"In examining the relationship between blood and gender persuasively, McCracken offers a compelling and original interpretation. The book not only offers a new examination of an important theme in medieval literature, it makes a significant contribution to our understanding of gender in medieval texts."--Simon Gaunt, King's College, London "Succeeds commendably as a feat of scholarship and careful presentation of often highly theoretical ideas."--Medieval Review "This interesting comparative study of the relationship between blood and gender in medieval literature considers how blood...

Day of Reckoning Power and Accountability in Medieval France Robert F. Berkhofer III "Pointing to monastic management as a kind of workshop for the new administrative techniques used later by the centralized monarchies, Day of Reckoning is at once learned, intelligent, and original. Medievalists as well as those interested in the development of management in history should read this book with considerable interest and pleasure."--Alain Boureau, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales "Interesting and wide-ranging. . . . The book is well-structured, lucidly written, and based on...

Florence and Its Church in the Age of Dante George W. Dameron "A book that is thought-provoking as it is informative."--Speculum By the early fourteenth century, the city of Florence had emerged as an economic power in Tuscany, surpassing even Siena, which had previously been the banking center of the region. In the space of fifty years, during the lifetime of Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321, Florence had transformed itself from a political and economic backwater--scarcely keeping pace with its Tuscan neighbors--to one of the richest and most influential places on the continent. While many...

Lives of the Anchoresses The Rise of the Urban Recluse in Medieval Europe Anneke B. Mulder-Bakker. Translated by Myra Heerspink Scholz "We are blessed here with a study of rare insight and perception into the functioning of lay religious devotion in northwestern Europe and its interaction with institutionalized and learned clerical religion."--Speculum In cities and towns across northern Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, a new type of religious woman took up authoritative positions in society, all the while living as public recluses in cells attached to the sides of...

The Garden of Delights Reform and Renaissance for Women in the Twelfth Century Fiona J. Griffiths Winner of the 2007 Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History Winner of the 2008 Margaret Wade Labarge Prize from the Canadian Society of Medievalists "A major contribution to the history of medieval women and religion. . . . Learned and fascinating."--American Historical Review "Writing a book about one of the most complex books ever assembled is no easy task, yet Griffiths rises to the occasion. . . . In her treatment of the manuscript, and more...