The Story of Civilization

The Story of Civilization
Company type	Book series
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1935
Founder	Will Durant and Ariel Durant
Products	History books

The Story of Civilization (1935–1975), authored by the married duo Will Durant and Ariel Durant (collectively known as the "Durants"), comprises an eleven-volume collection that surveys both Eastern and Western civilizations, with a predominant emphasis on European history. This extensive work was crafted over a period of forty years to appeal to a wide audience.

Background

In the initial six volumes, only Will Durant is credited as the author, while Ariel Durant receives mention solely in the acknowledgements. Starting with The Age of Reason Begins, Ariel is recognized as a co-author. Although originally planned as a five-volume series, the scope expanded considerably over time.

The tenth volume, Rousseau and Revolution, was honored with the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. The series enjoyed bestseller status and maintained its popularity for many years, frequently being offered through book clubs. Additionally, an unabridged audiobook version encompassing all eleven volumes was produced by Books on Tape, featuring narration by Alexander Adams (Grover Gardner).

I. Our Oriental Heritage (1935)

This volume addresses the history of the Near East up to the decline of the Achaemenid Empire (circa 330 BC), along with the historical narratives of India, China, and Japan extending into the 1930s.

Complete title: The Story of Civilization ~ 1 ~ Our Oriental Heritage ~ Being a History of Civilization in Egypt and the Near East to the Death of Alexander; and in India, China and Japan from the Beginning to Our Own Day; with an Introduction on the Nature and Foundations of Civilization.

II. The Life of Greece (1939)

Concentrating on Ancient Greece and the Hellenistic Near East until their subjugation by Rome.

Complete title: The Story of Civilization ~ 2 ~ The Life of Greece ~ A History of Greek Government, Industry, Manners, Morals, Religion, Philosophy, Science, Literature and Art from the Earliest Times to the Roman Conquest.

III. Caesar and Christ (1944)

This installment investigates the history of Ancient Rome alongside Christianity leading up to Constantine the Great.

Complete title: The Story of Civilization ~ 3 ~ Caesar and Christ ~ A Comprehensive History of Roman Life ~ Politics, Economics, Literature, Art, Morals ~ Ending with the Clash of Pagan and Christian Forces and the Emergence of Church-State Conflict.

IV. The Age of Faith (1950)

Spanning the Middle Ages in Europe and the Near East from Constantine I through Dante Alighieri, this volume explores medieval civilization within Christian, Islamic, and Judaic traditions.

Complete title: The Story of Civilization ~ 4 ~ The Age of Faith ~ A History of Medieval Civilization ~ Christian, Islamic, and Judaic ~ from Constantine to Dante ~ A.D. 325 - 1300.

V. The Renaissance (1953)

Dedicated to Italy’s cultural and historical evolution from around 1300 until the mid-16th century during the Italian Renaissance.

Complete title: The Story of Civilization ~ 5 ~ The Renaissance ~ A History of Civilization in Italy from Petrarch’s Birth to Titian’s Death ~ 1304 to 1576.

VI. The Reformation (1957)

Focusing on European history outside Italy between 1300 and 1564, this volume highlights the transformative effects of the Protestant Reformation.

Complete title: The Story of Civilization ~ 6 ~ The Reformation ~ A History of European Civilization from Wyclif to Calvin ~ 1300 - 1564.

VII. The Age of Reason Begins (1961)

This volume explores the historical landscape of Europe and the Near East from 1559 to 1648, spotlighting influential figures such as Shakespeare, Bacon, Galileo, and Descartes during a period of profound change.

Full title: The Story of Civilization ~ 7 ~ The Age of Reason Begins ~ European Civilization in the Period of Shakespeare, Bacon, Montaigne, Rembrandt, Galileo, and Descartes ~ 1558 - 1648.

VIII. The Age of Louis XIV (1963)

Examining the era of Louis XIV’s rule across Europe and the Near East, this book delves into prominent political and intellectual personalities including Pascal, Molière, Peter the Great, and Newton.

Full title: The Story of Civilization ~ 8 ~ The Age of Louis XIV ~ European Civilization in the Era of Pascal, Molière, Cromwell, Milton, Peter the Great, Newton, and Spinoza: 1648-1715.

IX. The Age of Voltaire (1965)

Concentrated on the Age of Enlightenment spanning 1715 to 1756 in France, Britain, and Germany, this volume highlights the dynamic conflict between religious beliefs and philosophical thought.

Full title: The Story of Civilization ~ 9 ~ The Age of Voltaire ~ Western European Civilization from 1715 to 1756 with Emphasis on Religion-Philosophy Conflict.

X. Rousseau and Revolution (1967)

Focusing on the life and times of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, this installment received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1968 and was originally intended as the concluding volume of the series.

Full title: The Story of Civilization ~ 10 ~ Rousseau and Revolution ~ A History of Civilization in France, England, Germany from 1756, and Europe from 1715 to 1789.

XI. The Age of Napoleon (1975)

Centered on Napoleon I of France and his historical period, this volume emerged after the Durants came out of retirement to continue their work, motivated by a wish to stay actively involved.

Full title: The Story of Civilization ~ 11 ~ The Age of Napoleon ~ A History of European Civilization from 1789 to 1815.

Development history

Among the editors were M. Lincoln ("Max") Schuster and Michael Korda.

Reception

The tenth volume, Rousseau and Revolution, earned the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1968.

All eleven books were selected by the Book-of-the-Month Club and achieved best-seller status worldwide with sales exceeding two million copies across nine languages.

Reviews

James H. Breasted delivered a strongly negative critique of the initial volume (Our Oriental Heritage). Similarly, W. N. Brown expressed critical views. In contrast, Henry James Forman along with the New York Herald Tribune acclaimed it as an outstanding achievement.

Positive evaluations were given by Michael Ginsberg and Edmund C. Richards for the second volume (The Life of Greece). Both Time magazine and the Boston Evening Transcript also offered favorable commentary.

J.W. Swain observed that the third installment (Caesar and Christ) targeted a general readership effectively. While Time provided a positive review, John Day’s perspective was mixed, and Ralph Bates offered criticism.

Sidney R. Packard and Norman V. Hope reviewed the fourth volume (The Age of Faith) favorably; L.H. Carlson compared it to works by Jacob Burckhardt.

Wallace K. Ferguson gave a positive appraisal to the fifth volume (The Renaissance). Geoffrey Bruun similarly praised both the fifth and sixth volumes (The Reformation). Although Garrett Mattingly criticized the sixth volume's content, he acknowledged Durant’s narrative skill.

D. W. Brogan commended the seventh volume (The Age of Reason Begins). It also received positive attention from Time magazine.

J.H. Plumb along with Stanley Mellon found shortcomings in the eighth volume (The Age of Louis XIV).

Alfred J. Bingham described the ninth volume (The Age of Voltaire) as "thoroughly enjoyable" and spoke highly of the tenth (Rousseau and Revolution) as well.

John H. Plumb and Joseph I. Shulim expressed critical opinions regarding the eleventh volume (The Age of Napoleon). Alfred J. Bingham offered a nuanced but generally favorable review, while The Saturday Review delivered a notably positive assessment.

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