The Civilization of the Middle Ages: A Completely Revised & Expanded Edition of Medieval History FROM THE PUBLISHER
In 1963, Norman F. Cantor published his breakthrough narrative history of the Middle Ages. Further editions of this immediately celebrated book appeared in 1968 and 1974. Now, a thorough revision, update and significant expansion of the book has been made with a third of the text new. The Civilization of the Middle Ages incorporates current research, recent trends in interpretation, and novel perspectives, especially on the foundations of the Middle Ages to A.D. 450 and the Later Middle Ages of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, as well as a sharper focus in social history, Jewish history, and women's roles in society, and popular religion and heresy. While the first and last sections of the book are almost entirely new and many additions have been incorporated in the intervening sections, Cantor has retained the powerful narrative flow that made the earlier editions so accessible and exciting. Cantor's book was innovative in 1963 because it was the first comprehensive general history of the Middle Ages to center on medieval culture and religion rather than political history (which was, however, dealt with, but from the perspective of applied intellect and social ordering). It remains a unique book in that regard. The book also featured the highlighting of prominent medieval personalities through dozens of biographical sketches, which has been retained. Although it draws upon a century of detailed research on the medieval world and is authoritative in its learning, from first page to last, Cantor's book tells an exciting and compelling story.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
Cantor has rewritten about a third of his 1963 classic overview of the Middle Ages in Europe. The new edition incorporates recent research and gives more attention to topics that have become of more concern, such as women's experience, family history, piety and heresy. It will probably remain the standard undergraduate text for many years. Acidic paper. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
AudioFile - Don Wismer
Booklist called this book the standard one-volume history of the period and said, No better explanation of medievalism is available to the general reader. Cantor, Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at New York University, writes with wonderful fluidity; his lucid prose moves from topic to topic with effortless grace. Reader Frederick Davidson contributes a British enunciation to the text but adds little enthusiasm. Listen to this to learn something, not for the production. D.W. ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine
Home
