One of the greatest stories in the history of man is the collapse of the Dark Ages - the deadened and superstitious medieval mind dragged into the light of the Renaissance. To this historical focal point William Manchester populates his narrative with major figures of the era, including Leonardo da Vinci, Lucrezia Borgia, Ferdinand, Galileo, Magellan, Luther, Michelangelo and Henry VIII. He weaves together the varied events and accomplishments of the period - artistic, intellectual, religious, mathematical. Other works by William Manchester include "The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill", "The Death of a President" and "American Caesar".