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Rating: 
Summary: Good title for a "short history"
Review: In his Introduction, Taft made it clear that he regarded this as something of a companion piece to Theodor Klauser's "Short History of the Western Liturgy". Klauser's book is about twice as long as Taft's (about 150 pp vs about 80 pp), and includes discussions of developments that Klauser regards as mistakes. Taft, by contrast, is infailingly respectful toward his subject, always remembering the insults that "Byzantine" matters have suffered from Western authors for so many centuries. This makes his account perhaps less titillating, though no less informative. Taft concerns himself chiefly with developing his thesis that the rite known today as "Byzantine" is the product of a series of syntheses of rites at Mt Sinai and Constantinople, sometimes in response to offerings from one side, sometimes from the other. Those who wish to learn more will find a good bibliography to guide their further reading.
Rating:
Summary: Good title for a "short history"
Review: In his Introduction, Taft made it clear that he regarded this as something of a companion piece to Theodor Klauser's "Short History of the Western Liturgy". Klauser's book is about twice as long as Taft's (about 150 pp vs about 80 pp), and includes discussions of developments that Klauser regards as mistakes. Taft, by contrast, is infailingly respectful toward his subject, always remembering the insults that "Byzantine" matters have suffered from Western authors for so many centuries. This makes his account perhaps less titillating, though no less informative. Taft concerns himself chiefly with developing his thesis that the rite known today as "Byzantine" is the product of a series of syntheses of rites at Mt Sinai and Constantinople, sometimes in response to offerings from one side, sometimes from the other. Those who wish to learn more will find a good bibliography to guide their further reading.
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