Famous Men of the Middle Ages


Lu par LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 141 reviews)

“THE study of history, like the study of a landscape, should begin with the most conspicuous features. Not until these have been fixed in memory will the lesser features fall into their appropriate places and assume their right proportions.

The famous men of ancient and modern times are the mountain peaks of history. It is logical then that the study of history should begin with the biographies of these men.

Not only is it logical; it is also pedagogical. Experience has proven that in order to attract and hold the child’s attention each conspicuous feature of history presented to him should have an individual for its center. The child identifies himself with the personage presented. It is not Romulus or Hercules or Alexander that the child has in mind when be reads, but himself, acting under similar conditions.”
(Excerpt from the Preface) (4 hr 40 min)

Chapitres

Preface 4:04 Lu par David Kleparek
The Gods of the Teutons 11:22 Lu par Leon Mire
The Nibelungs 13:06 Lu par Leon Mire
Alaric the Visigoth 8:54 Lu par Andy
Attila the Hun 9:56 Lu par David Kleparek
Genseric the Vandal 10:53 Lu par David Kleparek
Theodoric the Ostrogoth 7:20 Lu par ontheroad
Clovis 10:34 Lu par Andy
Justinian 10:01 Lu par David Kleparek
Mohammed 12:32 Lu par David Kleparek
Charles Martel and Pepin 10:27 Lu par Andy
Charlemagne 9:13 Lu par Laura Caldwell
Haren-al-Raschid 6:20 Lu par Alec Daitsman
Egbert the Saxon 5:58 Lu par Alec Daitsman
Rollo the Viking 10:19 Lu par Andy
Alfred the Great 6:52 Lu par Alec Daitsman
Henry the Fowler 5:50 Lu par Alec Daitsman
Canute the Great 4:12 Lu par Alec Daitsman
The Cid 8:05 Lu par Alec Daitsman
Edward the Confessor 4:34 Lu par Kristine Bekere
William the Conqueror 6:55 Lu par Roger Melin
Peter the Hermit 7:05 Lu par Kristine Bekere
Frederick Barbarossa 5:52 Lu par Kristine Bekere
Henry the Second and His Sons 12:51 Lu par Kristine Bekere
Louis IX 7:12 Lu par David Kleparek
Robert Bruce 7:54 Lu par Andy
Marco Polo 7:45 Lu par Kristine Bekere
Edward the Black Prince 9:02 Lu par Kristine Bekere
William Tell and Arnold von Winkelreid 6:54 Lu par Kalynda
Tamerlane 5:05 Lu par ontheroad
Henry V 7:50 Lu par John Lieder
Joan of Arc 8:16 Lu par David Kleparek
Gutenberg 6:48 Lu par Esther
Warwick the King-Maker 10:02 Lu par Alec Daitsman

Critiques

left out some important chapters


(3 stars)

The text itself it great to use for grade school history. However, this audio leaves out a few chapters which discuss saints and their contributions to western civilization. Wonder if that was on purpose?

Not a lot of detail, but an interesting sampler.


(4 stars)

You know how you can get those boxes of sampler chocolates, where you get to try things, so that you go "You know, I think I liked the hazelnut swirl, but didn't like the Turkish delight. I must get a box of those hazelnut swirls."? This book is a little like that, for medieval biograhpies. It's not, of itself, a deep biography of anyone, but there are some characters here that I now know I want to follow up elsewhere. Also, this is part of a series (Greece, Rome, "Modern") and I'll be following up those. So, good not so much for depth, as for the variety of things it dips into.

Worthy of a Listen


(3 stars)

It's read well by the various narrators and has some good, basic information about the people of European history. A good starting point for learning about the middle ages.

excellent short stories of interesting men


(5 stars)


(4 stars)

Dark ages yes, but boring, No. As enjoyable as the Famous Men of Modern Times collection. For the narration, some of the Scotch segments were appropriately and enjoyably read by Andy from, you guessed it, Scotland.


(0.5 stars)

poor sound quality. tahnks to the narator though