagne's life but more fanciful and inclined to mediaeval myth and legend; however for all that, the stammering Notker's life of the great man is still enjoyable to read. I would recommend to anyone to read Lewis Thorpe's eminently-readable translations of the two lives, especially Einhard's, as they do give some real insight and understanding of one of the great historical figures of mediaeval and Western history.

Not all books are novels (or even fiction, for that matter).......2007-08-23

The title of this book (i.e., "Two Lives") is not at all misleading if you understand the translators' understanding of the word "life" -- it's the medieval use (from the Latin, "vita", as suggested by the title of one of the "lives," Einhard's Vita Karoli Magni, or the Life of Charles the Great). Although Notker chose to write the Gesta Karoli (or "Acts of Charles"), the idea of it being a chronicle of Charlemagne's life is basically the same as Einhard's. The main difference is that a Vita is frequently written about a saint, whereas gesta are reserved for secular subjects; a little-known fact is that Charlemagne was canonized because of the efforts of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England, in the 12th century. In any event, the vita can be construed as "fiction" in a modern understanding of history, but certainly not in a modern expectation of a novel... if you're looking for some salacious fluff, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for insight into Charlemagne's life and/or the late-8th or early-9th centuries, then this will be an ideal choice.

Einhard and Notker the Stammerer .......2007-08-09

The pairing of these vastly different accounts of the life and deeds of Charlemagne presents the reader with information about change of perception of the great emperor overtime. Charlemagne, in the many centuries after his death in 814, changes from a historical person into a legendary King Arthur-esque figure, a model chivalric knight and one of the Nine Worthies (a Medieval list of the most chivalric knights of all time), his paladins analogous to Arthur's Knights, and the subject of the first chansons de geste.

The first source, commissioned the request of Louis the Pious one of Charlemagne's successors, was written by Einhard, a monk, historian, and a dedicated servant of Charlemagne. His Life of Charlemagne, written between 817-830 is clearly in the vein of the famous Roman historian Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars (a text that existed at the monastery where the author worked). The work is brief, to the point, and for the most part does not include tangential information, and is biased. The bias is completely understandable and the introduction to the text points out where and why. His chronicle was written to make Louis the Pious' famous father look good. For example, one of the morally stained aspects of the Charlemagne's reign were the actions of his unmoral daughters, which Einhard carefully does not tell us about. Einhard, in short, sometimes deliberately obscures the truth. However, what is so appealing about Einhard's text is the fact that his most of his information was based off of 26 years as a servant of Charlemagne and his court, and information that he includes of actions before Charlemagne's reign most likely was gathered from sources and documents which he had access to. Lastly, Einhard's attempt at stringently following the model of Suetonius Twelve Caesars makes him connect the characteristics of great emperors such as Augustus to Charlemagne, obscuring Charlemagne's actual habits, personality etc...

The next chronicle, written 70 years later by a self described lazy, toothless, stammering, monk who could be either, Notker the Stammerer, or the Monk of Saint Gall, or both in one person, is completely different. The introduction states immediately what most reader's minds will skip. I quote "Our first danger is that when we put De Carolo Magno side by side with Vita Caroli we may be comparing it with something quite dissimilar; and our second that we may be criticizing both Einhard and the Monk of Saint Gall for failing to achieve what they did not set out to do." Einhard, wanted Charlemagne to look good, this monk wants to give his fellow monks fables, stories, semi-historical events, moral tales concerning bishops and churchman, that are all connected merely by the presence of Charlemagne in each. Moral tales are the most predominate. This is illustrated by these chapter headings: the bishop who bought a stuffed mouse, the bishop who gave Charlemagne cheese to eat on Friday, the bishop who thought himself divine, the bishop who dreamed he had sex etc... In the section where the monk talks about Charlemagne's extensive military adventures he is more concerned again, with short tidbit tales that have nothing to do with the military campaigns: the two illegitimate children who fought bravely for Charlemagne, the two brave soldiers, etc... Charlemagne has begun his journey to the realm of legend a mere 70 years after his death. Notker the Stammerer is writing for the entertainment of his fellow monks and in so doing explains the perception of Charlemagne over time.

