It shows the careful plodding of the antiquary, the keen vision of the man of the world, the passionate fervour of the politician, the calm dignity of the philosophic thinker, and the grandeur of the epic poet.

Thierry succeeded in exhuming the dry bones of history, clothing them for us anew, and presenting almost visibly the "age and body of the times" long since passed away.
Thierry had also written his 'Narratives of the Merovingian Times,' and revived almost a lost epoch in the early history of France.

In writing out these and other works--the results of immense labour and research--he partly lost his eyesight.

He travelled into Switzerland and the South of France in the company of M.Fauriel.He could read no more, and towards the end of the year the remains of his sight entirely disappeared.

He had now to read with the eyes of others, and to dictate instead of writing.