The West Awakes

This book deals with three phases of the history of the West (now including the U S) known as the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment. The rebirth commenced largely in Florence. It was followed by what was traditionally called the High Renaissance centred in Rome. The spiritual Reformation exploded hotly in Germany. It was followed by a very cold version in Geneva. Typically, the English went their own perverse non-European way. There the reformation had almost nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with politics. History has not paid enough attention to the impact of this attainment of religious Home Rule on the later revolutions in England.
The German philosopher, Kant, said that enlightenment is our emergence from our self-incurred immaturity. The Enlightenment is the name given to the period following the events under the umbrella of renaissance and reformation when thinkers and artists focussed more on man than gods, and the quest for freedom became doctrinaire. The book also looks at German classical music and the birth of the U S.
The book follows all these themes through the life stories of the main players. It is 65,000 words, and fully annotated.