The introduction is extensive and to the point, it does not merely summarize but explains. The notes do not merely present trifling material but ADD extensively to the text. The two vastly different texts do not rehash the same material but rather explain the same person in vastly different ways for vastly different purposes: one, using historical fact, the other using semi-historical stories and anecdotes concerning the moral behavior of bishops. These are very good sources for research and for the casual historian.

1,200 years old.......2006-07-17

Looking at the three 'one-star' reviews this book has received, I would point out they are all written in the same style, are close in date and look suspiciously like they were all written by the same person.

Yes, this is a wonderful primary source.

With Einhard's story you are actually reading the work of a person who knew Charlemagne (who lived approx. 742-814AD).

Prior to Charlemagne there basically was no Germanic literature. Charlemagne encouraged book learning and the writing of what had before then been either purely oral or simply not remembered. We are looking at the birth of Germanic Literature and also the birth of Germanic recorded history. Before this, (apart from a few glosses in the 7th Century) there is only the archaeological record and the writings of neighbouring literate cultures like the Romans about their Germanic neighbours to turn to for illumination.

These glimpses into the minds of people whose culture and outlook on the world are both so different to our own but also has so profoundly impacted the development of our modern day life are fascinating.

Charlemagne after all followed in the footsteps of the Roman Caesars in his attempt to create a great and literate civilisation and by doing so deeply influenced the Anglo-Saxons in England. Some of the earliest Saxon writings were commissioned by Charlemagne and his son, Louis the Pious. Alfred the Great was deeply influenced by his example. It was Alfred the Greats encouragement of Anglo-Saxon literature that established sound foundations for later developments in English literature.

I preferred Einhard as I think he succeeded in showing Charlemagne the man to a greater degree than Notker writing a hundred years later. Already with Notker the 'legendising' of Charlemagne made him more one dimensional and also as you can see in the foot notes more inaccuracies creep into Notker's text. There is also something more primitive and 'mystical' about Einhard. Mystical, mind you when one of Charlemagne's rivals 'mysteriously' dies. ;) But this is not really a criticism of Notker as he gives a feel for the development both of Germanic culture one hundred years further on and also some insight into the making of the legend of Charlemagne.

An excellent source on the early middle ages.......2006-01-30

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is a "source document" - that is to say, it is history written by those who witnessed the event (or in this case, personally knew the person of whom they were writing about.) As with any eye-witness, their accounts need to be taken with a dose of skepticism. With that said, _Two Lives of Charlemagne_ provides an insightful and (for the time period) a relatively complete picture of one of the most influential figures in European history. Einhard's biography provides detail about Charlemagne as king: the political challenges he faced, and the numerous reforms he made. The second account (Notker's) details the religious life of Charlemagne, placing him in an almost "saintly" light.

While the veracity of events presented here may be questionable (the purpose of "history" and "biography" in the present is very different from 1300 years ago), they do provide an excellent sense of Charlemagne's time - which is why I give it 5 stars.

Son of Charlemagne (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).)

Average customer rating:

The pluses and minuses of " Son of Charlemagne"
Bringing history to life
Son of Charlemagne
An insider view of Charles the Great
This is a very good book!

Son of Charlemagne (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).)
Barbara Willard
Manufacturer: Bethlehem Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1883937302

Customer Reviews:

The pluses and minuses of " Son of Charlemagne".......2007-10-07

I think "Son of Charlemagne" was very interesting. Before reading the book, I didn't think that well of Charlemagne, but after reading this book, my opinion changed. This book develops the life of Charlemagne through the eyes of his son, Carl. The plot was well developed, but on the negative side, the continuing change in area was confusing. The constant change from city to city was confusing, especially when I would go a few days without reading it. There was also many main characters, and so it was hard to remember who was who. I still enjoyed it, however, because it taught history, (which i don't particularly like), in a novel setting, so it was more fun to read. I have already recommended this book to someone else. And I would recommend it to you, too, if you would like to learn more about French medeivel history. Just be prepared for some confusion, unless you can easily hold a bunch of information in your head!!

