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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Jacque Barzun's "From Dawn to Decadence" is a rich and highlight-detailed accounting of the progress of western civilization from 1500 to the late 20th century. However, the work is characterized by a few personal quirks on the part of the author that might be of interest to anyone who would consider this work to be a "classic" of historical writing and free of such individualistic or stylistic characteristics. Being French, the author shares the arrogance of many Francophone intellectuals who ascribe too much intellectual and cultural influence to their Gallic heritage. From Barzun's Franco-centric perspective, there were few ideas worthy of the name that originated anywhere else in… Read more
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