A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY

A handsome collector’s edition of Diarmaid Macculloch’s landmark study

Author Diarmaid Macculloch Publisher Folio Society Price £195 Released Out now

In 2009 Diarmaid Macculloch released A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years. The book quickly became something of a sensation and garnered much interest, no doubt due partly to its provocative subtitle. After all, how can someone write a 3,000-year history of a subject only some 2,000 years old? Now the book has been re-released by the Folio Society in a lavish threevolume collection that is sure to catch the eye of any would-be collector.

So what is it about Macculloch’s work that makes it so fascinating? Firstly, for a subject that is as dense and admittedly heavy as a study of Christianity, he writes with a light and humorous touch. His scope is truly breathtaking. It would be easy to get bogged down in such an epic story but Macculloch manages to not only keep on top of his subject, but present it in such a way that it proves endlessly engaging. The sheer breadth of topics discussed (architecture to art, empires to ancient history) also pulls up numerous surprises and packs in a wealth of information. And what about those extra 1,000 years? One of the approaches that makes Macculloch’s work so unique was his decision to look at the earliest predecessors to Christianity, including links to the Ancient Greeks. Even some ten years after its publication it still remains a refreshing angle.

For this new edition, not much has been added to the text in terms of new material other than an introduction by Neil Macgregor, author of A History Of The World In 100 Objects. Macgregor praises Macculloch but does not present anything particularly new or interesting; his introduction does just that – it introduces. However, arguably this is a work that doesn’t need much additional material. Instead, the choice to reprint the work by the Folio Society feels more like something that had to happen. It’s not an updated or amended edition, more an extra seal of approval and demonstration of the respect which Macculloch’s work has garnered.

Of course, the Folio Society is renowned for its gorgeous publications and it’s impossible to discuss any of its new editions without devoting some time to their physical presentation.

This time it has chosen to present Macculloch’s work as three distinct volumes in one set. Each features a cover design by Jamie Clarke and is based on a distinct historical cross, bound in blue hardcover with the cross and design strikingly blocked with a different foil. They are truly exceptional designs and will look handsome on anyone’s bookshelf. As you’d expect from the Folio Society, each volume contains a wealth of illustrations, selected with the approval of Macculloch himself.

Chosen from a variety of sources including private collections, museums and the Vatican, they perfectly illustrate the text.

For anyone with an interest in the history of religion and Christianity, this is a must-have. With this handsome new edition available, there’s more reason than ever to add his groundbreaking work to your collection. CM