Haley Houchens
(age 13)

Bringing history to life.......2007-05-08

This telling of the life of Charlemagne was clearly intended for younger readers, but I must tell you, I enjoyed it very much anyway. Told through the eyes of Carl, his second son, the story of Charlemagne is brought to life in a vivid and personal way. The tale focuses mainly on the private lives of the great King and his family, mentioning most of the great battles and campaigns only in passing. It makes plain Charlemagne's love for his family, even though the demands of rule often forced him into difficult--and sometimes brutal--decisions.

I particularly liked how the author was able to convey historical detail about the time period in an interesting way without being overly didactic. The book introduces the young reader to a variety of historical personages (like Alcuin and Pope Hadrian) and ancient peoples (like the Saxons and Avars). The book makes clear Charlemagne's attachment to learning and his devotion to the Catholic Church and the Papacy in particular.

Personally, I would have preferred a little more action and detail on Charlemagne's military accomplishments, but I suppose that's a man thing. If you like historical novels with a Catholic flair like this one, I would also recommend Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last

Son of Charlemagne.......2006-02-07

I really enjoyed reading Son of Charlemagne for history. I learned more facts about Charlemagne in this book than in a regular study on him. It is a great book to read in your spare time. This book is told by his son Carl's point of view.

An insider view of Charles the Great.......2004-12-29

We enjoyed this story of Charlemagne told by viewing the life of one of his sons, Carl. While not intensely detailed in regards to his historical battles, though they are referenced (and one particularly brutal event is covered intensely), it gives more of an insider view with the focus on his family life. That was very interesting! This incredible world leader was a devoted family man who desired for his children to travel with him whenever possible. He humbly sought a better education for himself, his children and his subjects. This focus led to the Carolingian Renaissance. While Charles the Great certainly had flaws, those too were inspiring examples. These multifacted qualities resulted in his rise from King of the Franks to coronation as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Son of Charlemagne was written very personally, a tender glimpse into the real life struggles of a political giant.

This is a very good book!.......2001-11-21

My sons and I enjoyed this book. It is about Charlemagne, but written from the perspective of his eldest son, so it keeps their interest. This booked sparked us looking into Charlemagne in more detail, from the history books, so it was great.

The Holy Roman Empire and Charlemagne in World History (In World History)

Average customer rating:

Not just for children...
Excellent Book

The Holy Roman Empire and Charlemagne in World History (In World History)
Jeff Sypeck
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0766019012

Customer Reviews:

Not just for children..........2006-04-13

Although the book was written for middle-schoolers, most Americans can't give a single fact about Charlemagne. His story is told in an engaging style with language appropriate for adults. Several maps and illustrations help keep track of events. It serves as a perfect introduction to Mr. Sypeck's next book, due later this year, "Becoming Charlemagne."

Excellent Book.......2002-09-30

Mr. Sypeck has done a superb job of bringing the Holy Roman Empire to life for young readers.

Average customer rating:

Daily Life in the Age of Charlemagne:
John J. Butt
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0313316686

Book Description

During Charlemagne's time, life was full of ordinary difficulties: the food supply could be depleted quickly by a bad growing season; most people had no access to artificial lighting; childbearing was extremely dangerous for both the child and the mother. This book covers topics ranging from food, clothing, housing, the intellectual life at court, the military life, the monastic life, and everything in between, giving readers a compelling portrait of how life was lived in the early Middle Ages. Charlemagne's impact on the world is virtually unparalleled. Had he not built his empire and encouraged what became known as the Carolingian renaissance, much of the ancient Roman culture would have been lost, and Christianity may have died in the West. Yet on a personal level, people of Charlemagne's age lived as they had for hundreds of years.

