The good news is: that faith in material goods really does bring prosperity to society. The bad news is: that self-same commitment to material things leads inexorably to the destruction of the civilizations it builds. Using theatre as a measure society's health, this book shows that Ancient Greece and Rome, Mediaeval Christendom and our own contemporary society all follow the same pattern: prosperity thrives on the conviction that the material world alone constitutes true 'reality’; but that very conviction leads to a rejection of the supernatural, undermines absolute moral standards, and leads to cultural and social disintegration.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
"A visionary book. Painful yet true in its portrait of the present."
Author: Bryan Appleyard Source: Sunday Times"A thoroughly researched and illuminating reinterpretation of 'The Crisis of Our Age'."
Author: Angela Ellis-Jones Source: Times Literary Supplement"Her thesis is challenging and her examples abundant and abundantly interesting."
Author: Alan Massie Source: Daily Telegraph"Glyn-Jones' intriguing book puts an entirely new gloss on the stereotyped picture of fanatical Islamic theocracy."
Author: Frank McLynn Source: New Statesman and Society"Ann Glyn-Jones does us a great service."
Author: Tim Heydon Source: IdentityAccording to Glyn-Jones, the dynamic that promotes economic prosperity arises largely from the conviction that the material world alone constitutes true reality. Yet, that same dynamic undermines the authority of moral standards and thus leads eventually to self- destruction. Focussing on the dramatic arts as the barometer of social change, this book shows, in vivid detail, how the thesis worked itself out in Greece, Rome, medieval Christendom and contemporary society.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Holding Up a Mirror: How Civilizations Decline This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780907845607
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Seller Inventory # 51715171-6
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001744466
Quantity: 3 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780907845607
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: medimops, Berlin, Germany
Condition: good. Befriedigend/Good: Durchschnittlich erhaltenes Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit Gebrauchsspuren, aber vollständigen Seiten. / Describes the average WORN book or dust jacket that has all the pages present. Seller Inventory # M00907845606-G
Seller: Kennys Bookshop and Art Galleries Ltd., Galway, GY, Ireland
Condition: Very Good. Num Pages: 652 pages. BIC Classification: HBG; JHMC. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly. Dimension: 229 x 152 x 114. Weight in Grams: 806. Good clean copy with minor shelfwear, remains very good. 1996. paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # KSG0034612
Seller: Kennys Bookstore, Olney, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Num Pages: 652 pages. BIC Classification: HBG; JHMC. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly. Dimension: 229 x 152 x 114. Weight in Grams: 806. Good clean copy with minor shelfwear, remains very good. 1996. paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # KSG0034612
Seller: The Book Bin, Salem, OR, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is from an inventory that we have been able to price inexpensively because it has minimal description. All of the books from this inventory are in very good condition or better, with the potential for light shelf-wear; many are particularly nice examples. May have a small remainder mark at textblock edge. Seller Inventory # WRM-B1005427
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 103826
Seller: Chiron Media, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: New. Brand new book, sourced directly from publisher. Dispatch time is 24-48 hours from our warehouse. Book will be sent in robust, secure packaging to ensure it reaches you securely. Seller Inventory # 6666-GRD-9780907845607
Quantity: 1 available