Customer Reviews

Self and Society in Medieval France: The Memoirs of Abbot Guibert of Nogent (Medieval Academy Reprints for Teaching 15)

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Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124) was a historian, theologian, and author of a famous autobiography (the text present in this volume). Guibert's Memoirs is not just an important source for the exploration of the 12th century Medieval mind but also for various historical events, including the revolt of the commune of Laon in 1112, that happened during his time. Perhaps surprisingly, unlike many other historians of the Medieval Ages, Gregory of Tours, Asser, Einhard, Odo of Deuil etc, Guibert of Nogent played virtually no role in politics nor did he participate in the historical events he describes.

Nor is this a true autobiography in the modern sense of the word. He omits what we would consider key facts including the date of his own birth, where he was born, and the names of his parents and siblings. What is more important to him is spiritual message conveyed by his life (material he meant for sermons), however, buried within it is enough information to piece together a pretty substantial biography that is much more detailed than that of most historians of the period. He describes in detail the characteristics of his mother who forced him to be educated by an incompetent tutor and whom he defied the established plan for his life (a civil servant) and entered the religious life. Throughout, he continuously expounds the torment of sexuality and denounces the loose morals of those around him. In 1104, he was chosen abbot of abbey of Nogent (eight monks) and it was here that he wrote his chronicle of the First Crusade (of questionable historical importance). The revolt and eventual defeat of the Commune of Laon is in my opinion the most interesting element of this text. The phenomenon of communes, wealthy townsmen who tried to assert their independence, swept across northern Europe at this time. London was a commune and the famous revolt of Bruges, as recorded by Galbert of Bruges in 'The Murder of Charles the Good' occurred 15 years later after the unsuccessful Laon revolt. This text is very fun to read because of the author's prejudices (in contrast to the drier historical texts of fellow historians of the period) and they reveal many interesting insights into the medieval mind.

John F. Benton's introduction to the volume is top notch. He describes other writings of Guibert of Nogent, arguments over various historians' conclusions about Guibert's character, and explains important elements of the text for easier reader comprehension. The volume contains a map and an appendix that examines more closely the arguments over the exact date of Guibert's birth. This is a must buy for anyone interested in Medieval French history, Medieval History in general, or anyone interested in a detailed (and very unusual) account of an important medieval life.

Beyond the dry second- and third-hand tellings of history are the real stories told by the real people-and it doesn't get much realer than Guibert of Nogent. He's arrogant, condescending, socially inept and has a weird fixation on his mother. Proof positive that men were messed up way before women's liberation hit the scene. I don't claim to be a historian. I've never read St. Augustine's Confessions, on which Guibert modeled his own work. I can't say for certain that Guibert wasn't your typical Medieval French monk, but I find it hard to believe that most monks had mothers who spent the latter part of their lives trying to recapture their virginity. But that's what's great about reading first-hand accounts, no "typicals" get in your way. For instance: How many third-hand historical texts would have a chapter that begins: "Since hardly anyone passed the bishop's corpse without casting at him some insult or curse and no one thought of burying him. . .?" Believe it or not, this type of image seems to be common in the literature of the time. Now if only we could work it into the popular conception of history, maybe we'd have a few less romanticizers telling us how society is falling to pieces.