The Revolution Against Christendom: A History of Christendom, Vol. 5 (Volume 5) Paperback – March 7, 2006

***A prefatory note: Professor Carroll suffered a stroke while the volume reviewed below was being composed. This probably accounts for the fall-off in quality from the previous volumes, and this reviewer's prayers go out to Professor Carroll and his wife, Anne. However, I think it best to separate the personal tragedy (and ultimate victory, may I add?) of the Carroll's and present an objective review of this work.***According to the publisher, Warren Carroll's "History of Christendom" is planned as a six part series. This fifth volume, "The Revolution Against Christendom" covers the emergence of the absolute monarch in France as the dominant world power in 1661 to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. While there are pieces of this volume that shine, for the most part, this is the first volume in the series that does not quite live up to the high standards set in the previous four installments.This is not to say that "The Revolution Against Christendom" should not to be praised; I heartily recommend it, especially to readers of the earlier volumes of Carroll's history. Those readers, however, will notice a considerable drop-off in quality, especially in two areas: the scope and what I'll call the "narrative weave." The scope, compared to the earlier volumes, is much narrower, and much more focused on the events in a single country, France; indeed six of the chapters in this work are footnoted as coming from Carroll's previous book on the French Revolution, "The Cross and the Guillotine."Interestingly, the chapters from "The Cross and the Guillotine" are some of the best in this book: the "narrative weave", where several story threads are spun together - a hallmark of Carroll's in previous volumes of the "History of Christendom" - is most prominent here. In the chapters native to this work, Carroll's story-telling mastery and narrative weave are considerably weaker. One result is much shorter, "choppy" chapters and story flow; transition from the events of one period to another is not smooth, if existent at all. Another result is that this volume is about 250 pages shorter in length - nearly one-third - than its siblings. Stripped of the background and concurrent events those previous volumes featured, "The Revolution Against Christendom" is also stripped of some their luster and charm.Despite the above criticisms, there is still a good deal to like about this work: the sheer evil of the French Revolution, which has been sold to posterity as a freedom building event, is told without the romanticism of the leftists and rationalists. The individual story of repentance of Danton, the man who did more than any other to light the match of the revolution, I had not heard before. The story of the suppression of the Jesuits (the basis for the great movie "The Mission") is heart-wrenching, and a despicable chapter in the history of the Popes; the bravery of Cathelineau and Rochejaquelin and their service to Our Lord and His Church, is untold in many of the popular histories. In America, the attack on Maryland (which allowed free practice of religion) in 1654 by Virginia, simply for being Catholic and for bringing Christ to American Indians, is an appalling, and well-kept secret of the early part of this nation. The subsequent outlawing of Catholicism in 1694 is another scandal that gets short play in popular histories of our nation's development.The following chapter titles detail the organization of this work:The Grand MonarchThe Stewart Succession in Great BritainThe Last Knight of ChristendomThe Holy Roman EmpressThe Course of EmpireThe Suppression of the JesuitsThe American RepublicThunderheadsWhirlwindDelugeThe Persecution of the Church BeginsFountains of the Great DeepThe Assassin, the Penitent, and the MartyrThe Abolition of ChristianityDanton's ExpiationRally of the MartyrsThe End of TerrorWreckageWooden WallsStorm PetrelThe Revolutionary EmperorNapoleon's Thunderbolts"War to the Knife!"The Lines of Torres VedrasThe Innkeeper of PasseiertalDisaster in the SnowGrinding DownLast HurrahI highly recommend this book as a worthy, albeit somewhat diminished, addition to Carroll's "History of Christendom" series. It continues the much needed work of telling the full history that English speaking peoples simply haven't been told. Our national and political roots are in the Protestant culture, but underneath it is a much older, much richer, and much more orthodox Catholic culture. Carroll is to be applauded for telling the Catholic story, and it is hoped that the Carroll's are able to produce the sixth volume of the series and finish this marvelous History of Christendom.

The French Revolution was distinctly anti-Catholic. The author, a careful historian, points this out along with other elements of the terror, the Vendee, Carrier's noyades and the Committee ofpiblic Safety.

This is a (6) volume set by Warren Carroll. A "must-have" for any serious Catholic on Church history. Each book is about 600 pages and very detailed and meticulously written. Could be "dry" because of so many details but a great addition to a one volume Church history book that gives only the "Big Picture."Highly recommended.

I love Warren Carroll's History of Christendom series; it seems to be the perfect history book. It is meticulously researched, and written like a novel, while the copious footnotes never get in the way.

Volume 5 of Mr. Carroll's 6-volume history of Christendom. What this volume does, mainly, is to create in the reader a strong appetite for further reading. Because there are so many stories intertwined, so many amazing characters and events taking place, and the reading of the book is so fast and enjoyable that it cannot feed the reader's mind with all the information that he should want; which becomes a little aggravating too. Once you've become interested -and the author sure has a special knack to make the reader interested in the story he's about to read right from the first lines in every chapter- then you find yourself thirsting for more, but then the chapter is over, and you're off to another story and location.A reason for this way of history-telling is indeed the subject matter, the role that Christendom played through the times and places where the action took place. Christendom is the real main character, always present in every page of the book, regardless of the author talking about Napoleon or Marat or whoever. Everything that happens in the book gravitates around the Church (Catholic Church in this case, since the author is a Catholic historian) and the Gospels. Failure to realize this will make the story a lot less comprehensible and enjoyable.Therefore, it is not the history book to know all about the French Revolution or about Napoleon, but it sure does a good job introducing the reader who is a believer -regardless of his denomination, I honestly believe- to the big picture of events happening around the world, but especially around Europe, during the late part of the 18th century, and helping him to understand them in a Christian way. I recommend it without a doubt to young people in general.

Better than expected

Great book !!!

Outstanding! Finally true history by someone wise enough to not be duped by revisionist ignorant progressives.

Excellent Series by Warren Carroll - absolute necessity for Catholic History Students - Western Civilisation owes much to Traditional Catholicism but Warren Caroll and Christendom College still show loyalty to VII popes even when it is apparent that they have gone tup!