Edward Roberts. <i>Flodoard of Rheims and the Writing of History in the Tenth Century</i>.
Benjamin Pohl
In this impressive debut monograph, Flodoard of Rheims and the Writing History in Tenth Century, Edward Roberts revisits life works Rheims-based canon, archivist, historian as a vehicle for studying writing history “a period that is increasingly being understood critical phase transformation Carolingian world rise Latin West” (1). The book’s opening pages contain formidable mission statement captures essence—and considerable ambition—of Roberts’s undertaking. We are told “Flodoard’s histories have seldom been considered context his personal political career” (1), which why he remains, words, “one least most objectified authors early Middle Ages” This, then, status quo new study seeks to address by arguing “far from an unassuming or ‘objective’ writer … was fact highly creative careful shaper material” But not full extent ambition. What more, something rehabilitation tenth century era low reputation with regard historiographical production. Building on important groundwork laid 1970s 1990s, book considers Flodoard’s oeuvre its entirety, including, first time, substantial—this reviewer inclined call it near comprehensive—discussion Annales.
The American Historical Review