How the Irish Saved Civilization
The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
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How the Irish Saved Civilization
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Narrated by:
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Liam Neeson
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By:
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Thomas Cahill
About this listen
The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift, and a book in the best tradition of popular history - the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe.
Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars" - and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. In this entertaining and compelling narrative, Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Europe evolved from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era.
Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization - copying manuscripts of Greek and Latin writers, both pagan and Christian, while libraries and learning on the continent were forever lost - they brought their uniquely Irish worldview to the task. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated.
In the tradition of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, How the Irish Saved Civilization reconstructs an era that few know about but which is central to understanding our past and our cultural heritage. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization.
©1997 Thomas Cahill (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Liam Neeson's rich, smooth voice delineates each element of political, religious, and cultural alliance." (AudioFile)
"Cahill's lovely prose breathes life into a 1,600-year-old history." (The Los Angeles Times)
What listeners say about How the Irish Saved Civilization
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Niel
- 07-01-23
Beautiful telling of unexpected heroism
This remarkable story filled in a gap in my understanding of European history in that I did not know existed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A. Crean
- 03-11-20
Excellent review of a much forgotten period
Fantastic use of words and imagery that lets you really appreciate how the world changed gradually and effectively through the spirit of the Irish and St Patrick. Liam Neeson really adds to the dept of drama that the book relays from start to finish.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- darren oleary
- 09-12-19
amazing books
amazing books much history not taught in school and Liam Neeson was the best person for the narration
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-12-21
A hidden gem & authentically narrated by Liam Neeson
A wonderful story of an often overlooked era and Irish contribution, as the leading light of European civilization.
Devastatingly ironic how colonial propaganda centuries later would label the Irish as wild, uncultured savages to be tamed, the Elizabethans even contemplating genocide.
An excellent book that reads as a poem, particularly recited in Liam Neesons authenticate tones.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Blake
- 27-05-20
Not what u expected but a very good listen
Genuinely enjoyed this book, though 50% is about St. Patrick which I was not expecting. Overall a very enjoyable listen.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Liam Murphy
- 12-09-20
Homage to St Patrick
Very disappointing.
Where it lacks in history it makes up for with a homage to St Patrick.
I got a third of the way through and had to put an end to this Catholic propaganda.
Religious diatribe.
I'm returning this title.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- ferne/mark
- 03-10-18
historically interesting but that music
as an Irish person I am annoyed that I wasn't educated in the early history and I wish I had known more. this book was enlightening and I enjoyed most of it but the musical interludes made it come across as cheap in a stereotypical Irish way and that was very off-putting
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