Daily Life in the World of Charlemagne (The Middle Ages Series)

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An engaging look at the Carolingian world.
Great Source
Definite Buy

Daily Life in the World of Charlemagne (The Middle Ages Series)
Pierre Riche , and Jo Ann McNamara
Manufacturer: University of Pennsylvania Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812210964

Book Description

In the growth of towns and the revival of commerce, historians have seen the development of a bourgeois and capitalist Europe, but Pierre RichÃ© reminds us that Carolingians saw a world of forest and wasteland, in which scattered castles and villages were

Customer Reviews:

An engaging look at the Carolingian world........2007-10-15

To save money I ordered a used copy of this book. I received an ex-library book that had never been checked out. Apparently the students at a Catholic girls' school were not very interested in "Daily Life In The World of Charlemagne". The book does present some problems. Originally written in French and translated into English, it presumes a certain amount of knowledge about the Carolingian period. I was forced to resort to Google and Wickipedia a lot to put things in context. The single map provided is fascinating, but if you want know where Aquitaine or Austrasia were located you will have to find another reference. Compounding the difficulty is a lack of good source material. The author wryly confronts this problem in his preface, "Carolingian writers, shut up in their work rooms, rarely looked out the window at the life around them."

In spite of these difficulties the author presents a compelling picture of a sparsely populated land, where life was hard, famine frequent, and people often didn't live through the winter. Not only were food and fuel scarce but there was an ever present danger from wolves and other wild animals, not to mention the ever present brigands. In a society where men were often forced to chose between being peasants or being monks it is easy to understand how the stronger and more independent ones could be tempted by a life of banditry.

On the whole I found the book to very readable. By comparison the book I read about the Merovingians was positively opaque. In an over crowded world where we are on the verge of being implanted with RFID chips, and our cell phones can be used to track us, there is something alluring about the Carolingian world in spite of its hardships.

Great Source.......2005-09-20

This is a good reference book as well as a book that you can read straight through. It helps paint a picture of life in the Early Middle ages.

Definite Buy.......2004-06-16

Riche read the European source documents, written in a bewildering array of languages, and synthesized them; all for our reading pleasure. If you are wondering, "Who are those guys?", read it.

The Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology: Legends of Charlemagne, the Age of Chivalry, the Age of Fable (Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology)

Average customer rating:

Not the high culture you might be looking for
Great Book

The Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology: Legends of Charlemagne, the Age of Chivalry, the Age of Fable (Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology)
Thomas Bulfinch
Manufacturer: MacMillan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0028620631

Book Description

Here are the worlds most-loved stories, in a dynamic visual tour de force for todays readers. Each timeless myth is superbly presented in story form and enhanced with original art work by world-renowned artist Giovanni Caselli. Though Bulfinchs has been heralded for more than a century, it has never been published in so beautiful and accessible a format. Evocative four-color illustrations, many full-page, bring to life key events and characters of these universal tales and sagasfrom the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods to the heroes of the Crusades, from the exploits of Robin Hood to the feats of Richard the Lionheart. As enjoyable now as when Bulfinch first assembled them, these selections come from a variety of worksOvids classic Metamorphoses, Egyptian myths, Eastern mythology, and Hindu, Norse, and Celtic sources. Together they form a remarkable tapestry of human endeavor: dreams, illusions, adventures, loves lost and loves found. In this handsome series, they speak to us afresh, across the ages, vivified through Casellis inspired art. Original footnotes, indexes, and prefaces make this series not only entertaining, but completely authoritative as well.Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867), writer and mythologist, was the first to create a popular compendium of ancient myths and legends. Giovanni Caselli (b. Florence, 1939) is one of Europes most celebrated authors and illustrators. His books have sold in the millions.

