The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role
from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
by Thomas Cahill
Doubleday, 1995
Comments: This is the story about Irish history during the period leading up to and including the dark ages. The title -- being quite suggestive -- refers to the fact that much of our ancient Greek and Roman literature would have been lost to history but for the efforts of isolated Irish scribes. While the "barbarians" and their ilk were busy destroying a great deal of classical culture across the rest of Europe, the scribes kept the texts alive by repeatedly copying and dispersing them throughout Ireland and beyond. Consequently, the Irish can rightly claim to have saved much of this precious knowledge for the world.
Beyond that, the book also explores the evolution of Christianity in Ireland and how it differed from the Roman variation across the rest of Christendom. It also tells the related story of the life and works of St. Patrick. Overall, I enjoyed this book and intend to read more of Cahill's work.
Copy Notes: Hardback, later printing, back and white photographs and illustrations
