The Darkening Age

The Christian Destruction of the Classical World

By: Catherine Nixey

Narrated by: Lalla Ward

'Bold, dazzling and provocative' – Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

'This book uncovers what was lost when Christianity won' – The Times

In The Darkening Age, historian Catherine Nixey tells the little-known – and deeply shocking – story of how a militant religion deliberately tried to extinguish the teachings of the Classical world, ushering in unquestioning adherence to the 'one true faith'.

The Roman Empire had been generous in embracing and absorbing new creeds. But with the coming of Christianity, everything changed. This new faith, despite preaching peace, was violent, ruthless and intolerant. And once it became the religion of empire, its zealous adherents set about the destruction of the old gods. Their altars were upturned, their temples demolished and their statues hacked to pieces. Books, including great works of philosophy and science, were consigned to the pyre. It was an annihilation.

'A searingly passionate book' - Bettany Hughes, author of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

A Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, the Observer, and BBC History Magazine

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice

Winner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Nonfiction

©Catherine Nixey 2018 (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio

Critic reviews

Superb (Richard Dawkins)

A book for the 21st century . . . Nixey has a great story to tell, and she tells it exceptionally well. As one would expect from a distinguished journalist, every page is full of well-turned phrases that leap from the page . . . finely crafted, invigorating . . . [The Darkening Age] succeeds brilliantly. (Tim Whitmarsh)

As Catherine Nixey points out in her vivid and important new book, the idea of the widespread persecution of Christians is a product of the Church’s marketing and recruitment techniques . . . Nixey is a funny, lively, readable guide through this dark world of religious oppression. She wisely insists at the start of her book that this account of cultural violence should not be read as an attack on those who are “impelled by their Christian faith to do many, many good things”. It is instead a reminder that “monotheism” (or, one could say, religion in general and Christianity in particular) can be used for “terrible ends”. (Emily Wilson)

Clever, compelling . . . Readers raised in the milky Anglican tradition will be surprised to learn of the savagery of the early saints and their sledgehammer-swinging followers . . . exceptionally well written. (Thomas W. Hodgkinson)

Nixey has done an impressive job of illuminating an important aspect of late-antique Christianity. (Levi Roach)

Engaging and erudite, Catherine Nixey's book offers both a compelling argument and a wonderful eye for vivid detail. It shines a searching spotlight on to some of the murkiest aspects of the early medieval mindset. A triumph. (Edith Hall, author of The Ancient Greeks: Ten Ways They Shaped the Modern World)

Nixey's elegant and ferocious text paints a dark but riveting picture of life at the time of the 'triumph' of Christianity, reminding us not just of the realities of our own past, but also of the sad echoes of that past in our present. (Dr Michael Scott)

Captivating and compulsive, Catherine Nixey's debut challenges our whole understanding of Christianity's earliest years and the medieval society that followed. A remarkable fusion of captivating narrative and acute scholarly judgment, this book marks the debut of a formidable classicist and historian. (Dan Jones, bestselling author of The Plantagenets)

A devastating book, written in vivid, yet playful prose. Catherine Nixey reveals a level of intolerance and anti-intellectualism which which echoes today's headlines but is centuries old. (Anita Anand)

Eye-opening

This book has changed my view on Christianity, its influence over culture and custom today and the roman empire considerably. Some of the parallels to today's world are scary and remind the reader that history repeats itself. We must remain a curious and questioning society!

Fascinating dive into fanaticism

Excellent listen on how the zealotry and fanaticism of the early Christian church and what was lost as a result.
And the PR spun the in-power church leaders over the following centuries.
I especially liked the analysis of the martyrs and the fear of contamination from the ‘demons’ of the pagan gods/worship.
Has parallels to the modem era, naturally. And sadly we keep seeing this behaviour again and again.
Recommended reading.

interesting view point

I was always wondering way from 5th century empire collapse now I got understand able explanation.

Eye opening book and superb performance

I absolutely loved it and truly learned a lot. The diction and performance by the narrator was perfection. Hope to listen to more from the author and the narrator

The Original ISIS

Changes the way that we view the Dark Ages - from being one caused by the fall of the Roman empire to the result of freedom of thought, speech and pluralism being snuffed out by the evils of monotheism. Reading the reviews of this book it is only Christians taking umbrage giving negative reviews. At least these days they have been tempered by secularism and they can no longer burn us...

Good story, rather subjective at times

Feel like the base pattern was established prior to the writing. Christianity did this! It did but would have liked a more objective story, not a story solely subjective. It is not bad, learned a lot. But wanted more..