A gripping account of how the early Christians viciously attacked the art and teachings of the Classical world from a brilliant young historian

b>A Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, the Observer, and BBC History Magazine/b>b>A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice/b>b>Winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Nonfiction/b>

Sizzling, scintillating

Autorentext

Catherine Nixey studied Classics at Cambridge and now works as a journalist at the Economist. Her writing has previously appeared in the Times, and the Financial Times, among others. She lives in England, with her husband. Her first book, The Darkening Age, was an international bestseller, and won a Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award.

Klappentext

'Bold, dazzling and provocative' - Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

'This book uncovers what was lost when Christianity won' - The Times

In The Darkening Age, historian Catherine Nixey tells the little-known - and deeply shocking - story of how a militant religion deliberately tried to extinguish the teachings of the Classical world, ushering in unquestioning adherence to the 'one true faith'.

The Roman Empire had been generous in embracing and absorbing new creeds. But with the coming of Christianity, everything changed. This new faith, despite preaching peace, was violent, ruthless and intolerant. And once it became the religion of empire, its zealous adherents set about the destruction of the old gods. Their altars were upturned, their temples demolished and their statues hacked to pieces. Books, including great works of philosophy and science, were consigned to the pyre. It was an annihilation.

'A searingly passionate book' - Bettany Hughes, author of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

A Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, the Observer, and BBC History Magazine

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice

Winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Nonfiction