Famous Men of the Middle Ages


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 140 reviews)

“THE study of history, like the study of a landscape, should begin with the most conspicuous features. Not until these have been fixed in memory will the lesser features fall into their appropriate places and assume their right proportions.

The famous men of ancient and modern times are the mountain peaks of history. It is logical then that the study of history should begin with the biographies of these men.

Not only is it logical; it is also pedagogical. Experience has proven that in order to attract and hold the child’s attention each conspicuous feature of history presented to him should have an individual for its center. The child identifies himself with the personage presented. It is not Romulus or Hercules or Alexander that the child has in mind when be reads, but himself, acting under similar conditions.”
(Excerpt from the Preface) (4 hr 40 min)

Chapters

Preface 4:04 Read by David Kleparek
The Gods of the Teutons 11:22 Read by Leon Mire
The Nibelungs 13:06 Read by Leon Mire
Alaric the Visigoth 8:54 Read by Andy
Attila the Hun 9:56 Read by David Kleparek
Genseric the Vandal 10:53 Read by David Kleparek
Theodoric the Ostrogoth 7:20 Read by ontheroad
Clovis 10:34 Read by Andy
Justinian 10:01 Read by David Kleparek
Mohammed 12:32 Read by David Kleparek
Charles Martel and Pepin 10:27 Read by Andy
Charlemagne 9:13 Read by Laura Caldwell
Haren-al-Raschid 6:20 Read by Alec Daitsman
Egbert the Saxon 5:58 Read by Alec Daitsman
Rollo the Viking 10:19 Read by Andy
Alfred the Great 6:52 Read by Alec Daitsman
Henry the Fowler 5:50 Read by Alec Daitsman
Canute the Great 4:12 Read by Alec Daitsman
The Cid 8:05 Read by Alec Daitsman
Edward the Confessor 4:34 Read by Kristine Bekere
William the Conqueror 6:55 Read by Roger Melin
Peter the Hermit 7:05 Read by Kristine Bekere
Frederick Barbarossa 5:52 Read by Kristine Bekere
Henry the Second and His Sons 12:51 Read by Kristine Bekere
Louis IX 7:12 Read by David Kleparek
Robert Bruce 7:54 Read by Andy
Marco Polo 7:45 Read by Kristine Bekere
Edward the Black Prince 9:02 Read by Kristine Bekere
William Tell and Arnold von Winkelreid 6:54 Read by Kalynda
Tamerlane 5:05 Read by ontheroad
Henry V 7:50 Read by John Lieder
Joan of Arc 8:16 Read by David Kleparek
Gutenberg 6:48 Read by Esther
Warwick the King-Maker 10:02 Read by Alec Daitsman

Reviews

left out some important chapters


(3 stars)

The text itself it great to use for grade school history. However, this audio leaves out a few chapters which discuss saints and their contributions to western civilization. Wonder if that was on purpose?

Not a lot of detail, but an interesting sampler.


(4 stars)

You know how you can get those boxes of sampler chocolates, where you get to try things, so that you go "You know, I think I liked the hazelnut swirl, but didn't like the Turkish delight. I must get a box of those hazelnut swirls."? This book is a little like that, for medieval biograhpies. It's not, of itself, a deep biography of anyone, but there are some characters here that I now know I want to follow up elsewhere. Also, this is part of a series (Greece, Rome, "Modern") and I'll be following up those. So, good not so much for depth, as for the variety of things it dips into.

Worthy of a Listen


(3 stars)

It's read well by the various narrators and has some good, basic information about the people of European history. A good starting point for learning about the middle ages.

excellent short stories of interesting men


(5 stars)


(4 stars)

Dark ages yes, but boring, No. As enjoyable as the Famous Men of Modern Times collection. For the narration, some of the Scotch segments were appropriately and enjoyably read by Andy from, you guessed it, Scotland.


(0.5 stars)

poor sound quality. tahnks to the narator though