The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Middle Ages. Vol. 1, 350–950 ed. by Robert Fossier
Ronald B. Herzman
REVIEWS ofthe human heart, to the contemporary "Chaucer social critic." This material should be particularly valuable casual or novice students still caught in banal notions of"relevance" and "timelessness." Its presentation alone is worth price of book; it will certainly find its way my undergraduate reserve list into course. MARY CARRUTHERS New York University ROBERT FOSSIER, ed. The Cambridge Illustrated History Middle Ages. Vol. 1, 350-950. Trans. Janet Sondheimer. Cambridge: Press, 1989. Pp. xxiii, 556. $49.50. Perhaps best approach this large comprehensive volume simply explain hypothetical readers-the scholars "Age Chaucer"-what they are getting. surveys eleven chapters ofroughly same length early Ages, begin­ ning with end fourth century ending middle tenth. Less obvious but more telling than chronological sweep, there what might called a geographic sweep. work begins Latin West, then after two moves Byzantine East, Arab back Byzantium, finally West again Carolingian renewal aftermath. virtue ofthis cyclical organiza­ tion that greater coverage given Byzantium Islam usually case one-volume histories, surely good. Otheraspects workare less easy tosummarize. Although sweep ofchronology geography suggests an overarching sense ofunity work, fact somewhat unified appear at first glance. For one thing, each three areas written by different author (or, on Islam, coauthors). Ifone adds introduction, editor, five authors. It as accurate describe series ofseparate essays continuous narrative. Some­ times, as, for example, switch from chapter 7, transition clearly needed. though none previous discussion oflslam had taken place, were not even aware intervening chapters. Even such kind disjunction, separate authorship inevitably 197 STUDIES IN THE AGE OF CHAUCER points larger questions about unity go heart work: narrative hand, something other reference other; coffee table book, despite lavish illustrations-many them full-page color plates-but textbook either, least reading. Is book profitably read beginning end, would out specific movement, battle, figure, event? I no satisfactory answer question. That say enormous amount important information packed volume. As someone whose scholarly roots almost entirely found most interesting part volume, weremany suggestive interpretive forays throughout especially respect Empire transitionfrom ancient medieval. And if tends emphasize social, economic, military history, also attempt include intellectual, religious, artistic history well. when all due praise enterprise, however, seems me search ofan identity. title includes word "Illustrated" yet another signal identity crisis: full-color plates 'decorative; is, integrated text any serious way. black-and­ white illustrations integral, containing do some descriptive legends placed so can used gloss (although maps could have been closely correlated to...
Studies in the Age of Chaucer