Dark Age Nunneries: The Ambiguous Identity of Female Monasticism, 800–1050 by Steven Vanderputten
Bruce L. Venarde
Reviewed by: Dark Age Nunneries: The Ambiguous Identity of Female Monasticism, 800–1050 by Steven Vanderputten Bruce L. Venarde 800–1050. By Vanderputten. (Ithaca, NY and London: Cornell University Press. 2018. Pp. xiii + 309. $36.95. ISBN 9781501715952.) At the close Nunneries, compares researching his subject, women religious in Lotharingia ninth, tenth, eleventh centuries, to "listening a badly tuned shortwave radio. Clear, reliable information comes through short bursts, alternating with long stretches silence 'white noise'" (p. 155). Of forty institutions he considers, names monastic officers or individuals survive from only twenty-five six cases there is but one name (pp. 159–166). There single surviving biographical account Lotharingian abbess between 816 1050, that mere 500 words embedded vita an abbot 138; passage edited translated on pp. 195–197). A documentary record this thin may be large part responsible for standard narrative women's life starting ninth century finds "disempowerment descent into social spiritual redundancy" 37). What imaginative reading textual sources, which adds artistic, archeological, numismatic evidence, something quite different. "ambiguous identity" subtitle refers organized variety ways across 250 years. were internal debates about its meaning entire period, as evidence points ongoing discussion among religious—and, often, their male interlocutors: cooperation sympathetic men another theme throughout book. book primarily chronological lines chapters whose conclusions I summarize very briefly. Early ninth-century legislative efforts Carolingian churchmen did not intend do away diversity female practice "but instead aimed set boundaries legitimate experimentation" 36). Religious along strict Benedictine lines, then, was exception rather than rule. To combat limitations enclosure, communities reconfigured claustral spaces developed cults saints relics they housed maintain links laity lay spirituality, what calls "coping strategies." This allowed at least some thrive even half-century ca. 880, when faced Norman raids, power struggles fragmenting state, imposition management estates. reforms tenth first all way [End Page 202] behind insistence adherence Benedict's Rule, usually bishops, strengthen own authority families allies. regime does appear have been uniformly advantageous materially spiritually, rejection ambiguity also entailed dismissal "attested capacity reflect debate purpose life" 110). In face more pressure limit multiformity could take form smear campaigns, 970–ca. 1050 revived earlier coping strategies, seeking recognition status kings emperors while pursuing "additional 'cultic capital'" 146). Vanderputten's revisionist careful claims acknowledge speculative elements. His master class how marshall fragmentary complex coherent picture world livelier reputed. Nunneries offers golden age nuanced convincing riposte interpretations general decline decadence. Instead, it shows considerable agency defining organizing lives material support facilitated them. Ambiguity here fosters creativity vice versa, happy thought. Independent Scholar Copyright © 2022 Catholic America Press
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