Humanity, we are taught, has always looked to the heavens for inspiration, solace, even salvation. Why? What did our ancestors see there? How was it understood? And how will we, in this enlightened, high-tech age, benefit by discovering the motives and miscalculations of ancient teachings? Jansen Estrup’s Tales of a Clear, Dark Night is a stunning inquiry into the essence of archaeological, mythic and cosmological lore, and their relationship to the pandemic of violence at large in today’s societies. Working the night watch with unusual savvy, he balances toughness with compassion while deftly illustrating the murderous intrigues which are uncovered. An original and controversial thinker, Estrup concludes that all oppression is rooted in nothing less than the stories we tell each other and our children. Asking questions until he has answers, the author masterfully weaves together the threads of past and present into a griping read.
