The Private Lives of the Saints: Power, Passion and Politics in Anglo-Saxon England - Hardcover

Ramirez, Janina

3.96

324 ratings by Goodreads

9780753555606: The Private Lives of the Saints: Power, Passion and Politics in Anglo-Saxon England

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0753555603 ISBN 13: 9780753555606

Publisher: RH UK, 2015

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Skulduggery, power struggles and politics. A fascinating re-examination of Anglo-Saxon England told through the secret lives of the saints.
     The word 'saint' conjures a variety of associations in our modern minds. Some might connect it with suffering, charity and devotion to Christian values; others with miracles, martyrdom and heavenly gifts like the stigmata, while others still associate them with superstition, fanaticism and the power of the Papacy.
     But far from the one-dimensional pious figures we imagine, the saints were the power players, king makers and politicians of the day, and by re-examining their lives -- the art and literature that inspired them, the landscape and buildings that surrounded them, the issues that preoccupied them and the symbolic world that mattered to them - this landmark book provides a unique and fascinating lens through which to explore the rich history of the Dark Ages.
    Drawing on a wide range of evidence, from art and literature to archaeology, theology and historical data, Oxford art historian and BBC presenter, Dr. Janina Ramirez examines the real lives of over a dozen seminal individuals, from the infamous to the obscure, whose effect was felt throughout the Anglo-Saxon world and can still be felt today.
    Re-evaluating the role of the saints, taking them from their heavenly status to the human level, and examining their desire for adulation, power, wealth and legacy, Janina offers a unique and discerning study of life in Anglo-Saxon England.

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About the Author:

DR. JANINA RAMIREZ is a lecturer, broadcaster, researcher and author. Janina is the course director for the Undergraduate Certificate in History of Art at the University of Oxford, and she continues to teach on a number of courses and publishes her research. She is currently working on a number of television and research projects. She lives in Oxfordshire with her young family.

Review:

"What a wonderful book this is. Like the interlace stonework on an Anglo-Saxon cross, Janina Ramirez's themes are interwoven with a consummate skill." * Tom Holland * "Those who were recast as saints achieved a superhuman status, their real lives often obscured by hagiographies rich with legends of miracle-working from beyond the grave. Janina Ramirez's book portrays them historically - as living, breathing personalities within the world they knew, the places we have inherited. Her enthusiasm and instinct for relevance should welcome a broad new audience to medieval Church history." * Jonathan Foyle * "Ramirez blasts a powerful spotlight into the so-called Dark Ages and reveals a vibrant world, awash with colour and character." * Dan Snow *

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