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697 pages
5 stars

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century is a comprehensive examination of France during the 14 Century. To make the subject more manageable, Ms. Tuchman focuses on the life and times of a male member of the Second Estate-the aristocracy-Enguerrant de Coucy VII. He was the last of a great dynasty. de Coucy was the most experienced and skillful knights in all of France. He lived from1340 to 1397 during one of the most turbulant and brutal times in history.

Many factors contributed to the breakdown of medieval society during this time. One of the greatest contributors was the Black Plague. But, there were many other factors which caused great turmoil and disruption of medieval society on a daily basis. The other influences included warfare, the papal and church conflicts, class inequality, and the rise of dealth cults throughout Europe. All of these factors contributed to the devastation of society caused by the Black Plague. One third of the population inhabitating Iceland to India was wiped out.

A Distant Mirror is not an easy read. It is a dense but well written book. Ms. Tuchman sets out to explain what the effects were on society of the most lethal disaster of recorded history. I believe she succeeds.

This may well be the book that has been on my TBR longest. I've been wanting to read it since the year it was published.

Thanks for this review. Maybe I will finally get to it

Sounds fascinating!