Barbara Tuchman is most noted for The Guns of August, her excellent take on World War I. While that book deserves the flowers it gets, this one should probably garner more just based on its ambition and scope. Tuchman is trying to capture what western Europe — specifically France — was like in the 14th century. The entirety of the 14th century. From dirt poor peasants to games of thrones amongst kings, nobles and popes, Tuchman’s view is broad and finished. I can’t think of any […]