Wonderful historical epic

Excellent, I really upgraded my historical knowledge of this period after reading it. Holland is a splendid historian

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Linked up emerging patters of history across Christendom.

Holland introduced me to a new cast of characters from the rich Dark Ages. The details of these individuals and their quirks and the stitches their lives made in a moving tapestry of history are picked out here beautifully.

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Scholarly and immensely entertaining.

This audiobook book is great on two levels. I learned a great deal about the power struggles between church and secular leaders around the turn of the first Christian millennium, while being entertained by the author's dry wit. The narration was excellent to. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in religious and secular powers of the period, and to those who found the millennial cults at the end of the 20th Century intriguing.

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Very illuminating

I’m a great fan of Tom & Dom’s The Rest Is History podcast, and I’ve read a couple of Tom Holland’s books which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Whether they transfer well into audiobooks depends, I think, on what you want from a book. Tom has a particular writing style which, if you haven’t heard him talk (eg on the podcast) could seem a little - not sure how best to describe it - portentous? It certainly seems a lot more “highbrow”, even at times slightly pompous, than how he comes across on TRIH. Or is that down to Mark Meadows’ narration? Not sure. In any event, in my view either interpretation would be unfair. What TH is really good at is getting into the mindset of the people of the period he is describing. If there is any portentousness involved, it is a reflection of the time and the material. What I found particularly engaging, and illuminating, about Millennium was that, despite the fact that it dealt with a lot of “facts” I thought I already knew, it was the first time I had heard anyone trying to get into the head of Pope Gregory VII, or the Emperor Henry IV, during the great Investiture Crisis, trying to actually explain their actions in terms of their own value sets at the time. The details are quite hard to follow in an audiobook but if you allow yourself that half a step back, to see the painting rather than the brushstrokes, in my opinion it is a revelation. And whilst I, personally, prefer Mr Holland’s narration to that of Mark Meadows, I do think Meadows does a very good job of bringing to life a book that isn’t easy to narrate. So, overall - strong work by all! And thank you, it was a very illuminating listen.

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3 people found this helpful

Tom Holland makes history accessible to all

like many people I was put of history at school when decades ago it was taught in such a dry and dreary way. Yet I was interested and curious in history so thought I'd try as an adult to revisit what I'd missed in my school years. Tom Holland is an engaging writer who makes history real and accessible. His writing is obviously factual but also witty , wry and humorous I'll definitely be looking for more of his books. The narrator Mark Meadows brings this great book to life with his wonderful style of reading.

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1 person found this helpful

fascinating from start to finish

Loved it! so much in such a short span of history. Working from home!

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Mired in metaphor and knowing winks

The performance was very good but I struggled to keep up with the narrative. Way too many nicknames, metaphors and assumptions from the author. It’s a complex subject made more so by the authors flowery embellishments.

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Excellent book

Lovely take on the 200 years either side of the year 1000, and the story it draws from comparative analysis is intriguing and compelling.

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4 people found this helpful

Another brilliant audio by Tom Holland

My review of this book is much like my previous reviews of another two of Tom Holland's books.
Well narrated and absolutely fully researched by the writer.
Recommend all of Tom Holland's books on history to anyone interested I early first century to 13th century events.

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Narrator

Narrator very poor. I wiil be returning this title very disappointed very monotone making it very uninteresting on such a great subject. Poor.

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2 people found this helpful