History's Mysteries

Thomas Cahill is a history-light writer, think about How the Irish Saved Civilization for example. But I alway have trouble remembering the Middle Ages. I have trouble remembering MY middle ages. What is the Middle Ages? When did it happen? What was done during that period? Who lived and created during that period? This isn't my first book about the Middle Ages and I guess it won't be the last.

Cahill focuses on a few characters to illustrate how things that we consider to be very modern were first seen in the Middle Ages. So that would answer the question of who lived and created during that period: Abelard and Heloise, Elinor of Aquitaine, Hildegard of Bingen, Francis of Assissi, Thomas Aquinas and Dante. Okay, I've heard and read about all these guys in the past. Cahill goes into a little more depth, draws some strange conclusions and then moves on to the next subject.

Have you heard about the new movie, Vantage Point? I hear it's pretty horrible. And that's too bad. The whole idea of observing an event from different vantage points and coming to different conclusions or having a different perspective on the event fascinates me. What an interesting idea for a movie. I wonder if they had a bad writer :)

That's why I like to read different books about the same time in history. Everyone has their own perspective, which authors put into their books. This really came to my mind as I slowly work my way through the H.L. Mencken book. I'm half way through the book and about to start the chapter on the Scopes Monkey Trial. Inherit The Wind is one of my favorite plays and movie. I didn't know that Mencken was a big force in the trial. But knowing him from the first half of the book, I suspect that he had more of an impact than a reporter should have. Can't wait to see this trial from another perspective.

What's this got to do with Mysteries of the Middle Ages? As far as history goes, you can't just take one version. Cahill's version is interesting, but it can't be your only view on events. You have to read about any period in history from various viewpoints. And I think you need to read various genres. That mystery I read about the woman doctor who did autopsies was placed in this period. It is so interesting to hear about the same people from a different writer. I'm beginning to feel more comfortable in the Middle Ages.

The same is true with the Mencken book. It takes place in turn of the last century Baltimore. He's a newspaper man, so he is involved in much of what's happening in the world or at least the East Coast. I've read a lot about this period. But he had a totally different viewpoint. His take on the Germans and British in WWI is so different from what I normally read. But then I normally read English writers. Maybe I need a different viewpoint. Maybe I need to read more German books. Just wait to see what I come up with.