Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: In his introduction Manchester admits that he is not an expert in the history of the period and goes on to prove it in the rest of the book. He is getting older and it shows with his fascination with the more seedy aspects of 15th century sexuality (some of his sources are less than reliable). He also does not give a balanced picture of the belief system of the common people. His understanding of the Catholoic church of the period is shallow: as in other areas, he only views things from the perspective of an late 20th century American, with all the assumptions and baggage that that entails, rather than understanding his subject from the inside out and in its own time and place. He does try to enliven his subject with well-crafted prose, and seems to have a genuine regard for some of his subjects. If you want a book on this period, you would do better to go elsewhere.
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Summary: This book reveals the true dark nature of the middle ages.
Review: William Manchester has shed the true light on the middle ages - there was none. The practices of so called "Christians" of the era were anything but Christian.As Manchester points out, the true heros of our day are those who are willing to go against the trend (what is considered politically correct) at all cost (even to sacrificing their lives) for the truths sake. Well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: the best of the bestr
Review: it was a compeling novel on the middle age
Rating:
Summary: Great book, much more interesting than expected!
Review: For a student required to read a history book, there is no better choice than this. True he may not get all the dates correct but for someone who is not planning to major in history that is unimportant. What is important is that Manchester made something that would otherwise have been boring (for some of us) into an enjoyable read. I learned so much from this book and it felt almost like a historical fiction rather than a textbook. If you are not familiar with the period however, I suggest that you start out with a dictionary which you can later abandon.
Rating: 
Summary: A good read, but how accurate?
Review: I read this book quite a while ago, and recall it as good, if not always light, reading. Seeing the customer reviews here, however, makes it seem that the more a reader already knows about the era, the more likely he or she is to pan Manchester's book. I am reading "The Year 1000" right now, and was just thinking this morning that the Manchester book was better, but now I'm not so sure.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully entertaining, but is it true?
Review: This book was a wonderful break from the normal textbook history I am used to, but the question has been raised in my mind as to whether or not Manchester is treating the times he covers are nothing more than a glorified soap opera. It is incredibly entertaining, especially for a 15-year old mind (heh), as it deals (an incredible amount) with sex. Aside from that, he provides a goodly amount of commentary about the popes, seeming to take the view that the Church is bad, anything bad is the Church's fault, etc. Far be it from me to dispute this... he knows more than I do. If you want to be entertained, pick this up. As to its historical content, go ask someone who knows. Now lemme get back to the book... the sex is just gettin' good! (Lol, I'm just kiddin, people!)
Rating: 
Summary: Manchester's Medieval Mistake
Review: Possibly one of the worst history books ever written. Manchester does not at all stress relevant points. He tries his best to discredit any accomplishments the Medieval Ages have brought. He praises Magellan's colonial efforts, and absoulutely nothing else.
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Summary: All I have to ask him is ....WHAT?!
Review: It was mandatory for our class to read A World Lit Only By Fire. I think if the instructor would have read the book first she'd notice that it is filled with confusing babble and unorganized details that don't make sense. I must say that he does have some interesting sides of the stories, but i can't be quite sure if all the information is totally correct.
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING
Review: Manchester does it again with an outstanding book. The tidbits about Martin Luther's strange quirks [which you will find written about in few books] would have the preeminent protestant put away in the loony bin today. As with Manchester's other books- he takes you there with detail. While some Medieval academics look with contempt on this work- this academic finds few flaws in Manchester's works. If only more "historians" were quality writers !!!
Rating:
Summary: A wretched book
Review: For anyone who knows the first thing about the Middle Ages, this book will tend to induce projectile vomiting. Manchester approaches the subject with jaundice, gets his facts wrong, and is laughably illogical. The worst thing about this book is that so many people have read it under the mistaken impression that it has something substantive to say. Flee from this book as fast as you can.
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