Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant piece of rhetoric masquerading as history
Review: Crocker's _Triumph_ is, as one customer review has said, a triumph. It is a brilliantly written, engaging, moving piece of literature, much like Gibbon's _Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,_ which Crocker cites repeatedly. If it were in the fiction section, I would give it five stars with the greatest pleasure. But since it purports to be a history, it must be judged as a history. And the history Carroll tells has one simple problem--it doesn't match what actually happened. Not that one can list pages of glaring factual errors. It isn't that Crocker asserts that something happened that didn't, but that he selects his facts so carefully and so cleverly that the big picture he presents (and a book like this is primarily big picture) is far more illusion than reality. The errors in _Triumph_ fall into three primary categories: misleading generalizations, irresponsible omissions, and inappropriate rhetorical slurs. In the first category is, for instance, his characterization of predestination as a "Protestant" doctrine. Actually the doctrine of unconditional predestination (if you don't believe it's in the NT) was developed by St. Augustine, one of Crocker's heroes. To describe it as a "Protestant" doctrine is glaringly false, because it is not Protestant in origin, is not held exclusively by Protestants, and is not held by all Protestants. But of course to most modern people the doctrine is repugnant, so Crocker gets mileage out of linking it with Protestantism. The omissions in _Triumph_ are mainly of inconvenient facts which would provide some balance to the rosy picture Crocker paints. For instance, he lists humane laws passed after Christianity became dominant in the Roman Empire. Yet there were also legal changes in the other direction--toward harsher penalties for sexual misconduct, for instance. Crocker is not bound to list all relevant facts. But he is obliged, in honor, to give some coverage to evidence that tells against his thesis. This he almost never does, unless the notoriety of the facts in question forces him to, and even then he "spins" his material as much as possible. This leads me to Crocker's final, and in my opinion most damaging fault as a historian. He uses his carefully selected facts to spin a web of rhetoric that forces the reader to agree with his conclusion rather than allowing for a rational consideration of the evidence he offers. For instance, he finds it impossible to discuss Luther without comparing his subject, in the space of a few pages, to Hitler and the Khmer Rouge. The reference to Hitler is particularly inexcusable because it does not refer to, say, Luther's attitude to the Jews (which might have provided Crocker with some excuse for the analogy), but simply to Luther's symbolic burning of a papal bull and other documents Luther associated with antichristian tyranny. How on earth this act is somehow reminiscent of Hitler is beyond my powers of imagination, except that it is an act that Mr. Crocker considers reprehensible. This sort of irresponsibility pervades the pages of _Triumph_. Crocker spares no rhetorical art to portray non-Catholics as stupid and evil, and Catholics as noble, wise, and heroic whenever possible (even Mr. Crocker's considerable ability can't quite succeed in making all Catholics throughout time and space appear admirable).Crocker's work is perhaps the right and proper counterbalance to a series of anti-Catholic or liberal Catholic tirades in recent years, most notably Gary Wills's _Papal Sin_ and Joseph Carroll's dreary, self-indulgent, and muddled _Constantine's Sword_ (John Cornwell's _Hitler's Pope_ is often placed in this category, and certainly the title alone is worthy of Crocker; but I am not sufficiently acquainted with the subject to know whether Cornwell's critics are correct or not). I find Crocker particularly infuriating not because his assaults on the truth are worse than those of his counterparts on the left, but because I have considerable sympathy with the point of view Crocker champions. While I am a member of the Episcopal Church, I regard the "Roman" Catholic Church as the greatest force for good (speaking in terms of institutions) ever to exist in this world. I agree with the sentiment of other reviewers that much historiography, particularly in the popular press, vilifies Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. The contributions of Catholicism to the world need to be better understood and appreciated. But the answer to untruthful anti-Catholic propaganda is not untruthful pro-Catholic propaganda. The picture of the world presented by Crocker is not as false as that presented by _Constantine's Sword_, but it is still substantially and clearly false. Misrepresentation in the service of the truth is in some ways worse than misrepresentation in the service of falsehood. I believe that traditional Christianity is true, and that the Catholic Church is its best (though not perfect) representative in the modern world. But precisely for that reason I deplore the attempt to create so whitewashed and sanitized a version of Catholic history as that found in _Triumph_.
