Review:
In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells. Here, far from the barbarian despoliation of the continent, monks and scribes laboriously, lovingly, even playfully preserved the West's written treasury. When stability returned in Europe, these Irish scholars were instrumental in spreading learning, becoming not only the conservators of civilization, but also the shapers of the medieval mind, putting their unique stamp on Western culture.
From the Back Cover:
"A lovely and engrossing tale . . . Graceful and instructive."
--Richard Eder, Los Angeles Times
"Cahill's lively prose breathes life into a 1,600-year-old history."
--The Boston Globe
Mr. Cahill's book will remain an entirely engaging, delectable voyage into th edistant past, a small treasure."
--N.Y. Time
From the Trade Paperback edition.
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