Synopses & Reviews
From one of the leading historians of our time comes a brilliant and incisive work of history that examines the politics of religion and the reli-gion of politics, from the catastrophe of the First World War to the modern-day War on Terror.
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. Covering a vast canvas, Michael Burleigh examines the many secular religions the twentieth century produced, analyzing how successive totalitarian leaders coveted and mimicked the hierarchy, rites and ritual of the churches in the desire to return to the day when ruler and deity were one.
All the many bloody regimes and movements of the century are here, from Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy and Franco's Spain through to the modern scourge of terrorism. With style and sophistication, Burleigh shows how the churches, in their various guises, have been swayed by-- and have 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, tracing religious beliefs and institutions from a time when the church, disenchanted with both democracy and fascism, began to search for political alternatives.
Eloquently and persuasively combining an authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of radical secularism, Burleigh asks why no one foresaw the religious implications of massive Third World immigration, and hedeftly investigates what are now driving calls for a civic religion to counter the terrorist threats that have so shocked the West.
Review
“History is rarely rendered in such thrilling breadth, with such wit or with such terrible topicality.” Rod Liddle, The Spectator
Review
“It is a tribute to Mr. Burleighs intellectual passion that . . . he manages to challenge and enlighten.” Adam Kirsch, The New York Sun
Review
“A magnificent history of the 20th century. . . . A terrifically entertaining book.” Dominic Sandbrook, The Daily Telegraph
Review
“Burleighs book is epic in its range…refreshingly unjudgemental. . . . This brilliant book proves that history has no end.” Simon Heffer, The Literary Review
Review
“Wonderful. . . . Sacred Causes is a challenging history book with the power to scandalise its readers.” The Financial Times
Review
“A clever, honest and often funny analysis of the confrontation throughout the 20th century between religion and politics.” The Economist
Review
“Sacred Causes is most useful where it uncovers the hidden roots of 20th-century totalitarianism.” John Gray, The Guardian
Review
“A fascinating chronicle.” The Wall Street Journal
Review
“Impressive. . . . Burleighs book deserves the widest possible readership.” Max Hastings, The Sunday Times
Review
“Burleigh has a talent, reminiscent of Paul Johnson, for digging up long-forgotten historical episodes.” The American Conservative
Review
“Burleighs study of secular hubris may well be judged to be the most significant work of history published this decade.” Alex Butterworth, The Observer
Review
“Brilliant. . . . A powerful indictment of our uneasy times.” JG Ballard, The Observer
Review
“Michael Burleighs Sacred Causes is one of the most important books of the decade.” Amanda Foreman, The Observer
Review
“Dazzling. . . . A rewarding example of intellectual history.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“Compelling. . . . For all his acerbity, this author remains a humane presence throughout his book.” Noel Malcolm, The Sunday Telegraph
Review
“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
Review
“Michael Burleigh writes well about the woolly, messianic religiosity of Nazism in particular.” Tony Judt, The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
From the turmoil of post-World War I Europe to the plague of terrorism in our modern society, Sacred Causes is a penetrating critique of the politics of religion and the religion of politics. Michael Burleigh, author of The Third Reich, examines the way in which religion has been swayed by -- and contributed to -- conflicting secular currents. Totalitarian regimes like those of Hitler, Stalin and Franco mimicked the power structure and rituals of religion, while attempting to restore the days when god and ruler were one. At the same time, fear of socialism tempered the churches' response to the threat of totalitarianism.
Burleigh combines this authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of radical secularism. He also investigates the possibility of a civic religion, intended to counter the threat of terrorism.
Michael Burleigh is the author of Earthly Powers: The Clash of Religion and Politics in Europe, from the French Revolution to the Great War; Sacred Causes: The Clash of Religion and Politics, from the Great War to the War on Terror; The Third Reich: A New History, which won the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction; and Blood and Rage: A Cultural History of Terrorism. He is married and lives in London.
"A fascinating chronicle ... Burleigh tracks the fate of religious and secular forces in the 20th century, registering their collisions and their effects on the culture we live in today." -- The Wall Street Journal
--Dominic Sandbrook, The Daily Telegraph
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 twentieth century are masterfully captured here, from Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, and Franco's Spain through to the modern scourge of terrorism. Eloquently and persuasively combining an authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of radical secularism, Burleigh asks why no one foresaw the religious implications of massive Third World immigration, and he deftly investigates what are 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.