Rating: 
Summary: Warning: This Book is F-U-N
Review: Tired of seeing the Catholic Church pilloried by malcontents, defectors, and detractors? Longing for a sweeping, well-written overview of the Church's unparalleled achievements over the last two millennia? If so, you will really enjoy this book. I received it for Christmas and could not put it down. Crocker will, predictably, be criticized by those who wish that the Church was not so wedded to the objective, immutable, hard truths preached by the Apostles and St. Paul. But the critics must ask themselves why, if the Church is really the decrepit, bankrupt institution they depict it to be, they expend so much time, effort and ink attacking it? This is not revisionist history; Crocker readily admits that the Church is a divine, infallible institution made up of human, fallible creatures. Far from exposing the Church as a fraud, these excesses and failures of the past only reinforce its divine character. Indeed, only a Church that received the protection promised in Matthew 16:18 could endure some of the scandals to which the Barque of Peter has been subjected. Moreover, Crocker goes a long way toward debunking some of the viciously unfair myths which have been spread about the Church, e.g., that it was complicit in the face of Nazi genocide. John Cornwell, Garry Wills and their ilk should be very uneasy about the release of this book, which does an excellent job of unmasking their shoddy research and analysis.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and surprisingly fun reading
Review: This sweeping history is well-written and laden with humor, which makes it an enjoyable book to read. Crocker's broadsides on Protestantism and its supposed effects on the world are, I think, a bit overblown, and he glosses over the corruption in the Church that gave fuel to the Reformation. His history is, nonetheless, probably one of the more balanced accounts to have come out in awhile. This is an excellent book to get an historic overview of what may be the most influential institution of the past two millenia.
Rating:
Summary: The sweep of history comes alive
Review: To write a history of the Roman Catholic Church over
the course of two millennia is a daunting task, but
once again, H.W. Crocker has done it. "Triumph" reads
like the great narrative histories of Sir Winston
Churchill, or Shelby Foote's Civil War masterpiece.
The reader is not bogged down in minutiae, or cheated
out of certain epochs due to an editor's pen, but
instead receives a complete and fair overview of this
fascinating topic. And perhaps most importantly,
Crocker's writing style accomplishes what has become
so elusive within academic historical circles; He
entertains. "Triumph" is a triumph.
Rating:
Summary: Attention Catholic homeschoolers
Review: Not only did I enjoy this exciting presentation of Church history, but my 15 year old also had difficulty putting it down in order to complete his other studies. I highly recommend it as part of any Catholic homeschool curriculum.
Rating:
Summary: A Popular History of the Church...
Review: If you've read a high school history text book, you know only part of the story of the Catholic Church. Most simply lump Catholicism in with all other religions (while not noting its impact on western civilization) and all dutifully point out inquisitions, crusades, bad popes and their political battles. Usually, none of these incidents are put into the context of their respective times. Enter "Triumph: The Power and The Glory of the Catholic Church," a popularly written history of the faith. With all of the fervency of a convert, Crocker shows how the anti-Catholic polemicists (Protestant, Atheist or otherwise) simply subscribe to propaganda and not history. While Crocker doesn't make Popes like Alexander VI as anything more than a scoundrel, he shows how, in spite of his flaws, he carried on the Catholic tradition of supporting the arts and sciences. Is the book, as some have put it, basically written using this formula: everything Catholic = good, everything else = bad? Well, yes and no. I answer "yes" in the sense that because so many histories have been written as polemics against the Catholic Church, Crocker has to contextualize and provide the Catholic response to several different events in Church history. He doesn't settle for pat answers and actually uses documentation from sources that cannot be construed as pro-Catholic in any way. I also say "no" because of the reasons provided above and the simple fact that Crocker, while writing with a sly wit that often makes great jokes at the expense of contra-Catholic polemicists, does not descend to the level of propaganda. The book is written in a style that anyone can (and should!) read and is a wonderfully written popular response to the many people and institutions that do not look favorably on the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic church.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun and for most people, good to read
Review: I didn't give the book 5 stars because it lacks a more removed and scholarly look at the history of the Catholic Church. But, then again, who really can be objective when you are dealing with a topic that raises the ire of some and the praise of others (read the other reviews to get a sampling). Crocker does achieve something very good in Triumph. He makes reading the history of the Catholic Church fun again. Most works may include more details or footnotes. Some may claim to be more critical or scholarly (but again, they bring personal biases to their works as well). Yet, I don't know if comparing Crocker's book to a 12 volume history is fair. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive or non-biased history. I don't think Crocker ever claimed such either. What it is though is a fun read written from a refreshingly faithful Catholic perspective. No, he isn't unbiased, but at least he admits it.
