An elegant history of the Christianization of northwestern Europe.
Not many historians would be willing to tackle a subject that
encompasses more than 1,000 years of history, several discrete
cultures, and numerous religious systems, or that requires a
mastery of sparse resources written in several languages no longer
extant. Then again, Fletcher (whose 1990 The Quest for El Cid won
the Los Angeles Times history prize) is no ordinary historian. He
bucks the trend of postwar historical specialization by writing a
"grand" narrative tracing the rise of Latin Christianity not just
in his native England (though this is the most normative case study
in the book, to which he constantly refers), but also Spain,
France, Germany, and Ireland, among many others. Scandinavia
(including Greenland and Iceland) is also included, offering a much
needed contribution to the history of western Christendom. The
author concludes by recounting Western Christianity's push into
eastern Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries, and the increasing
emphasis on war ("crusade") as a justified means to convert the
heathen abroad. Fletcher's comprehensive, comparative technique is
fruitful; he is mindful that the introduction of Christianity into
these various regions necessitated not just a transformation of
belief, but also an adoption of foreign cultural practices such as
Roman government, dress, and food, as well as an emphasis on
literacy. Throughout, Fletcher raises provocative questions about
the motives for Christian evangelism, as well as the nature of
conversion itself: At what point can historians claim that an
entire culture was "converted" to a particular religion? Fletcher
is an even-handed, creative historian. Well written and engaging,
his book stands as a uniquely ambitious metahistory. His
suggestions for further reading provide direction for more focused
inquiry. (Kirkus Reviews)
In a work of splendid scholarship that reflects both a firm mastery
of difficult sources and a keen intuition, one of Britain's
foremost medievalists tells the story of the Christianization of
Europe. It is a very large story, for conversion encompassed much
more than religious belief. With it came enormous cultural change:
Latin literacy and books, Roman notions of law and property, and
the concept of town life, as well as new tastes in food, drink, and
dress. Whether from faith or by force, from self-interest or by
revelation, conversion had an immense impact that is with us even
today. It is Richard Fletcher's achievement in this superb work
that he makes that impact both felt and understood.
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