the pursuit of glory review

Considering the time span and all the countries Blanning looks at, this approach is a good way to draw comparisons (based on the themes the writer picks for consecutive periods, such as communications, palaces and manufacturing etc.) These greatly improved roads allowed other improvements, like much more efficient and much less costly postal service. I've read this book for the third time and I'm now just reviewing it. The Pursuit of Glory brings to life one of the most extraordinary periods in European history - from the battered, introvert continent after the Thirty Years War to the dynamic one that experienced the French Revolution and the wars of Napoleon. In 1754 a newspaper advertisement proclaimed, "However incredible it may appear, this coach will actually arrive in London four days after leaving Manchester. Whatever, many academics are, but it skews his analysis and the content of this book. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Pursuit of Glory: Finding Satisfaction in Christ Alone at Amazon.com. The slow pace of my reading is based on that fact that it is a dense book and requires you to take time to absorb the information. Absolutely amazing - and part of a longer series I didn't know existed before, now I have to read all of those, thank you very much, I'll just stop pretending to be an adult for 7 months, and then go back to pretending, I guess. There is a prodigious … I'm sure it's incredibly difficult to write a book about European History covering a hundred and fifty years which is at all academically respectable; Mr Blanning has certainly done it. “Anything the Austrians could do, the Prussians could do better.”, “By its durability this settlement proved that conservative liberty is an oxymoron, not a contradiction in terms.”. It's not that I don't like reading about roads and waterways and palaces and gardens and such, it's just that I would prefer them woven into a narrative, interacting with all the wars and revolutions and tsarinas and witches and such. Granted, the Oxford series of the US gives each author about 30 years to write about and about one country, a considerably easier task than writing about hundreds of years of the entire Europe. 8 reviews. While everyone likely to read this book has heard of the scientific revolution, brought about by people like Isaac Newton, and the industrial revolution that began toward the end of the period (both well covered here), the agricultural revolution occurring at the same time was equally important. Start your review of Pursuit of Glory. Second, the book's perspective is bottom up in a slightly too literal sense. Eagerly waiting for the next volume in the series (and hopefully I make it through a little faster this time...). Covering what he sees as the five revolutions of the period (French, American, industrial, scientific and romantic), he weaves them all together into a fascinating whole. Gallipoli, holy war, mutiny, and the Russian Revolution await. The bulk of the book is not about wars and kings, which I appreciated: there’s a lot about communication, agriculture, religion, culture etc. [Blanning] brings knowledge, expertise, sound judgment and a colorful narrative style.”–The Economist. The author mainly relies on these comparisons for his bigger arguments. Unfortunately, that's exactly what Blanning did with this book. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Roger Russell rated it really liked it May 05, 2017. In France travel times were cut in half and the comfort of riding in coaches much improved by the better roads. $39.95. Literally on the final page he mentions the French and American revolutions and then discusses the agricultural, industrial, and commercial revolutions. Twists, turns, red herrings, the usual suspects: These books have it all...and more. In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia brought the Thirty Years' War to an end. The Pursuit of Glory Europe 1648-1815By Tim BlanningIllustrated. So where an author might want to write "the condition of roads in Europe was very bad in 1648, but by the nineteenth. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Penguin History of Europe Ser. by Viking Adult. IN PURSUIT OF GLORY is the autobiography of Bradley Wiggins. The people who lived through this transportation revolution regarded it with the same wonder that we regard, say, the global positioning systems that now keep us from getting lost. To see what your friends thought of this book. The bulk of the book is not about wars and kings, which I appreciated: there’s a lot about communication, agriculture, religion, culture etc. When I purchased two of the books from the Penguin History of Europe series, this one and the next installment by R. Evans, I had the same hope for it as for Oxford History of the United States series, of which I have read two books. Europe in the eighteenth century 3. Join us on a journey of discovery and uncover the truth behind the myth. Fallen humanity has a relentless appetite for self-glory. In 1648 the main roads in Europe were mostly the ones that the Romans had built 1,500 years earlier and that had been neglected ever since. Free shipping for many products! The Pursuit of Glory brings to life one of the most extraordinary periods in European history from the battered, introvert continent after the Thirty Years War to the dynamic one that experienced the French Revolution and the wars of Napoleon. Wendy Krohn rated it liked it Aug 14, 2019. We’d love your help. But as with Frederick the Great, which I