Here is the deal. This should be a fantastic history book. Finally, one that incorporates the important viewpoints along with the historical facts. And it would be great, if that was what it is. Unfortunately, this book is rife, positively RIFE, with typos and factual errors with historical figures leaving for expeditions years before an expedition that they apparently took "later" and kings issuing edits before their births and all sorts of names mentioned and no explanation as to who the heck these people are. In addition, the Index is the most pathetically useless thing ON THE PLANET. What, pray tell, is the use of an Index in which only 2 of every 10 important persons, battles, events, or amendments looked up is actually there? Of absolutely no use, that's what. Someone should rewrite this book, fixing the errors and the occasional utter bias, and then it would be of actual use.

A wonderful introduction to Anne Carroll Moore's pioneering work in children's library services.

Most of what i didn't like about this volume is the same as what I disliked about her other history book, though datewise, in this book, she seems to make fewer mistakes.

Filled with inaccurracies, amid a very biased view of history, I did not like this book. I have no problems with the Catholic emphasis. What I take issue with is that Anne Carroll seems to feel that no Catholic can be portrayed as in the wrong and that most, read Isabel and the Hapsburgs, were saints from infancy. She writes as if she had special insight into these peoples thougts and motivations. And, while, yes, many rulers did make choices that benefited Christendom, very few were utterly altruistic.

Still, taken with a number of other histories and supplemental materials, this could be of benefit as a book, if it is clearly seen where it is weak and flawed and where it gets things right.