The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume II: C. 700-c. 900 ed. by Rosamond McKitterick
Richard E. Sullivan
302BOOK REVIEWS and R. L. Storey analyzes the relationship between anticlericaUsm maUcious indictment of clergy. Rosalind HUl offers a brief narrative on Bishop Sutton 's estabUshment chantry. The volume is handsome, weU bound printed, but too-frequent typographical errors tarnish whole sUghtly demonstrate laxity Ui editorial vigUance that contrasts with quaUty contributions themselves. It unfortunate to find in Harper-BUl's very fine essay Celestine II responded appeal 'minks' Norwich (p. 100). coUection prefaced by three informative reflections Dorothy Owen's career at Lincoln, Lambeth, Cambridge. These, together essays bibUography, constitute for current academic community fitting tribute respected archivist, scholar, teacher, new student an introduction Uvely area research. Timothy S. Haskett University Victoria New Cambridge Medieval History,Volume II: C. 700-c.900. Edited Rosamond McKitterick. (NewYork: Press. 1995. Pp. xxxi, 1082. $95.00.) Constituting middle one ofthree volumes wUl eventuaUy replaceVolumes III "old" CMH (published 1913 1922), this massive work represents efforts twenty-seven currently active scholars attachments ten dUferent countries (six from United States). In her prefatory remarks McKitterick, editor volume, makes it clear intended be "new" not only chronological terms also conceptuaUy, methodologicaUy substantively.This aspect of"newness" result distinctive features work: interdisciplinary approach , pan-European rather than nationaUst perspective, reconfigured poUtical dimension human enterprise, emphasis social cultural history. A proper review should assess how these objectives are realized, space avaUable here precludes such pursuit. Only description volume's organization content possible, serve as invitation readers. Part I (14 chapters; 380 pages) devoted "PoUtical Developments."After opening chapter discussing problems surrounding sources approaches their decoding,this segment ofthe book presents summaries ofpoUtical activities major "states" eighth- ninth-century Europe: British Isles (including separate sections England, Ireland-Scotiand-Wales, England Continent); Frankish kingdom (three chapters); Scandinavia ; Balkan Slavs Bulgars;the Muslims SicUy, south Italy, Spain; Christian Spam Basques; Lombard Carolingian Italy; Byzantine BOOK REVIEWS303 Italy Interspersed chapters Vikings Francia Carolingianymes imperii, Byzantium theWest. WhUe diversity affairs taken authors may confuse average reader seeking way understanding order, provide reliable, readable picture what happened all Europe's entities 700 900. Offsetting bounty troublesome lack cohesion. Readers wiU themselves asking whether there was center around which political developments eighth ninth centuries gravitated and,U so,where and/or was. Perhaps none, admission raises question about treating two 900 discrete historical era. Some traditionalists insist more coherent development during period would have emerged had discussion been organized fashion aUowed readers move outward "center" "peripheral" whose histories told so thoroughly . could given dimensions bringing bear history conceptual methodological Uluminate power utilized affected people. One suspects main barrier predetermination avoid "the old ... creation maintenance imperial domination" xviii).The avoidance "preoccupation empire" xviii) likely led to...
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