Vermeer's Hat

The Seventeenth Century and the Dawn of the Global World

By: Timothy Brook

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

A Vermeer painting shows a military officer in a Dutch sitting room, talking to a laughing girl. In another canvas, fruit spills from a blue-and-white porcelain bowl. Familiar images that captivate us with their beauty--but as Timothy Brook shows us, these intimate pictures actually give us a remarkable view of an expanding world. The officer's dashing hat is made of beaver fur from North America, and it was beaver pelts from America that financed the voyages of explorers seeking routes to China-prized for the porcelains so often shown in Dutch paintings of this time, including Vermeer's.

In this dazzling history, Timothy Brook uses Vermeer's works, and other contemporary images from Europe, Asia, and the Americas to trace the rapidly growing web of global trade, and the explosive, transforming, and sometimes destructive changes it wrought in the age when globalization really began.

©2008 Timothy Brook (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A wonderful book

Would you consider the audio edition of Vermeer's Hat to be better than the print version?

For me, yes; reading is more strenuous for me than listening, and I can listen while walking and doing all sorts of things, as well as lying in bed with my eyes closed.

Have you listened to any of Malcolm Hillgartner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. He is a fine reader. He is energetic and seems interested. The pronunciation of Chinese names is poor but I suppose it is too much to expect readers to learn the pinyin system (but then, why not?). European names are for the most part well pronounced.

Any additional comments?

This is a book for everyone who loves Vermeer, and a great starting point for those not yet familiar with his paintings. It draws together things in a fascinating way (among others, the rise and fall of Dutch painting, the decisive role South American silver played in the fate of Europe and China, the rivalry between different European countries and how it played out at sea, the story of tobacco in Europe and Asia, the use and fabrication of porcelain in Europe, Chinese vs. European cartography ). I listened to the book almost in one sitting... in any case in one day. Didn't want to stop. By the way, do not be put off by the lack of illustrations. The Vermeer paintings are so well known that their images can easily be found (of course you will then have to go and see the paintings themselves, which is something to look forward to in itself).

interesting, but...

Maybe I read discription incorrectly. In some chapters his "doors" were far from close..the author probably should have stuck with Vermeer's work and have not tried so hard to expound on every subject related to the 17th century.

A wonderful portrayal of our history

Brooks tastefully created a history with everything from pirates, handshakes and massacres. All the world felt during the economic transition to a globalized world.

Pieces of history

While not a complete history of the 1600’s, this book offers excellent in-depth glimpses through several tiny, yet greatly expanded doors. After listening to several history books it was great to see him walk over some of the same ground, and use different trails to connect points of historic interest.

Delightful Read for History Buffs

I picked up this book following a race recommendation from my art history professor. The offbeat title sets up a joyous tone while examining a fascinating time in history, where two foreign worlds collide. The narration was fabulous while the stories juicy as ever. Would recommend to anyone and everyone interested in history, art, China, and the like.

An Intriguing Story of the beginning of West met East

This book is totally enjoyable! Based on a careful observation of a number of Vermeer paintings the author leads us into the societies behind these images. He weaves an intricate story of the beginning of West met East in the 16th and 17th centuries with details of colorful and adventurous characters involved. This is particularly interesting if one compares what this book tells us with what is happening with the current relation between China and the West. It seems like history is repeating itself.

The 17th Century brought close

Brook explores aspects of the (mostly early) 17th century through detailed vignettes of events and persons all linked together by imaginative association with the works of not only the famous Dutch painter, but other artists, thinkers, and well known historical figures.. I am sure I did not get a comprehensive review of the historical period, but I did get delightfully detailed accounts of certain events and trends that illustrate not only the times, but the personalities involved in them. Never mind, I can get the dry history elsewhere. Of particular delight are the accounts and perspective of non-Europeans, so often absent or glossed over in works focused on the period as a European historical era.The delight of this book is the association of tangible images and texts that we can witness and linking them to the raucous travels, ventures, and catastrophes of the time. I would highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating, researching, or studying the 17th century in addition to other works of a more linear nature.

Great history lesson from the start of great art

Wonderful overview of the subjects of some of Vermeer’s well known works. Adds context and texture of what the world was like at the time of his paintings.

Ho hum

Probably lots of people, people who haven't read much history, would find this a fun read. A bit of this and a bit of that, nothing too taxing: a little taste of an era.

I'm not a fan of pastiche history: re-packaged bits of already well-know history. The hat theme is an exceedingly thin one. I enjoy deeper, more focused books incorporating original research and historically important, well-documented, well-argued theses.

Tedious

What would have made Vermeer's Hat better?

Selecting events in the 17th century that were actually *interesting*.

What was most disappointing about Timothy Brook’s story?

This is a fascinating time period but the focus was on endless tedious detail on the global trade tobacco, china and other consumerist concepts. I guess I should have researched the book b4 buying.