Rating:
Summary: A Treatise on Church History
Review: H.W.Crocker has done an indepth and scholarly review of Christianity. He begins with Christ himself and Pentecost, the start of the Church. Crocker reveals several things, none of which he apologises for: 1) the Catholic Church is the only true and original Church with roots to Christ Himself. 2) The Catholic Church has not vacillated on dogma or doctrine in its 2000 year history. 3) the Catholic Church has had some popes and other leaders which by their human faults made some bad decisions. None of these decisions were ex-cathedra or of the infallible kind. 4) the Church continues to function not as a man made democracy, but as a theocracy headed by the Bishop of Rome who is a direct apostolic successor to Saint Peter. 5) this original Church has survived in nearly its original form for 2000 years. With this background Crocker relates how the Church has evolved and how other religions came into existence. He also tells how these religions and other secular entities have interacted with the Catholic Church. Again, Crocker does not apologize for his views; whether or not you agree with this view, this is an excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: Napoleon, read this book! . . . (if circumstances allow)
Review: Critical reviews of this book rightly point out that it's not a dry, exhaustive analysis of all issues related to the Catholic Church over 2000 years. It is not written for a handful of other professional historians tucked away in academia somewhere. The book is not an autopsy. But frankly, it's high time someone wrote a book like Crocker's. First, by any neutral criteria, the Catholic Church is the most interesting institution that has ever existed (see below) and as such it deserves a treatment like Crocker's written with the attitude that people might actually find the subject interesting. Second, it is remarkable how ignorant most of us are about the Catholic Church, even though it is clearly the most important human institution in the history of the world. Third, the vast majority of stuff one hears about the role of the Church in history is complete myth. (Tiny example I hear constantly, exploded admirably by Crocker: "The Church led those nasty crusades trying to stamp out Islam"--completely wrong. The crusades (a)came along many centuries after Islam arrived on the scene--the Muslims were left in peace for 500 years, (b) were not against Islam, but against the blood-thirsy Ottoman Empire, a bunch that slaughtered babies on bayonets before their mothers' eyes and beheaded infidels for sport (and as such was completely deserving of the crudades) (c) were not all led by the Church (indeed, e.g., the ridiculous Children's Crusade was condemned by the Church). So Crocker is right to have a somewhat polemical attitude here, as there is much to be corrected. And his lack of sympathy for certain acts and attitudes attributable to Protestantism is appropriate in the context of his historical narrative. Crocker recognizes that ideas have consequences, even religious ideas, and one cannot write history without thinking critically about ideas. He brings to life how certain Protestant institutions have strenuously endeavored to exaggerate the foibles of the Church or even create myths to justify their rejection of the Church and their own claims to authority (which can be a bit thin, depending upon the brand of Protestantism). (See, e.g., history according to the Brits: Henry VIII literally murders a whole bunch of his wives, lots of respected members of his court, thousands of Catholics, some of them, including middle-aged women, being slowly crushed alive to serve as particularly nasty examples to others who dare remain true to their beliefs . . . but it's the Pope, any Pope, that's a power-hungry despot, while the great patriot Henry is honored as the founder of the dear ol' Church of England. Talk about your revisionist history!) Crocker's account vividly portrays an amazing story that should astound anyone with a brain, no matter what they think about God, Jesus, religion or Catholicism. The Church is the most long-lived institution the world has ever known, and there is no close second. It survived the persecution of Rome, the embrace of Rome (worse), the fall of Rome, the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment (so called), the Age of Revolution, and the Age of Totalitarianism. Almost every age was dominated by smart and powerful folks that predicted the prompt demise of the Church and worked to hasten it. Crocker's history is all the more important in light of the current role of the Church. It might shock most Americans to know that today the Catholic Church is larger and stronger today than it has ever been. (American Catholics only make up about 6% or the Church.) It is far and away the largest religious institution in the world (with no close second). It is the largest charitable institution in the world (with no close second), the largest educator of people in the world (with no close second), the largest provider of health care in the world (with no close second), the largest and most vigorous defender of human rights in the world (with no close second)--every year dozens of nuns and priests are martyred in places like Liberian, Sierra Leone, Colombia, and East Timor for standing up to government and/or rebel thugs. The Church has fostered the most fertile intellectual tradition the world has ever known-from Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, and Bonaventure, to Evelyn Waugh, Flannery O'Conner, Graham Greene, Jacques Maritain, and Etienne Gilson. Crocker is right to reflect in his narrative that this ought to astound people--if the Church were tops in only 2 of these categories, it would still be the most amazing institution around. The Church's growth, vigor, vitality and strength continue to confound those in every age who either pledge to destroy it (as did Napoleon and Hitler, for example) or confidently predict its extinction if it doesn't change with the times (i.e., lighten up and say it's okay if folks sleep around). Regardless of what one believes, that is a truely astounding story, and an immense story. Crocker has done an very admirable job of capturing most of this story in one very readable volume. It's quite a remarkable accomplishment.
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