A History of the Franks (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Gregory of Tours (Author), Lewis Thorpe (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140442952 | ISBN-13: 978-0140442953 | Publication Date: February 28, 1976 | Edition: First

Written following the collapse of Rome's secular control over western Europe, the History of Gregory (c. AD 539 594) is a fascinating exploration of the events that shaped sixth-century France. This volume contains all ten books from the work, the last seven of which provide an in-depth description of Gregory's own era, in which he played an important role as Bishop of Tours. With skill and eloquence, Gregory brings the age vividly to life, as he relates the exploits of missionaries, martyrs, kings and queens including the quarrelling sons of Lothar I, and the ruthless Queen Fredegund, third wife of Chilperic. Portraying an age of staggering cruelty and rapid change, this is a powerful depiction of the turbulent progression of faith at a time of political and social chaos.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin (translation)

About the Author

Gregory of Tours (538-94), French historian, bishop of Tours (from 573), was born in Clermont-Ferrand. He had a distinguished and successful career as bishop. Gregory wrote accounts of miracles of the saints, an astronomical work to determine movable feasts, and a commentary on the Psalms. His masterpiece, Historia Francorum [history of the Franks], in 10 books, is a universal history; its account of contemporary events is of great importance.

Product Details

• Paperback: 720 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics; First edition (February 28, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140442952
• ISBN-13: 978-0140442953
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > History > Europe > France

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79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ian Myles Slater on: Dark Ages Semi-Illuminated, May 2, 2004

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Ian M. Slater "aylchanan" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of the Franks (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Gregory, Bishop of Tours from 573 to 594, was a member of a prominent Gallo-Roman family of aristocrats, and, like some of his relatives, was eventually canonized. His accounts of holy men, martyrs, and miracles are still extant; a work on liturgy is lost. He is best remembered, however, for a long work (which he called just "Ten Books of History") on how Gaul was conquered by the Franks, and ruled (after a fashion) by their royal dynasty, the Merovingians; with their relationships with neighboring kingdoms. It is commonly known as "The History of the Franks," although modern scholars tend to disapprove of the title. Gregory generally tells us about what involved members of the dynasty and their followers, or the Church, not the Franks in general. The various rival "Kingdoms of the Franks" corresponded very roughly to modern France and western Germany, and Gregory clearly did not have later political units in mind.

The Franks were Germanic warriors -- probably from a variety of tribes mentioned by Roman historians -- who entered Roman territory as (at least mainly) pagans. The Burgundians, Ostrogoths and Visigoths, Vandals, and other predecessors, had adopted an archaic form of Christianity much earlier, and had come to be stigmatized as followers of the Arian Heresy when they insisted on following their now-traditional ways. The Franks converted -- at least in name -- directly to Post-Nicene, Trinitarian, Catholic, Orthodoxy. This gave their kings an otherwise inexplicable reputation for piety, if not exactly for virtue. (A Merovingian ruler with only one or two illegitimate children, who refrained from murdering more than a few opponents, and tried to protect his subjects, was widely regarded as a saint.)

Gregory, after summarizing the history of the world (Biblical and Christian), focuses on events in the lands of the Franks and their neighbors, eventually reaching his own time, which he reports in considerable, sometimes confusing, and not always reliable, detail. He is a primary source for much of the period. Although sometimes frustrating, he is markedly superior to his immediate (and many not so immediate) successors. As a bishop, he was also an important administrator and judge. He understood practical affairs, and he knew many of the people he describes. A tendency to alleviate the blood-stained darkness with miracle stories is understandable. Given the intellectual assumptions inherited from late antiquity, they do not mark Gregory as particularly gullible or superstitious. One does miss the Venerable Bede's moderation in such matters. (And if you are interested in "Dark Age" Europe, but have not yet read Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English," try either the Penguin Classics or Oxford World's Classics translation.)

Gregory's world is the reality behind some later medieval literature, He describes the age of Beowulf (literally; King Hygelac's raid on Frankish-allied Frisia is reported in one chapter). With its royal feuds, pursuit of buried treasure, and royalty with names like Sigibert, Sigismundis, and Brunnichildis, it is the background of parts of the "Nibelungenlied" and "Volsunga Saga." For these reasons alone it would be worth attention. It is also interesting on its own. Despite many lapses in narrative logic (from a modern point of view), and uneven command of Latin, Gregory could tell interesting stories reasonably well. (Erich Auerbach's "Mimesis" has a brilliant discussion of Gregory's failures as a narrator, but fails to mention that the analysis is of a passage -- with inconsequential details of a minor quarrel leading up to a scandalous blood feud -- in which Gregory is reporting testimony given *in his own courtroom*.)

The late Lewis Thorpe's translation is the second complete version in English. The first, by O.M. Dalton, appeared in two volumes -- the first being an Introduction -- in 1927, and was reprinted in the early 1970s. It has a reputation for meticulous accuracy, not for enjoyable reading. (I made unsuccessful attempts to read it through, not long before Thorpe's translation became available in 1974.) And Dalton's impressive scholarship (mainly from before World War I) is nearly a century out of date.

(There is a volume of selections from the "History" and other books by Gregory, translated by Ernest Brehaut, reprinted several times, and excerpted on various websites. It was published in the Columbia University "Records of Civilization" series in -- I think -- 1922; some sources say 1916. Gregory went on record opposing any excerpting or abridging of the "Ten Books" (and was right -- the longer stories are reduced to rubble ), but Brehaut's offering is still worth a look.)

