Thomas Cahill writes popular history. It's easy to read, even fun to read. His prejudices sometimes get in the way. His tone is sometimes too conversational; yet he knows how to spin a yarn and hold the reader's attention. He's a pretty good historian. He's an excellent storyteller. This new book on the Middle Ages looks lovely. I'm The Husband and I'm interested. I think that The Wife will like it. Maybe it'll make a good Christmas gift. I mean, it's no Peloponnesian War and Cahill is no Thucydides, but not everyone can be.