Soldiers of Christ: Saints and Saints' Lives from Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages ed. by Thomas F. X. Noble and Thomas Head
Susan J. Ridyard
BOOK REVIEWS 505 Soldiers of Christ: Saints and Saints'Livesfrom LateAntiquity the Early MiddleAges. Edited by Thomas F. X. Noble Head. (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press. 1995. Pp. xliv, 383. $50.00 clothbound; $18.95 paperback.) One most exciting developments in medieval studies over past twenty years has been immense growth study sainthood its place spiritual, social, political life an emerging Europe. This scholarship inspired teachers to introduce hagiography saints' cults their students at both graduate undergraduate levels. In ofChrist, Head have produced a book which will be considerable value those students, as well general reader. They brought together for first time English translations eleven Lives from Late Antiquity Middle Ages. Only one is new; editors' chief concern rather make existing accessible presenting them volume supplying short prefaces, explanatory notes, introduction cult saints. hagiographical texts themselves take reader heart Christian culture period when "the European identity was formed Roman, Christian, Germanic elements" (p. xliv). should viewed with what Robert Bartlett termed "binocular vision"—one focuses on development literary genre source might help us answer wide range historical questions.' collection begins three works, including highly influential Life St. Martin Tours Sulpicius Severas, demonstrate several traditions Antique hagiography. A second group oftexts—by far largest— affords extensive insight into Carolingian hagiography,presenting ofthose who evangelized pagan Frisians Saxons or furthered organization Frankish church. Finally, Gerald Aurillac shows hagiographer facing new challenge—that ofintegrating lay person tradition sanctity hitherto overwhelmingly clerical monastic . addition, invite consider such issues ideals holy; evolution monasticism; relationship Christianity paganism,and secular ecclesiastical power, worlds; recurring problem doctrinal conflict within Church; role women saints veneration saints; popular religious practices; concepts sacred space time. respect selection disappointing; exclusion Merovingian Francia early Anglo-Saxon England leaves 1 Cf. Bartlett,"The Hagiography ofAngevin England," P. R. Coss S. D. Lloyd (eds.), Thirteenth Century V(Woodbridge:The Boydell Press, 1995), pp. 37-52, 47. 506 strangely unbalanced particularly puzzling since editors state xxxiv) that works "serve ... background many lives follow." book's benefit fuller discussion surrounding interpretation use choice title unfortunate view publication 1992 Larissa Taylor 's Christ:Preaching Medieval Reformation France. Such points these, however, do not detract substantially welcomed all wish further social context. Susan J. Ridyard ofthe South Past Future Studies. John Van Engen. [Notre Dame Conferences Studies, Number IV] (Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre 1994. Pp.xi,431. $52.95.) result conference during scholars across North America were asked reflect future studies. late Michael Sheehan provides introductory remarks. Kathleen Biddick gives dense presentation must frequently guess meanings: her proposal that...
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