Medieval History
So, in a recent New Yorker (yes, I am a sterotype -- an academic who reads The New Yorker) there's a review of David Levering Lewis' God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215 by Joan Acocella.
Oh, where to begin? I just don't have the energy...
Should it tip you off that Ms. Acocella is an author of books on Mark Morris and Willa Cather? Surely, there's a medievalist out there who could've written this? Should it tip you off that Prof. Lewis is a professor at NYU -- who's won 2 Pulitzers for biographies of W.E.B. DuBois (click on teaching interests)?
Anyway, I'm glad that Ms. Acocella has read Edward Said. I'm glad that she thinks that "revisionism" is a new kind of trend in historiography. Still, I don't know if you can accurately judge historiographic trends in medieval studies by the work of a non-specialist (writing -- and this isn't meant in a perjorative way -- a trade publication). Oh, and the Franks may've been concerned about incest in the 8th century. That DOES NOT mean, however, that they were sleeping with their brothers and sisters every five freakin' minutes.
Read the review and judge for yourself.
PS -- the title of the post refers to the whole "Franks are dirty, smelly, sister-lovers" thing.
- Hug A Medievalist
Today is International Hug a Medievalist Day. Do I really want to hug a medievalist?, you wonder. Yes! you do. Medievalists are the best kind of historian, in my opinion (which is why I majored in medieval history in college): they are always very interested...
- Medieval Laws Cited In Fishing Dispute
A judge is to look at laws and charters predating the Magna Carta in a bid to settle a dispute over Dublin City Council?s legal right to lease out the fishing interests of the river Liffey. Dublin and District Salmon Anglers? Association claims entrepreneur...
- Michael Prestwich Discusses Medieval Biographies
Michael Prestwich, a highly respected medieval scholar, has weighed in on the debate about the value of historical biographies. Prestwich, a Professor of History at Durham University, and author of a biography about Edward I, penned the article, "Medieval...
- Richard Utz Reviews Medievalisms. Making The Past In The Present
Richard Utz recently reviewed Tison Pugh and Angela Jane Weisl's Medievalisms: Making the Past in the Present (New York: Routledge, 2013), for The Medieval Review. This coauthored volume may very well be the first book on medievalism(s)...
- Bards Are Sexy
Dear Reader(s), I have found a group of bards that I quite enjoy. I wish for you to know of them. Here goes: And everyone loves madrigals. Dirty, dirty madrigals from the 1500's. Dirty, dirty, dirty: And this is simply far too amusing to...
Medieval History
Dirty, Smelly Barbarians
So, in a recent New Yorker (yes, I am a sterotype -- an academic who reads The New Yorker) there's a review of David Levering Lewis' God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215 by Joan Acocella.
Oh, where to begin? I just don't have the energy...
Should it tip you off that Ms. Acocella is an author of books on Mark Morris and Willa Cather? Surely, there's a medievalist out there who could've written this? Should it tip you off that Prof. Lewis is a professor at NYU -- who's won 2 Pulitzers for biographies of W.E.B. DuBois (click on teaching interests)?
Anyway, I'm glad that Ms. Acocella has read Edward Said. I'm glad that she thinks that "revisionism" is a new kind of trend in historiography. Still, I don't know if you can accurately judge historiographic trends in medieval studies by the work of a non-specialist (writing -- and this isn't meant in a perjorative way -- a trade publication). Oh, and the Franks may've been concerned about incest in the 8th century. That DOES NOT mean, however, that they were sleeping with their brothers and sisters every five freakin' minutes.
Read the review and judge for yourself.
PS -- the title of the post refers to the whole "Franks are dirty, smelly, sister-lovers" thing.
- Hug A Medievalist
Today is International Hug a Medievalist Day. Do I really want to hug a medievalist?, you wonder. Yes! you do. Medievalists are the best kind of historian, in my opinion (which is why I majored in medieval history in college): they are always very interested...
- Medieval Laws Cited In Fishing Dispute
A judge is to look at laws and charters predating the Magna Carta in a bid to settle a dispute over Dublin City Council?s legal right to lease out the fishing interests of the river Liffey. Dublin and District Salmon Anglers? Association claims entrepreneur...
- Michael Prestwich Discusses Medieval Biographies
Michael Prestwich, a highly respected medieval scholar, has weighed in on the debate about the value of historical biographies. Prestwich, a Professor of History at Durham University, and author of a biography about Edward I, penned the article, "Medieval...
- Richard Utz Reviews Medievalisms. Making The Past In The Present
Richard Utz recently reviewed Tison Pugh and Angela Jane Weisl's Medievalisms: Making the Past in the Present (New York: Routledge, 2013), for The Medieval Review. This coauthored volume may very well be the first book on medievalism(s)...
- Bards Are Sexy
Dear Reader(s), I have found a group of bards that I quite enjoy. I wish for you to know of them. Here goes: And everyone loves madrigals. Dirty, dirty madrigals from the 1500's. Dirty, dirty, dirty: And this is simply far too amusing to...