Customer Reviews:

Not the high culture you might be looking for.......2007-02-08

The stories in this book, first published in 1855, are wonderful. All of the famous Olympian heroes and gods are here in well-told stories, written in fine prose at a level simple enough for small children. The back cover says that the book contains, "Evocative myths of Greece and Rome; Action-packed tales of the Norse gods; Original text, untouched and unabridged; First full-color illustrated edition of a timeless classic." All true.

However, what the back cover also says is that the book contains, "Specially created illustrations and maps by a world-renowned artist." Very misleading. Don't let the "world-renowned artist" phrase fool you. Treat it like the throw-away phrase, "critics rave" applied to movies in the daily newspaper.

My first issue is with the artist's drawing ability. His is on the same level as those who draw the cheap superhero cartoons on Nickoleon on Saturday morning. Not really a problem in itself, it's just disappointing that such well-crafted stories should be coupled with such bad "art."

The other, much bigger, problem is the way the people are posed and the way their features are presented. I do not object to nudity per se; I am very familiar with Greek, Roman, and Christian high art. But Giovanni Caselli's drawings are not the tastefully done nudes of antiquity. They are more like the drawings seen in men's magazines. They are not classically beautiful, not even romantically seductive. They are just cheaply sexual. There are dozens of these inappropriate drawings, spread liberally throughout the book. They will be very distracting to your child and -- if you have any culture at all -- distressing to you.

Just because something is childish does not mean it is fit for children. Unless you are looking to introduce your children to poor art and soft porn, I would recommend you skip this book. The good Christian, Jewish, Heathen, Asatru, etc., parent who wants to raise a classically educated child should get the original stories without these illustrations.

Great Book.......2001-03-20

This amazingly illustrated book(s) is so enjoyable. The read is quite fun and the pictures make it look spectacular. It keeps you interested at every piont, with the amazing stories of ancient mythologies. The Age of Fable is the best on information for world mythologies, though mainly that of Greece and Rome. Still there are stories I have never read before of the all-powerful gods of these old religions. There are three volumes altogether, and they are all very fun to read and the pictures help you imagine what things might have looked like.

Mohammed, Charlemagne and the Origins of Europe

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Mohammed, Charlemagne and the Origins of Europe
Richard Hodges
Manufacturer: Cornell University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801492629

Towns and Trade in the Age of Charlemagne (Duckworth Debates in Archaeology) (Duckworth Debates in Archaeology)

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The rebirth of urbanism in Carolingian Europe

Towns and Trade in the Age of Charlemagne (Duckworth Debates in Archaeology) (Duckworth Debates in Archaeology)
Richard Hodges
Manufacturer: Duckworth Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0715629654

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Preface 7 1. Binary opposites and paradigms 11 2. Charlemagne s elephant 35 3. Dream cities: Non-places 69 4. Charlemagne as model town-maker 93 5. Conclusion 119 Bibliography 126 Index 140

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The rebirth of urbanism in Carolingian Europe.......2002-05-31

A short introduction to urban continuity/discontinuity between Classical Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. A history of the debate from Pirenne and interpretations of the historical literature to the recent archaeology of the North Sea emporiums such as Dorestad, Hamwic, and Ribe. A excellent and quick read on a subject that vexes historians and archaeologists alike.

The Life & Times Of Charlemagne (Biography from Ancient Civilizations) (Biography from Ancient Civilizations)

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The Life & Times Of Charlemagne (Biography from Ancient Civilizations) (Biography from Ancient Civilizations)
Jim Whiting
Manufacturer: Mitchell Lane Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ancient | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1584153466
Release Date: 2005-09-01

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Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, was one of the worlds greatest military leaders. He became the leader of the Franks (who lived in modern-day France) in 768. Under his command, Frankish armies conquered most of Western Europe in the following decades. In 800, he was crowned emperor by Pope Leo XII. His greatness rested on more than military prowess. He was always interested in education, both for himself and for his subjects. He assembled many of the most noted scholars in Europe at his capital in Aachen, Germany and began the Carolingian Renaissance. This was a period of heightened learning, innovations in architecture, and the preservation of many priceless books from earlier centuries.

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