My Quest for the Middle Ages
Catherine Rider
This book is based on a series of interviews the French medievalist Jacques Le Goff, conducted by journalist Jean-Maurice de Montremy in 2002. In these interviews, Goff offers synthesis his work as historian, and talks about how he came to write history way that does. The first chapter opens with Goff's discovery middle ages 1936, when read Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, goes discuss studies early career, nature sources used medievalists. Chapter Two addresses concept period: invention notion ‘middle age’ Renaissance humanists, nineteenth-century fascination ages, Carolingian Twelfth-Century ‘Renaissances’ break up period. However, himself argues there was no sudden transition either fifth or sixteenth centuries contemporaries would have seen end an age. three subsequent chapters offer survey thoughts themes has addressed. Three, discusses merchants, bankers intellectuals, outlining emergence specialist merchant-bankers thirteenth fourteenth centuries. He Church not hostile merchants rule, but accepted money-making long it done morally. draws parallels, too, between intellectuals: both were new social categories, initially regarded suspicion, managed justify their position society left mark economic, institutional religious culture ages. Four takes broad look at medieval civilisation: its Christian framework, hierarchies, Purgatory, Heaven Hell, geographical awareness, development monarchies states. stresses particularly importance concepts space time defining civilisation (p. 79). Also important, however, idea should be one harmonious body; dark side this persecution heretics, who threatening because they part body. final focuses ‘medieval humanism’, arguing people believed life worth living enjoyed, even while also prepared for death. Covering wide range subjects, including ideas God, individuality, crusades, warfare, angels demons, Virgin Mary death, explores positive negative aspects civilisation, hand did live atmosphere fear; other, reverse optimism heretics other minority groups. epilogue, picks several broader are obviously close heart, particular debt European owes period exclusively depressing ‘age hope’. thus serves lively readable introduction work, many snippets France abroad during lifetime. It includes stimulating issues cultural history, some which wishes could been developed little more. All all, into distinguished influential passionate demonstration why interesting.
The English Historical Review