The Conversion of Europe Paperback - 1998
by Richard Fletcher
Reader reviews for The Conversion of Europe
Write a review for this book
Important Terms and Guidelines
- Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
- Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
- Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
- This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
- Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
- Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
- Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
- Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
- Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
- Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information
From the publisher
From the rear cover
One of Christianity's first powerful converts, the Emperor Constantine, was baptised into the Christian church on his deathbed by Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia, in 337 AD. But the religious character of his empire and the states which set themselves up as its successors was not thereby settled forever. It was not until 1386, over a millennium later, that the continent's last pagan ruler, Grand Duke Jogaila of the Lithuanians, was baptised and Europe became, at least nominally, a completely Christian continent. The epic story of the conversion of Europe over that millennium - the first, greatest and still most successful of all European integrations - is the subject of this book. Richard Fletcher's account of the growth of Christendom, its effect both on the character of European society and culture and on the civilisation of the world, is the most impressive achievement so far of this strikingly gifted historian.
"An absorbing account of the most important event in the history of Europe: its conversion to Christianity... Richard Fletcher is a stylist of distinction, not merely in the sense that like Gibbon his master of the memorable sentence, but in the historian's task of weaving the particular instance into the web of a compelling narrative."
RAYMOND CARR, 'Spectator'
"From Richard Fletcher's massive story, we learn about the otherness of the past: how different Christianity was then and now... It is the genius of this enthralling book that epic moments and tiny vignettes mingle to convey the flavour of Christian life as the people of Europe were experiencing conversion. The scale is ambitious, and the style lucid, but you never feel that you are adrift from the detailed reconstruction of modern scholarship."
ROBERT RUNCIE, 'Sunday Times'
"Fletcher tells the story clearly and with enthusiasm... the book is very readable. It is an achievement to produce an intelligent and accurate survey of the expansion of Christianity within Europe over a period of a thousand years."
ROBERT BARTLETT, 'Literary Review'
"A vivid and thought-provoking book."
KEITH THOMAS, 'The Times'
Details
- Title The Conversion of Europe
- Author Richard Fletcher
- Binding Paperback
- Edition New Ed
- Pages 700
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Fontana Press, London
- Publication date 1998-09-21
- ISBN 9780006863021 / 0006863027
- Weight 1.15 lbs (0.52 kg)
- Dimensions 8 x 5 x 1.47 in (20.32 x 12.70 x 3.73 cm)
-
Themes
- Chronological Period: Ancient (To 499 A.D.)
- Chronological Period: Medieval (500-1453) Studies
- Cultural Region: Eastern Europe
- Cultural Region: Italy
- Religious Orientation: Christian
- Category Religion - Christian Life
- Dewey Decimal Code 248.246
