Civilization: A New History of the Western World - Hardcover

Osborne, Roger

3.85

271 ratings by Goodreads

9780224062411: Civilization: A New History of the Western World

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0224062417 ISBN 13: 9780224062411

Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd, 2006

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

On 21 September 2001 George W. Bush told Congress 'This is civilization's fight.' A month later he said 'I'm not moving on because we're in a fight for civilization itself.' European leaders described the 11 September attacks as 'a declaration of war against the entire civilized world' by a force 'dedicated to the destruction of civilization'. But what do we mean by civilization? We have a vague belief in a Western tradition of openness and freedom that has produced a good life for its citizens and a culture of enormous depth and creative power. But the history of our civilization is also filled with unspeakable brutality. For every Leonardo there is a Torquemada, for every Beethoven symphony a concentration camp, for every Chrysler Building a My Lai massacre. How can we come to the defence of a civilization whose benefits seem so questionable? In this ambitious and important book Roger Osborne shows that we can only understand and take comfort in our civilization by re-examining and confronting our past. The barbarity in Western history can no longer be explained away as base human brutality breaking through the restraining bonds of civilization. Instead we need to see that civilization is itself a hazardous enterprise, creating enormous challenges to humans as moral social beings - challenges that we sometimes fail. "Civilization" tells the story of the Western world from its origins to the present. Sweeping in its scope and comprehensive in its coverage, "Civilization" covers everything from the siege of Troy to the Gettysburg address, from Charlemagne to the European Union and from Aristotle to John Rawls. Filled with the voices of the past - including Herodotus, Pericles, Cicero, St Paul, Plotinus, St Augustine, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Cervantes, Locke, Voltaire, Jefferson, Gibbon, ...

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

'..he writes lucid, accurate prose that carries heavy freights of information lightly...' -- AC Grayling – Independent on Sunday.

‘ a deft, provocative and informative history – and a pleasure to read.’ -- Robert Murphy – Metro

‘Civilization is an immensely important book and an exhilarating read. It deserves the widest audience.’ -- Gregor Dallas – Literary Review.

‘Osborne has woven a narrative of extraordinary scope and clarity.’ -- Tim Gardam – Observer.

‘Osborne’s book is a blessing.... Two weeks in, and the year’s first necessary book is with us.’ -- Christopher Bray – Telegraph.

From the Publisher:

Through a vivid and dramatic interrogation of the past, this book examines and illuminates the nature of Western civilization from its earliest incarnations to the present.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.