Review
By dwelling on the ways in which local politics, culture, geography, and even individual personalities contributed to the uneven development of 'saints' cults in Gaul, Van Dam shows us their sheer 'unpredictability.' In the process, he has given us an unquestionably richer picture that can only enhance our understanding of the times. -- Review
Review
The sharpness of focus, the integrity, and the deep sympathy for Gregory of Tours and his imaginative world make this book a real advance in the subject. Above all, Raymond Van Dam's work brings to an end--for Gaul, at least--a decade of debate on the nature and function of the cult of saints in late antiquity. (Peter Brown, Princeton University )