Thorpe is readily available, less expensive, and far more enjoyable. The weird and violent world of witchcraft-fearing, God-bribing, homicidal dynasts (sometimes compared to the Wild West, but without many White Hats) presents itself to the reader, with helpful notes along the way. A superb index also help sort out characters and events, which frequently are spread over several chapters or different books, as events unfolded before Gregory's eyes.

Some medievalists have challenged the accuracy of Thorpe's translation. The examples I have seen look to me (a very amateur Latinist, to be sure) more like debatable interpretations than obvious errors. Thorpe does tend to prefer the clear and interesting, but questionable, reading of the original to the cautious but obscure one. A nautical historian will be concerned that Thorpe has Scandinavian *navi* (ships, or large boats) prepare to "sail back" instead of "turn back," (*reverti*), because he suspects they were using oars, not sails. Most readers, for whom motor-driven vessels also "sail" from place to place, will not be aware of the distinction.

If you need such precision (say, for a college-level course), checking a passage against Dalton, and if possible a well-edited Latin edition, would obviously be advisable. (There is an on-line Latin text, as "Historia Francorum," which is helpful, but lacks information on variants and other important details found in full editions. Inevitably, Thorpe was not able to take advantage of the last quarter-century of scholarship, which has re-evaluated Gregory's methods, goals, and accomplishments, along with those of other early medieval historians and chroniclers. But Gregory's "History" is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in early medieval Europe, particularly the early Germanic kingdoms, and Thorpe's translation is a fine entry into the field.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fratricide, Poison, Being Ripped Apart by Wild Horses - Gotta Love Those Franks!, August 25, 2006

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Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of the Franks (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

I first ran across Gregory of Tours years ago in an Early Medieval History course at the University of Houston (Go Haskins Society!). Under the tutelage of a great instructor (Dr. V~) the class read primary texts instead of the usual dry drivel that history teachers resort to. The History of the Franks was one of these.

And it's a great book no matter how you approach it. First, if it was not for Gregory's tome we fans of barbarians would have to resort to the rather sketchy coda (or laws) and archaeological data of that era to ascertain what was going on. (Okay there were those dry church records too.)

With Gregory of Tours we get sort of an "Examiner" newspaper view of earthly events.

For example, about the Bishop Cautinus:

Once he had taken possession of his bishopric, Cautinus began to behave so badly that he was soon loathed by everybody. He began to drink heavily. He was often so completely fuddled with wine that it would take four men to carry him from the table.

For example, mother-daughter relations:

Rigunth, Chilperic's daughter, was always attacking her mother (Fredegund), and saying that she herself was the real mistress, whereas her mother ought to revert to her original rank of serving-woman. She would often insult her mother to her face, and they frequently exchanged slaps and punches. 'Why do you hate me so, daughter?' Fredegund asked her one day. 'You can take all your father's things which are still in my possession, and do what you like with them.' She led the way into a strong-room and opened a chest which was full of jewels and precious ornaments. ...

... Rigunth was stretching her arm into the chest to take out some more things, when her mother suddenly seized the lid and slammed it down on her neck. She leant on it with all her might and the edge of the chest pressed so hard against the girls' throat.... (well you'll have to go to page 521 to see how it turns out - lol.)

Five Stars. Interesting and exciting reading - at least for barbarian fans and historians. One should note that there is a great deal of violence so that the book might not be for everyone.

Pam T.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doom, Defeat, Despair. Welcome to the Dark Ages., January 2, 2006

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Brendan D. King "Brendan D. King" (Saint Cloud, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of the Franks (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

I have been very fond of this book for a long time and after repeatedly checking it out from my local college library, I finally decided to buy a copy. I'm not sorry I did. St. Gregory of Tours takes the reader deep into an era about which very little is known. A world where the power of the Roman Empire in the West had crumbled to dust and real power had fallen into the hands of the warlords, some of them Roman, others German Clan Chiefs. But even as the walords sacked and pillaged the provinces of the former Empire, the Roman Catholic Church, with it's hierarchy dominated by the old Roman nobility, continued to function as a check to the chaotic rule of the warlords. The German Clan Chiefs and their families read like the most entertaining parts of Seutonius's Twelve Caesars. Atfer they "conquered" the Roman Empire, the German Royals whiled away their time with depravity, debauchery and greed. Princess Amalasuntha of the Lombards, after her slave boyfriend was murdered on her mother's orders, put poison in her mother's communion cup during the Arian Rite Mass. Princess Clotild, after using mercenaries to sieze control of the Convent of the Holy Cross in Poitiers, proceeded to run it in a manner that makes Charles Manson look like an amateur. One other reviewer compared St. Gregory to a 6th Century gossip columnist. I couldn't agree more. The only beef I have with this book is with the translator. For some reason he chose, when St. Gregory quoted the Holy Scriptures, to write out the quotes as they appear in the King James Bible instead of the Douay-Rheims which is much closer to the original Latin Vulgate that St. Gregory would have quoted from. It may not seem like a big deal but it had me wondering how accurate the Biblical quotes were. Aside from that, this is an utterly enjoyable book that I would recomend strongly for anyone interested in the Dawn of the Middle Ages.