Synopses & Reviews
Beginning with the chaotic post–World War I landscape in which religious belief was one way of reordering a world knocked off its axis, Sacred Causes is a penetrating critique of how religion has often been camouflaged by politics. All the bloody regimes and movements of the 20th century are masterfully captured here, from Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, and Franco's Spain to the war on terror. With style and sophistication, Michael Burleigh shows how the churches, in their various guises, have been swayed by–and contributed to–conflicting secular currents. Sacred Causes brilliantly exposes the way in which fears of socialist movements tempered the churches' response to the threat of totalitarian regimes.
Burleigh combines an authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of radical secularism. He asks why no one foresaw the religious implications of massive Third World immigration. And he deftly investigates what is now driving calls for a civic religion to counter the terrorist threats that have so shocked the West.
Review
“Dazzling. . . . A rewarding example of intellectual history.” Publishers Weekly
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“Compelling. . . . For all his acerbity, this author remains a humane presence throughout his book.” Noel Malcolm, The Sunday Telegraph
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“Beautifully written, fearlessly outspoken, full of superb portraits of heroes and monsters, Sacred Causes is an exuberant tour-de-force.” Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Evening Standard
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“Brilliant. . . . A powerful indictment of our uneasy times.” JG Ballard, The Observer
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“Sacred Causes is most useful where it uncovers the hidden roots of 20th-century totalitarianism.” John Gray, The Guardian
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“A fascinating chronicle.” The Wall Street Journal
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“Impressive. . . . Burleighs book deserves the widest possible readership.” Max Hastings, The Sunday Times
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“History is rarely rendered in such thrilling breadth, with such wit or with such terrible topicality.” Rod Liddle, The Spectator
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“A clever, honest and often funny analysis of the confrontation throughout the 20th century between religion and politics.” The Economist
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“It is a tribute to Mr. Burleighs intellectual passion that . . . he manages to challenge and enlighten.” Adam Kirsch, The New York Sun
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“Burleigh has a talent, reminiscent of Paul Johnson, for digging up long-forgotten historical episodes.” The American Conservative
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“A magnificent history of the 20th century. . . . A terrifically entertaining book.” Dominic Sandbrook, The Daily Telegraph
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“Burleighs book is epic in its range…refreshingly unjudgemental. . . . This brilliant book proves that history has no end.” Simon Heffer, The Literary Review
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“Wonderful. . . . Sacred Causes is a challenging history book with the power to scandalise its readers.” The Financial Times
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“Michael Burleighs Sacred Causes is one of the most important books of the decade.” Amanda Foreman, The Observer
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“Burleighs study of secular hubris may well be judged to be the most significant work of history published this decade.” Alex Butterworth, The Observer
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“Michael Burleigh writes well about the woolly, messianic religiosity of Nazism in particular.” Tony Judt, The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
The author of Earthly Powers documents historical battles over religion in Europe throughout the past century, offering an analysis of how political actions have camouflaged religious agendas as well as how the secular and non-secular arenas have intersected in major military conflicts. 35,000 first printing.
Synopsis
Beginning with the chaotic post–World War I landscape in which religious belief was one way of reordering a world knocked off its axis, Sacred Causes is a penetrating critique of how religion has often been camouflaged by politics. All the bloody regimes and movements of the 20th century are masterfully captured here, from Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, and Franco's Spain to the war on terror. With style and sophistication, Michael Burleigh shows how the churches, in their various guises, have been swayed by–and contributed to–conflicting secular currents. Sacred Causes brilliantly exposes the way in which fears of socialist movements tempered the churches' response to the threat of totalitarian regimes.
Burleigh combines an authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of radical secularism. He asks why no one foresaw the religious implications of massive Third World immigration. And he deftly investigates what is now driving calls for a civic religion to counter the terrorist threats that have so shocked the West.
About the Author
Michael Burleigh is the author of Earthly Powers, Sacred Causes, and The Third Reich: A New History, which won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction. He is married and lives in London.