Civilisation

Fülszöveg

The impulses, ideas, discoveries and beliefs which have förmed and nurtured Western civilisation since the collapse of the Classical World are most powerfully revealed -and most readily accessible-in its works of art, its buildings, books and great individuals. That is why in this remarkable volume, in which hundreds of carefully selected illustrations underscore the meaning of the text, Kenneth Clark has chosen to explore our history and culture through the diverse creative works of Western man. His astounding lucidity in dealing with so wide a rangé of ideas and events gives the book its special value and importance. As Kenneth Clark takes us from the fali of the Román Empire to the present day, he does not attempt to give a complete record but concentrates on crucial civilisation episodes - from Iona in the ninth century to Francé in the twelfth, from Florence to Urbino, from Germany to Romé, England, Holland and America. Against these historical backgrounds he shows us not only... Tovább

Fülszöveg

The impulses, ideas, discoveries and beliefs which have förmed and nurtured Western civilisation since the collapse of the Classical World are most powerfully revealed -and most readily accessible-in its works of art, its buildings, books and great individuals. That is why in this remarkable volume, in which hundreds of carefully selected illustrations underscore the meaning of the text, Kenneth Clark has chosen to explore our history and culture through the diverse creative works of Western man. His astounding lucidity in dealing with so wide a rangé of ideas and events gives the book its special value and importance. As Kenneth Clark takes us from the fali of the Román Empire to the present day, he does not attempt to give a complete record but concentrates on crucial civilisation episodes - from Iona in the ninth century to Francé in the twelfth, from Florence to Urbino, from Germany to Romé, England, Holland and America. Against these historical backgrounds he shows us not only the men who gave new energy to civilisation and expanded our understanding of the world and ourselves, but alsó the works of genius, in architecture, sculpture and painting, in philosophy, poetry and music, in science and in engineering, which they produced. But Kenneth Clark's purpose goes beyond historical synthesis, however stimulating. Civilisation has been imperiled in other ages; he sees it as again in jeopardy, threatened by a new upsurge of barbarism. He has here distilled the essence of all that is precious in our heritage. Vissza