How the Irish Saved Civilization

The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe

By: Thomas Cahill

Narrated by: Liam Neeson

The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift, and a book in the best tradition of popular history - the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe.

Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars" - and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. In this entertaining and compelling narrative, Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Europe evolved from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era.

Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization - copying manuscripts of Greek and Latin writers, both pagan and Christian, while libraries and learning on the continent were forever lost - they brought their uniquely Irish worldview to the task. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated.

In the tradition of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, How the Irish Saved Civilization reconstructs an era that few know about but which is central to understanding our past and our cultural heritage. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization.

©1997 Thomas Cahill (P)1997 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Liam Neeson's rich, smooth voice delineates each element of political, religious, and cultural alliance." (AudioFile)

"Cahill's lovely prose breathes life into a 1,600-year-old history." (The Los Angeles Times)

A Grand Account

Written by an Irishman. Performed by an Irishman. Spoken word recorded by an Irishman. 'Tis Grand!

Clear expression of History

History is full of niche stories like this. And I love hearing them. It reminds us that good and influential occurrences happen in unexpected ways and possibly from unexpected places. I heard of this book a long time ago and I’m so glad I finally read it. I enjoy so much of the history that leads up to it and after it.

How the Irish Saved Civiliz,ation

Powerful , I will retain so much more detail from listening to Neeson read than I would have if I had read it silently. A wonderful history masterfully brought to life for me

Wishing for more...

If this were unabridged, I could whole-heartedly give it five stars. Liam Neeson is fantastic!

Excellent story - outstanding performance

Cahill manages to span an amazingly large span of history, not by condensing it, but by finding the thread that reveals the connections: the fall of Rome, St. Augustine, the Druids, Irish immigration, St. Patrick - and, of course, the fact that so much of the literature of the ancient world, especially Latin works, was available to lay the foundation for the Renaissance only because of the work of the Irish scribes. It is a tale little-known enough, but an important one, and Cahill writes it well. But it is Liam Neeson’s reading that truly brings it to life. He tells the tale with the passion that perhaps only an Irishman (and one with the dramatic skills of a Liam Neeson) could bring.

A great read

Have owned this book for years, and was very happy to find it available on Audible to listen to, now that my eyesight is poor. The reader brought to life all those well known passages with excellent timing and diction; the lack of which can render thoughts unknowable.
A great distillation of a very complex subject into enjoyable and thought provoking spirits.

A Masterful Telling

Thomas Cahill's classic is masterfully narrated by the actor Liam Neeson. A most important achievement. Sincerely, Wells+

who narrated this book it's not Liam Neeson

Liam's voice is very distinctive and this is not him. This is just some random Irish person. if you listen to A Monster Calls which Liam actually did narrate you can hear the difference.

Great History

Wonderfully interesting history, with the encouragement to go good while you live you never know the consequence it will have into the future.

Excellent!!

Wonderful story telling. I'm Irish and this book is full of very interesting facts! Well worth the time.