Carolingian Civilization: A Reader, Second Edition

Book Overview

The period between 770 and 880 experienced an explosion of words signalling the documentary reawakening of Western civilization; this anthology offers a plentiful and engaging selection of primary source documents from that vibrant era. Among the material new to this second edition are Rimbert's Life of Anskar , with its detailed account of the Carolingian missionary contact with Scandinavia, Ratramnus's study of the dog-headed men, the monk Bernard's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551110032
• ISBN13: 9781551110035
• Release Date: June 1993
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Length: 549 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 22.9" x 15.9" x 15.9"

Customer Reviews

Go to the source!

Competently translated, entertaining, enlightening, and well-selected. If you want a real feel for medieval French society, go back to the source; this book is a wonderful and affordable way to sample a wide variety of contemporary historians (and get your share of scurrilous stories in the meantime).

Must Have Resource

If you have an interest in the Carolingians, Dutton's book is a 'must have' resource. Many entries are otherwise unavailable or very hard to find in English. The best way to judge the value of this book is by it's contents: CHAPTER ONE: THE TIME OF PEPIN THE SHORT 1. A List of Superstitions and Pagan Practices 2. The Correspondence of Boniface, Missionary and Martyr 3. The Coronation of Pepin the Short 4. The Reanointing of Pepin in 754 5. The Donation of Constantine CHAPTER TWO: THE TIME OF CHARLEMAGNE 6. Pope Stephen Scolds Charlemagne and Carloman 7. Einhard's Life of Charlemagne 8. Pepin's Victory over the Avars 9. Epitaphs and Eulogies 10. The Equestrian Statue of Theoderic 11. The Lateran Palace of Pope Leo III 12. Charlemagne and Pope Leo 13. Capitularies 14. An Exhortation to the Faithful 15. The Iconodule Controversy in Francia 16. Theodulf and the Antique Vase 17. Six Short Poems by Theodulf 18. Theodulf of Orleans: Precepts for the Priests of his Diocese 19. Letters of Alcuin 20. Five Poems of Alcuin 21. Alcuin's Dialogue with Young Prince Pepin 22. Charlemagne's Division of his Kingdoms 23. The Diet of Aachen in 813 CHAPTER THREE: THE TIME OF LOUIS THE PIOUS 24. Lament on Charlemagne's Death 25. Thegan's Life of Louis 26. Benedict of Aniane: His Life and Times 27. The Ordinatio Imperii of 817 28. The Vision of the Poor Woman of Laon 29. Louis's Public Penance in 822 30. The Polyptyque of Saint-Germain-des-Pres 31. Agobard of Lyons and the Popular Belief in Weather Magic 32. Of Bread and Provisions 33. A Royal judgment of Pepin in 828 34. Einhard and His Holy Relics: The Translatio 35. Claudius of Turin's Complaint 36. The Penitential of Halitgar 37. Saint-Riquier (Centula): Its Precious Goods 38. The Emperor Louis's Palace at Ingelheim 39. The Astronomer's Account of the Rebellions 40. Paschasius Radbertus's Defense of Wala 41. The Letters of Einhard 42. Rudolf of Fulda, The Life of Saint Leoba 43. The Final Days and Death of Louis the Pious CHAPTER FOUR: THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR 44. Nithard's History 45. Engelbert at the Battle of Fontenoy 46. The Treaty of Verdun, 843 47. Dhuoda's Advice to Her Son 48. Walahfrid Strabo's Little Garden CHAPTER FIVE: THE TIME OF THE THREE KINGS AND THEIR SONS 49. The Annals of Xanten for the Years 844 to 862 50. Gottschalk and the Predestination Controversy 51. The Epitaphs of Ermengard and Lothar 52. Sedulius Scottus, On Christian Rulers 53. Lothar II's Divorce 54. Otfrid of Weissenburg on Old High German 55. The Vision of Charlemagne 56. Letters of Lupus of Ferrieres 57. The Wandering Monks of Saint-Philibert 58. A Judicial Dispute in the Loire Valley 59. A Charter of Immunity from Charles the Bald 60. Saint Remi's Protection of People and Property 61. The Coronation of Charles the Bald as King of Lotharingia 62. Eriugena's Periphyseon: the Beginning and End 63. Eriugena's Homily 64. Wulfadus's Library 65. Wulfadus Goes to Court 66. Charles the Bald Grants a Benefice 67. The Capitulary of Q