Charlemagne
Author(s): Derek A Wilson
An absorbing biography of the great leader who was the bridge between ancient and modern Europe -- the first major study in more than twenty-five years.Charlemagne was an extraordinary figure: an ingenious military strategist, a wise but ruthless leader, a cunning politician, and a devout believer who ensured the survival of Christianity in the West. He also believed himself above the rules of the church, siring bastards across Europe, and coldly ordering the execution of 4,500 prisoners. Derek Wilson shows how this complicated, fascinating man married the military might of his army to the spiritual force of the Church in Rome, thereby forging Western Christendom. This is a remarkable portrait of Charlemagne and of the intricate political, religious, and cultural world he dominated.
General Information
- :
- : Random House USA Inc
- : Random House Inc
- : 0.286
- : United States
- : books
Other Specifications
- : Derek A Wilson
- : Paperback / softback
- : 944.014092
- : 226
- : illustrations
More About The Product
"Wilson interrelates the personal and political. . . with an effectiveness that few other biographers have matched."--"The Sunday Telegraph""Brilliant. . . . An utterly captivating and exquisitely written narrative about the rise and fall of the Carolingian empire. . . . "Charlemagne "is also a timely and provocative essay about the idea of Europe"--Donald Yerxa, editor, "Historically Speaking""Fast-paced. . . . Wilson deftly chronicles Charlemagne's military exploits, political intrigues and religious devotion."--"Publishers Weekly" "Masterful and lively. . . . [Wilson] writes with great conviction and a breathtaking attention to the kind of personal detail that makes his books such compelling reading."--Alison Weir
Derek Wilson graduated from Cambridge in 1961. He spent several years traveling and teaching in Africa before becoming a full-time writer and broadcaster in 1971. His highly acclaimed books include "Rothschild: A Story of Wealth and Power," "Hans Holbein: Portrait of an Unknown Man," and "Tudor Tapestry: Men, Women and Society in Reformation England." The organizer of the Cambridge History Festival, Wilson is married and lives in Devon, England.
