France in the Central Middle Ages: 900-1200 (Short Oxford History of France) [Paperback]

Marcus Bull (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019873185X | ISBN-13: 978-0198731856 | Publication Date: February 6, 2003

This volume provides a variety of complementary points of entry to the history of France between 900 and 1200. Chapters contributed by a leading team of historians cover key themes such as France's political culture and identity, rural economy and society, the Church, and France's relations with the outside world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`'One regrets that, in Paterson's case, not all work cited and sometimes contested can be identified, either in the book's grudging footnotes or in the lists for further reading. Perhaps this could be rectified at the time of reprinting. Such a small blemish does not spoil this enterprising collection, which suggests some interesting answers to the question with which this review began.'' Christopher Allmand, University of Liverpool, History vol 89, issue 1, number 293

About the Author

Marcus Bull is Senior Lecturer in the department of Historical Studies at the University of Bristol. He is the author of Knightly Piety and the Lay Response to the First Crusade (OUP, 1993) and The Miracles of Our Lady of Rocamadour: Analysis and Translation (Woodbridge, 1999).

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019873185X
• ISBN-13: 978-0198731856
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,281,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to Medieval France, December 6, 2007

By 

Tyler Tanner (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: France in the Central Middle Ages: 900-1200 (Short Oxford History of France) (Paperback)

In the introduction, Marcus Bull makes a point to say that this book is non-linear and does not follow France to the reign of it's kings. Since I learned about Medieval English history in the exact opposite way, and I only knew of the French peripherally when it pertained to that subject, I thought I may have bit off more than I could chew. I'm glad I stuck with it. Each chapter concentrates on a different topic of French life during that time told effectively by noteable scholars. Starting with the germination of the French identity, it then covers topics such as the church, lay culture and politics, and then ends it nicely with the French influence abroad particularly in the holy land and the Norman impact. It also has a great cache of recommended further reading in the back.

It's a challenging read, but it's never dry. It answered my questions and made look forward to reading more. Outside of knowing some key points of English history and the crusades you really don't need much to get the full enjoyment out of this book. I've never really appoached a new subject in a non-narrative way but this book has made me less skittish if it happens again. I hope to get my hands on the next volume of this series soon.