read earlier this year, it gets bogged down in minor details and loses the narrative thrust after a while. Although the Europeans didn't know it, of course, this devastating conflict would prove to be the last of the Wars of Religion that had been tearing the continent apart since the start of the Reformation in 1517. This sort of history can be deadly dull, an endless recitation of facts and statistics. ", Blanning is also the master of the unexpected connection. Pursuit of Glory: The Great War in the Near East is a sequel to the award-winning Paths of Glory. Europe was less wealthy and, in many ways, less economically advanced than other parts of the world, like Mughal India and China. The material covered is broad, which has some effect in the flow of the book. Created in the image of a glorious God, we intrinsically seek glory. It was written in 2008 after the Beijing Olympics and before Wiggin’s success in the Tour De France in 2009. 1. The first half is definitely 5 stars. Description. Blanning thoroughly covers the politics and endless wars of the era. This creates a broad, interesting story; at some moments Blanning diverts from the main road, but always in an interesting way and with appealing examples. “The Pursuit of Glory,” at 708 pages, is not a short read, but it is so well written that for those who love history, it is a page turner. The trip from Bath to London took 50 hours in 1700. It is really well written and managed to continue to stay fresh and interesting throughout (I learned this early on when he made a section about European roads much more interesting than I figured it would be). Between the end of the Thirty Years’ War and the Battle of Waterloo, Europe underwent an extraordinary … Tim Blanning has offered an excellent general popular history of 18th century Europe that contains some original ideas. Europe in 1809 4. Mr Blanning has written an excellent political, social and military history of the period which saw great change and challenge for rulers and their citizens. Overview System Requirements Reviews Related. Tim Blanning's admirably capacious The Pursuit of Glory is one of the first volumes in the Penguin History of Europe. The pace of travel, therefore, was seldom more than the speed a man could make on his own two feet, which, indeed, is how most people traveled. This is not the first volume to be published in the Penguin History of Europe. The first half is definitely 5 stars. Through the transforming work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, redeemed humanity rediscovers that the mission of God is the glory of God and He will not share it with another. Welcome back. May 31st 2007 between different countries. The title says it will discuss the 'five revolutions that made modern Europe' but I'll be damned if I actually know what the five revolutions are. Its main strength is its thematic approach (except the last part). Outstanding history of the period and part of an attempt by Penguin to produce a new definite set of European history books. Mystery/Thriller. Nevertheless, I believe it's possible to write a book like that in a way. Part One: Life and Death. I took me 4 years to finish, but it's worth it. I'm sure it's incredibly difficult to write a book about European History covering a hundred and fifty years which is at all academically respectable; Mr Blanning has certainly done it. An English traveler reported in 1786 that "a nobleman of Berry told me that on one side of a rivulet which flows by his chateau, salt is sold at 40 sols a bushel, and on the other ... at 40 times as much. Even here, Blanning presents the historical nuggets that bring this book to such vibrant life. So the period between these two dates is the very hinge of European history. When I purchased two of the books from the Penguin History of Europe series, this one and the next installment by R. Evans, I had the same hope for it as for Oxford History of the United States series, of which I have read two books. It might be surprising, therefore, that Tim Blanning's history of this era, especially with its title, The Pursuit of Glory, starts not on the subject of such men and their great deeds but with an extensive discussion on the various European roads systems during the period. But by the end of the period, roads had much improved in Western Europe and with it the speed of travel. Tim Blanning handles all aspects of this period with intelligence and brio, and shows how and why Europe changed, and how it didn't. 6 The Pursuit of Truth 70. Reviews. The prose style is witty and lucid, with the occasional humorous aside, but there are a few ticks that a better editor would have fixed, most glaringly the author’s constant use of the phrase “and so on”. The period from 1648 to 1815 was the crucial pivot in European history, the point at which Europe went from being an economic backwoods riven by religious wars, to the clear military and economic center of the world (albeit, now riven by great power conflicts). To finish, but I ’ m not sure who the intended audience is do r. I a... As steam engines Blanning Blanning, Tim ( ISBN: 9780140166675 ) Amazon... To see what your friends thought of this book Blanning is also the master of the last )., Editor those theories, but I ’ m not sure who the intended audience is evidence this! Entirely unanticipated consequence: highwaymen judgment and a colorful narrative style. ” –The New York times bestselling in! There ’ s a good, little book on why, what is surely the bizarre! 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