Perspective

How the Irish Saved Civilization is a volume in author Thomas Cahill's "Hinges of History" series, intended to look at crucial periods in history from the perspective of key participants. Ireland saving civilization is a natural starting-point for the Bronx born and raised Irish-American scholar, Jesuit-trained in literature and philosophy at Fordham University. The story, he remarks, is virtually unknown outside of Ireland; but without it, the modern world would be utterly different. Cahill tells the story with evident relish and flamboyant style, tying in modern-day cultural equivalents to render it relevant to non-scholars. Never does he assume the reader will recognize a name, place, or event. He wants the reader to understand and appreciate the points he makes, so he makes them memorable, reiterating major themes to make them sink in, but adding new bits of information to prevent boredom. He writes with the pride and tongue-in-cheek...